DateableWhat to bring and plan for a dating photo shoot
Bring two or three outfits, a charged phone, a friend or tripod and a shot list. Shoot in the hour before sunset, somewhere that does not identify you.
Bring two or three outfits, a lint roller, water, a fully charged phone with free storage, a friend or a tripod, and a written shot list. Shoot in the hour before sunset, somewhere that does not identify your home or work. An hour of planning saves weeks of weak photos.
Why planning saves time
A photo shoot without a plan feels like work. You are checking light, trying angles, changing clothes in a cafe toilet, looking for a good background, and watching the light die. By the time you find your rhythm you are tired and the sun is gone.
A plan takes an hour. It tells you what clothes to bring, what five to ten shots you actually want, and when and where to shoot to get the light right. When you arrive you know what you are doing. You take the photos, and you are done.
Pack the right things
Bring two or three outfits that are easy to change into, each one something you look good in and feel good wearing. One should be casual, one should be dressier. Iron or steam them at home, then carry them on hangers in a garment bag or laid flat on the back seat so they arrive without creases.
- Two to three outfits (casual, one dressier, one optional extra)
- A lint roller: clothes pick up dust and fluff
- Water: shoot for an hour and you will want it
- Phone charged fully, with at least 5GB free storage
- A friend, or a tripod and your phone's self-timer
- Your shot list (written or on your phone)
- A small mirror to check your face between outfits
- Deodorant, a powder puff for shine, and a small comb
Think about clothes
Colours matter more than patterns or brands. Choose colours that stand out against the background you have picked: if you are shooting in a park with green trees, wear blue or white or grey. If you are shooting in a cafe with red brick walls, wear cream or pale blue or a darker neutral. Solid colours beat busy prints, which pull the eye away from your face.
Fabric that moves looks better in photos than fabric that sits stiff. A linen shirt, a soft knit or a dress that moves when you walk photographs better than a rigid blazer. For more on what to wear, see the style posts.
Pick a location that does not identify you
Choose somewhere public with a background that looks good: a park with grass and sky, a painted wall, a street of old buildings, a waterfront. Avoid anywhere that identifies you: not your office building, not your local café, not the park at the end of your street, and no house numbers, street signs or car plates in shot.
Scout it a day or two before if you can. Note where the light falls late in the day, find two or three backgrounds, and check when the crowd thins. The guide to protecting your privacy covers what else a photo can give away.
Shoot in the hour before sunset
The worst light for photos is midday sun. It is harsh, it makes shadows under your eyes, and you squint. The best light is the hour before sunset or the first hour after sunrise. The light is soft, it is warm, and it makes skin look good. Check the sunset time for the day, arrive ninety minutes before it, and do your first outfit while you still have spare light.
If you cannot make that hour, shoot in open shade or on an overcast day. Avoid full sun in the middle of the day.
Write your shot list
Write down the shots you need before you go:
- A clear head-and-shoulders shot, facing the light, smiling.
- A full-length shot standing naturally.
- A full-length shot walking toward the camera.
- A laughing shot: ask your friend to say something ridiculous.
- A shot doing something you enjoy, with no one else in frame.
Take each one in at least two outfits, and take plenty of frames of each: burst mode helps, since blinks and half-smiles are common. A list keeps you from wandering and trying random angles while the light goes. Hand it to your friend so they can tick it off.
Brief your friend in one line, so they know what you want:
Hold the phone at my eye level, not above. Keep my face in the top third. Take lots, and tell me if my shoulders creep up.
If you are shooting alone, bring a tripod
A tripod with your phone's self-timer or a Bluetooth remote gives you full control. Frame the shot, set a ten-second timer with burst, and step into place. Most frames will be off; a few will be keepers.
A friend is better than a tripod: they move, try angles, tell you to drop your chin, and notice the stray hair. Without one, a small flexible tripod does the job, or a wall and something to wedge the phone upright.
At home, pick your best five from the session and delete the rest, so an unflattering frame never ends up online by accident. Then choose your photos for the profile from those.
