Photography Checklist: What to bring to your shoot
Alimagery offers three different categories of photoshoots. Minis, Extended Minis and Routes. Regardless of which one you book, make sure you’ve read through this so you can decide how to pack your bag. Remember that less is more and you don’t want to carry your entire bedroom around London. Keep it simple and you’ll be on your way to an amazing shoot.
Extra clothing
For our photo routes, we recommend bringing some extra outfits along. The routes are long enough to pop into a coffee shop en-route or a public bathroom and having a quick change. You’ll be glad you made the effort as you end up with several different looks from one photoshoot, adding greater value by extending the usage of your photos. Remember that if you are bringing extra clothes, pack/roll/fold them carefully to avoid creases.
Of course, with a mini, you don’t have the same luxury of time but that doesn’t mean you can’t get different looks. One word: layers. Take the time to carefully plan the different layers within your outfit and how they interact with each other. A jacket, jumper & t-shirt could be all you need to get 4 or 5 different combinations!
Hairbrush/Comb
We can’t control the weather and often times between outfit switches and the wind, you need to be able to get your hair back on fleek. You could use hairspray before, but if that’s not your style then do bring along a brush and you’ll thank yourself for it.
Water Bottle
A photo route lasts around 3-hours and you’ll be walking on your feet for that amount of time. While it’s easy enough to make sure you keep yourself hydrated in the build-up to a shoot and reap the health benefits (and extra glow!), make the space in your bag for a bottle of water and it’ll be worth it.
Comfortable footwear
Our routes are out in the real city of London. That doesn’t always mean perfect pavements. You might find yourself on cobblestone roads or grass. Even if you look better in stilettos, you’re better off putting them in your bag and having a pair of sneakers to give your feet a well-deserved break between shots.
Makeup
If you need any touchups during your shoot, keep some of your makeup essentials and a small mirror for an easy on-field refresh.
Jacket to keep toasty
This is England and the weather doesn’t always behave. Especially during the chilly neon season at the end of the year, you’ll need a warm jacket or puffer to wrap yourself in between shots. You can slip it off on-camera if it doesn’t contribute to your ‘look’ but you leave the goosebumps at home for this shoot.
Pack of tissues
Whether it’s wind, allergies or cold weather, a pack of soft and clean tissues is essential for any photoshoot bag.
Nude camisole/vest
Sometimes you don’t want to spend time finding a bathroom for an outfit switch. If you’re feeling like you want greater efficiency then you can stick a cami or vest under your outfit and switch quickly. Try and keep the colours plain - we recommend nude or light grey. Remember to try it on beforehand so that it isn’t visible through your outfit.
Covid (mask, sanitiser, moisturiser etc)
We are within a pandemic right now and it’s paramount that we stop the spread and stay safe on our shoots. While you don’t need to wear a mask while being photographed (we keep our distance and if we come within a metre we will wear our mask), it’s useful to have all the safety gear on you.
Any accessories
Whether it’s a prop for your shoot (like a book) or some extra bling, it’s worth bringing along a few accessories to add that extra bit of class and character. Top tip: keep it tasteful and don’t overdo it.
Somewhere to put your phone/keys
We know, our phones are addictive. But you don’t want them bulging in your trouser pockets. It’s distracting and you’ll be annoyed that you didn’t put it away. You might be able to fit it into your jacket pocket, but an accessible bag pocket or a plus one can be hella beneficial.
Anytime return
Only applicable if you’re travelling by train and attending a Photo Route. Our routes are designed to take 3-hours but every client has a different pace so it’s useful to have some flexibility. On our side we can’t guarantee that we can continue past your timeslot, but if we can, and you can, then great!
Final Words
We hope that has helped you to pack your photoshoot bag and you understand the reasoning behind each item so that you can make your own decision whether it’s applicable to you.
Finally, remember to aim to arrive early so that in the worst-case scenario with the tube/trains/traffic you won’t eat up your shooting time. Most of the time your photographer will be hanging around a McDonald’s or cafe nearby for half an hour before your shoot so why not join us for a cuppa (or some nuggets!). Always running a little bit late? Check out our guide on how to always be on time in London.