Actual heartache. There is nothing worse than pouring your time, money, energy and creativity into a shoot — only to receive photos that don’t even come close to what you envisioned. It’s frustrating and it genuinely stings.

But it definitely doesn’t have to go down like that. You can secure the gold from your next studio session — and it starts before you even step in front of the camera.

Here are a few non-negotiables to get it right!

1. Have a Clear Vision — & WRITE IT DOWN

Winging it is not the move. If you want results you love, you need to be crystal clear about what you’re trying to create. Define the vibe. Is it soft and romantic? Bold and high fashion? Moody and cinematic?

Get specific:

• What kind of lighting are you imagining?

• What sort of editing style do you love?

• What’s the intention of this shoot? Are you Telling a story? Launching a product?

• What details absolutely matter to you?

Put it all in one document or printed-out brief — and share it with everyone involved. No one should be guessing.

2. Choose the Right Photographer

Book someone whose work you genuinely admire. Don’t just grab whoever is free next week — this is not the moment for compromise. Study their past shoots.

Do they align with your vision?

Have they pulled off something similar before?

Also: don’t ask for a discount. This is their art. Their skill. Their income. If you want work that inspires you, value the artist behind it.

3. Communicate Like a Boss

Your team should be fully across the vibe before shoot day. That means your photographer, makeup artist, stylist — anyone involved — should know the moodboard, direction, goals and what matters most to you.

Clear communication = smoother flow, less stress and better results. Every time.

4. Prepare Yourself

(Like You Deserve This Moment)

If you’re the subject of the shoot, preparation and self-love go hand in hand.

• Try on everything ahead of time. Don’t leave any outfit decisions for the day of.

• Play dress-up in front of a mirror — move, pose, check what feels natural and fabulous.

• Experiment with hair and makeup beforehand so you know what makes you feel most confident.

• Choose outfits that feel amazing AND comfortable. If it pinches, pulls, or makes you self-conscious, ditch it.

• Save candid pose inspo that you can reference — don’t rely on your brain to pull them up mid-shoot.

You deserve to walk into that studio prepped, aligned and ready to create something that feels like you at your best!

If you’ve got a unique or outside-the-box vision — amazing. That’s where the real magic lives. But it’s important to unpack that vision logically as well as creatively before your studio time.

Ask yourself: What props, backdrops, lighting or styling details could help bring this to life? Break it down visually and mentally. And most importantly — talk to us.

We love collaborating on creative possibilities. The earlier we’re brought into your thought process, the more we can inform you, inspire ideas and help shape what’s actually possible in the studio. We’re here to co-create with you.

Your next shoot doesn’t have to end in disappointment. When you treat it like the investment it is — with time, care, communication and creativity — the magic will come through.

Let it be your best yet.