Telling Your Story Through Images: Planning Ahead for a Meaningful Photoshoot
If you’re in the process of creating/revamping a website or social media, it helps to get organized when it comes to planning a photoshoot that will yield images for your creative business.
Whether you are taking the images yourself, enlisting the help of a friend, or hiring a professional photographer, if you can batch the photography work this will allow you to plan ahead, and achieve a consistent look across all your visual imagery.
Planning ahead for a photo shoot also allows you to think carefully about what you would like your pictures to convey about yourself as an artist. Of course, you’ll be including lots of pictures of your work, but this post is designed to help you think about incorporating a broader range of imagery that can help capture the attention of your audience and set the tone for the kind of relationship you’d like to have with your fans and collectors.
Below is a brief overview of several type of images, with examples, to help you quickly sort through what you may already have available, and what you might want to add to your ‘brand’ archive.
Portrait Images
Headshots - Close-up for bios and social media profiles (both B&W and color, if possible)
Half- or full body portraits (in a studio or gallery where work is displayed). This image of Brooklyn-based artist María Barrío (below) not only provides a great sense of scale, but it playfully reflects the imagery, texture and color found in her work. And, it’s not too perfect; notice the bucket.
The artist in movement. Images or videos of the artist interacting with the camera, or others, can add a level of curiosity and interest. This Black and White portrait of Louise Bourgeois (below) illustrates this point. I found the following description of the artist elsewhere online: “Bourgeois was 84 years old, spiky, mischievous and always skeptical of the press. She quizzed him, police interrogation-style, about every aspect of his life.”
Now that you’ve read that paragraph, what do you think of the photograph? It accurately captures that description, don’t you think? Also, look at the collection of unusual objects within the frame— that is one unique studio!
“The Artist at Work”
Is your work environment vibrant and energetic like your work, or is it a calm, minimalist space? Whether you’re aware of it or not, your work space communicates something. How can you draw a visitor in?
Process Imagery (Close-ups). In the image below, we seem to be peeking over the artist’s shoulder as she works. The image conveys a sense of intimacy that evokes being present in the artist’s studio as the art comes to life.
Process Imagery (From a distance). Giving others insight into your process, and your artistic mastery through photos or videos can entertain, educate and inform your viewers, as well as contribute to elevating the perceived value of your work. Use these opportunities to cultivate a sense of anticipation and of wonder in the viewer, and you may find that you convert them into fans and followers. The video below, of Gerhard Richter at work, provides a useful reference.
L: An artist demonstrates “How to Draw Like Paula Rego.” Credit: Tate. R: Nils Verkaeren Interview, via Freunden Von Freunden
The Artwork Itself
Maybe this one is self-explanatory, but do consider including:
Shots of the artwork, both framed and unframed.
Close-up, detailed shots of the work, where it makes sense.
Installation views (Simple is usually better!). See below.
Around the Studio + Flatlays
The workspace. It’s a privilege to see an artist’s workspace. Nobody expects it to be perfect; they just hope to gain some insight into the work or the person that creates. As an artist, what catches your eye? What do you post on the wall? What’s tucked away for safekeeping? That’s what we want to see!
Art Supplies. I feel that this is self-explanatory, but I think artists are always asked about their tools and supplies. Whether you get super technical, or playful, try to make it interesting! You can set this up as a flatlay, or just take a photo of your supplies in place, you decide.
Collections + Unusual Objects. Most artists are avid collectors (I’m referring not only to art, but to other things such as buttons, erasers, arrowheads. vintage toys, etc.). If they don’t identify as collectors, they may have an affinity for objects that hold special meaning, or the work of artist friends, which usually makes an appearance in their workspace. These are all opportunities to showcase your personality and/or give a tip of the hat to other artists in your community.
“A Day in the Life”
Everyday routines and life outside of work. These can be photos of you relaxing, or doing something you do in your every day routine. Do you stop for coffee, or frequent a local lunch spot? Do you ride your bike to work, take public transport? Do you arrive early or work late into the night? Do you hang out with other artists, spend time with family?
For example, I find this image of artist Ini Archibong, below, quite compelling. Notice he seems unaware of the camera. That works quite well for this type of imagery. It’s a less self-conscious photograph, and gives the viewer a voyeuristic feeling; almost as if watching a film.
Ini Archibong Interview, Freundedn Von Freunden. Credit: Yves Bachmann
Anticipating Milestones
Celebrations + Holidays. It’s never too early to plan ahead. Do you have images to use for special invitations, announcements and celebrations? These don’t have to be explicitly holiday-themed, but can have a celebratory feel that is consistent with your own visual style.
A Few More Things to Consider
Play with depth of field in your images, alternating sharpness and blurred fields. Reserve a few blurred background shots for banners, and social media post backgrounds.
Think about color in your photographs. If you have several works in one shot, are the colors clashing, or are they harmonious? Select pairings thoughtfully.
Try shooting the same image from a unique perspective and play with scale (stand on a table, shoot from above, or from a ground level?).
Shoot high-resolution images as your starting point, and keep organized image files for quick reference.
You can consider using filters on your images, but it’s not a good idea if it will alter the color in your artwork. Always try to provide prospective customers and collectors with an accurate depiction of your work.
If you’re still unsure about what kind of imagery you want to create, or if you want to communicate what you like best to your photographer before a shoot, it can be helpful to create a Pinterest Moodboard with images that you think are in keeping with the look you’re trying to achieve. This will help guide the photographer, and provide an opening for questions about your vision and expectations for the project.
Finally, when it comes to social media, you can also consider using stock photos (sparingly) if you want to include images that relate to your work, or that are meaningful to you personally. For example, the community where you live, or where you grew up, or your ‘happy place,” but it could also be related to experiences (camping, for example, if you paint landscapes), or textures, and more.
