Whether it’s putting together a collection for the shop window or for a hair competition, the Fellowship for British Hairdressing’s Online Photo Hair Workshop was bursting with tips and ideas for putting on a photo shoot.
Hosted by salon owner and photographer Kai Wan, he met up with salon owner and session stylist Karoliina Saunders, who talked about the importance of collaborations, mood boards and coming up with a concept when putting on a photo shoot. Also present was stylist Bernard Connolly, who has worked with brands, fashion houses and celebrities.
“Photo shoots can be expensive and you don’t want to waste your time or money. There are lots of things you can do to make the day work for you and we’re going to give you tips and hints and answer as many questions as we can,” explained Kai.
Top ten tips for successful photo shoots from Kai, Karoliina and Bernard:
1 When you find your aesthetic, you can start putting your stamp on your hair work and that then becomes your brand.
2 You take 100s of shots on the day, but it’s often the end of the day that you loosen up and have a play with the hair and model when you create something magical, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself to get the look straight away.
3 When you look for inspiration don’t just go on Google; the more you explore the outside world the more inspired you become. Go on a walk, visit a gallery and look at nature, take pictures on your phone. Create your own image gallery.
4 Don’t forget Pinterest – it has hundreds of boards of interesting photography, lighting, make-up and styling for inspiration. For more information email ruth@redmanemedia.com or call 07810 485492. visit RedManemedia.com
5 A mood board puts all your ideas from your head into a 2D board. You can bring it to a team of people so they all know what your vision is.
6 Use a mood board as a guide, but don’t be too regimented; you need to be flexible and adaptable on the day.
7 Keep hair realistic – don’t do something fantastical if you don’t know how to do it!
8 Prep, prep prep – make sure you have the skills and the tools before the day to create the look on the day.
9 Read any rules or criteria that is involved in the competition you are shooting for even if you’ve entered before as there can be additions or changes.
10 Work out your budget and have these conversations before you book your team. Does the fee include travel or are expenses extra? Make sure there are no hidden extras that you’re not expecting.
The Fellowship for British Hairdressing was founded in 1946 and over the years has grown in stature. It now covers many areas of the professional hairdressing industry. The independent, non-political organisation focuses on promoting artistic and creative quality; it provides support for future hairdressing talent keen to make their own mark in the industry. All the projects nurture sills and provide a career pathway; ClubStar, PROJECT: X, PROJECT: Colour and PROJECT: Men and the coveted F.A.M.E team.