Words by Mia Maraschino | Photography by Mia Maraschino & Katia Schwartz
A quick flick through the Sky Sirens Instagram will tell you that we’re lovers of photographs. As dancers, teachers, choreographers, and generally creative people, photographs that capture these pursuits (or the many hours of intense training that they come with) are incredibly special and useful. When having your photo taken professionally it can be quite daunting!
There are so many things to think about - from how you’ll do your makeup, and choosing an outfit, to which poses and moves you’d like photographed, it’s a lot to remember.
Myself and some Sky Sirens photoshoot pros have compiled a handy list of ways you can prepare for your next photoshoot, so you get the most out of it, and have perfect photos to treasure at the end!
A photo-ready face is never complete without defined lashes! A single coat of mascara is enough to open up and draw attention to your eyes, though you can’t go wrong with false lashes for an extra glam look.
Line your darn lipstick! You may feel a little 90’s pop star in doing so, but applying a well matched lip liner before your lipstick is the secret to crisp, no-bleed edges.
Go easy on the highlighter, especially if you’re being photographed with studio lights or flash. Under the bright lights it’ll end up looking like a big white patch, and some shades may even look like a bruise.
Fresh shoes are always ideal for a shoot, but don’t forget to take the stickers off. Not only can they be difficult to edit out, they’re also a slip hazard - safety first!
Cut the tags off your lingerie beforehand. They can be easy to forget about, but outfits (especially mesh or lace styles) will look perfectly polished when you can’t see tags showing through or sticking out.
To avoid ‘skin lines’ wear something loose fitting when traveling to the photoshoot, and put your outfit on when you arrive. A loose dress or jumpsuit is great to wear beforehand, and a robe comes in handy while adding finishing touches to your makeup or hair.
Don’t forget to remove hair ties & your watch from your wrist! It’s something small, but will make a big difference to how finished the end photos look. If you’d like to have jewellery on your wrists instead, go for it! Though be sure it matches your outfit and photo theme.
Worn/dirty stockings are a big no-no! If you can, have a clean pair dedicated to photoshoots. Wear socks over the top of them until you’re ready to be photographed to avoid the feet getting dirty. The same applies to bare feet, wear socks until the last minute and have baby wipes handy in case you need to clean your soles.
Bring a few outfits for if you change your mind, or as back up in case of emergencies! You may have the perfect outfit planned, but could be draw towards something different on the day. If you run into any dreaded wardrobe malfunctions, having extra outfits on hand is always a lifesaver. Remember to trial run your outfits (including shoes) too, especially if you plan to do any tricks or poses on an apparatus! If you plan to wear a suspender belt, make sure you’re wearing stockings attached or have it tucked in, dangly suspender straps is not a look.
If your photoshoot involves moves or tricks on an apparatus, practice them beforehand! Come into the studio with a friend, and ask them to take photos of your planned tricks to see what they look like on camera. If you’re practicing solo, not to worry! Film yourself doing the tricks static and facing the camera, you’ll be able to decide what works well and photographs beautifully. If you’d like some expert advice from a seasoned photoshoot pro, book a private with any of our instructors! Simple tricks are often the best - you can really focus on showing off your clean lines and maintaining a relaxed expression while you hold the move. Always bring reference photos or a list of moves that you’d like photographed on the day, it’ll be easier to work through them and will jog your memory if you forget what you’ve practiced!
