How to prepare for a portrait shoot?

I get this question a lot so I thought I would compile my answers into a quick 3 min read for easy reference. A good photographer can do wonders for your portrait but it’s equally important that he/she has great source material to work with - and that starts with you!

If you find yourself lost on where to start, here are a few pointers:

1. Grooming
- Tidy up any excess facial hair (nose, ears, eyebrows, moustache, etc).
- Hydrate your skin. Apply some face moisturiser the night before to soften the skin.
- For men, go for a haircut a few days to a week before the shoot. Ask your hairdresser for a trim instead of cut. Let him/her know that this is for a photoshoot. Typically, they’ll trim it to a length that’s perfectly presentable.
- For ladies, arrive in basic professional makeup. Whatever you would wear to work is usually a good gauge. Leave your hair untied so that we have the option of tying it up for a second look.
- If you want a more polished look, I can help you hire a hair and makeup artist.

Terrance, DWF Law (Previously)

2. Attire
- Wear something that makes you feel comfortable and confident. This goes a long way in creating the right mood for the shoot.
- Make sure your attire is well-fitted. A well-fitted attire enhances your silhouette. For that reason, I typically advise against borrowing blazers from friends or colleagues for shoots. It’s best for the blazer to be tailored but if you’re on a budget, buying it off-the-rack can work too if you shop at the right places. Feel free to ask me if you need recommendations :)
- Patterns: Try to avoid stripes as it results in moire. Solids work the best. However, if you feel that patterns are essential to how you would express yourself, bring it up with your photographer.
- Colours: There’s really no hard rule on this but typically I find monochromatic colours (black, white, grey, blue) works with the widest range of backgrounds.
- Accessories: Portrait photographers love an accessory which tells a story. If you’re comfortable, bring along something which you feel represents you. It could be a pair of earrings, a book or a fedora. Existing body art like tattoos are great too, if shown in the right context.

Dione Song, CEO, Love Bonito

3. Mood
- Have plenty of rest the night before. You will look more energetic and ready to engage during the session.
- Arrive slightly early so you’re in a calm mood. You could also use that extra time to touch up your grooming or attire.
- If you feel it would make you more comfortable, feel free to ask your photographer if you could bring a close friend/family member with you.
- Be ready to go with the flow :) Most likely your photographer already has a way of bringing out the best expressions out of you. Be in the moment and let him/her bring out the best in you.

Chef Christopher Kong, Dearborn

I hope this gives a clear overview on how to prep for a portrait shoot! If you need more tips or are unsure about anything, feel free to discuss it with me. Additional tips are welcome too; Just write them in the comments!

Till next week!

- Matt

3 things to note when selecting a photographer

I’m sure most of you would have heard of the Afford-A-Graph saga by now. Articles on bad photography experiences have been written so many times, I thought I would approach this topic from the perspective of you, my client, instead of continue the finger-pointing.

Just like when hiring any other services, you expect your photographer to deliver quality work on time and with a great attitude. It causes a great deal of stress to you when these expectations are not met, especially if you’ve superiors to answer to. Incidents like the Afford-A-Graph saga are honestly tales as old as time, primarily because this is a self-regulated industry with no barriers to entry.

The term “professional photographer” has been bastardised in this era I’ve stopped attaching expectations of standards to the term. When someone tells me he’s a professional, I merely interpret it by its dictionary definition, which is “someone engaged in a specific activity as one main’s paid occupation.” Hence, the purpose of me writing this blogpost is not to help you define your expectations of a professional photographer but to help you find a photographer that will deliver to your standards.

Here are 3 things I feel you could look out for when hiring a photographer for better peace of mind:

1. Does your photographer bother to find out your expectations?
Often times, clients are unhappy not entirely because their photos turn out bad but because they have an expectation and reality mismatch. This mismatch can happen with any part of the project - from deliverables to service. Every client has a certain impression of what a good photograph and service is and this is often not communicated unless they’re being asked.

Just like how a good sushi chef would ask you for your dietary preference, a good photographer would find out what your expectations around the project are before quoting for it.

Here are some questions I ask my clients:
- What is the purpose of this photoshoot?
- What is your project timeline?
- Do you have any photo references for the type of photos and quality you’re looking at?
- What is the budget we’re allowed to work with?

I also look out for non-verbal cues. For example: Are you quiet and shy or loud and exuberant? Are there any pain points or sensitivities that you may not feel immediately comfortable to communicate?

Just like how I approach my portrait shoots, I want to know my clients before I work with them.


2. Does your photographer have a robust portfolio to show?
After finding out your expectations, a good photographer will know what materials to pull out to put you at ease that they’re an expert in delivering to your needs. Here are some questions you may want to consider when viewing a portfolio:
- Does the portfolio demonstrate the photographer’s understanding of the subject matter? (e.g.: hiring someone who has worked with kids for a family portrait)
- Does the portfolio demonstrate the ability of the photographer to work in the scenarios required (e.g.: shooting in low light conditions or tight spaces)?
- Are the photos in the portfolio consistent (e.g.: lighting, composition, expressions, etc)?
- How many projects did the photographer present?
- Finally, are you happy with the work presented?

A photographer’s portfolio is a collection of his strongest and most relevant work. If you’re unhappy with it, chances are you will not be happy with the final deliverables. So pick someone with a robust portfolio.


3. How much does your photographer charge?
I understand that every client aims to pay the least for the best quality of work – it’s basic economics. However, good, reliable photographers are rarely cheap.

So why do good photographers charge so expensive? There are a few reasons:
- They’re confident of their workflow and can deliver reliably most of the time.
- They hire crew of great quality and reliability too (e.g.: makeup artists, lighting assistants, stylists, etc).
- They cost for fail-safes to ensure most foreseeable contingencies are taken care of.
- They only accept projects they’re interested in and have confidence in executing perfectly.

Hiring a good photographer comes with an ecosystem of safeguards that ensures your project is executed to excellence despite the circumstances. I like to use this example to help my clients understand the consequence of reliability (or a lack thereof): If you’re hiring a photographer to shoot your company’s CEO, who would only be in Singapore for 1 day, and the photo is going to be used for a cover story on Forbes magazine – a move that could greatly influence his career – how much chance would you take with this photoshoot?

I hope this article helps you pick a good professional photographer that can deliver to your expectations reliably. Feel free to hit me up if you’ve any thoughts :) I’m always happy to hear them.

Till next week!

How to plan a corporate or commercial photoshoot?

Monday somehow seems to arrive faster now that I made a commitment to write ONE blogpost every week. A website can be pretty impersonal so I’m hoping to use this blog as a way to let you know more about me as a person and photographer, as well as ask any burning questions you might have.

Today’s suggestion came from Felicia, a freelance marketer working with Nanolumi, a company that I did a project with recently. I first reached out to her via a job listing on the SG Covid-19 Facebook group and was impressed by the amount of thought that went behind her brief to me.

Photographers love clear briefs because it gives a clear insight into what your vision and expectations are around the photoshoot. With that information, we can jump in on a conversation with you on the finer details or provide suggestions to value-add to your project.

I understand though that not every client is marketing-trained so here are some tips on how to brief a photographer for your shoots:

Corporate Shoots
I typically receive two kinds of photo requests for corporate shoots: Posed portraits and In-action Portraits

1. Posed Portraits
Posed portraits can come in many forms. These are what I need to know:
- Is it a studio background or environmental portrait?
- Do you require headshots, half-body or full-body portraits?
- Do you require them to be looking into camera or you prefer an off-camera ‘plandid’ look?
- Where is the shoot taking place? Is it in your office or do I have to source for a venue?
- How many employees are we photographing?
- How many unique photos do you require per employee?
- How much time do we have for the shoot / with each employee?
- How do you intend to use the photos? (Linkedin / Speaker’s profile / Print?)
- Do you require a hair and makeup artist?

An environmental portrait of Microsoft Asia President, Ahmed Mazhari.

2. In-Action / Slice of Life Portraits
A Slice of Life photo refers to a photo capturing employees interacting in their natural environment. These are what I need to know:
- What would the employee/s be doing in the scene? (Photo references would be helpful)
- Could you suggest some appropriate locations for the scenes?
- How many scenes do we have to shoot / How much time do we have for the shoot?
- How do you intend to use the photos? (Linkedin / Speaker’s profile / Print?)
- Do you require a hair and makeup artist?

A Slice of Life photo shot for Sodexo, a French Food and Facilities Services MNC.

Timeline for Corporate Shoots
Digestion of brief/clarifications - 1 to 3 days
Planning/scheduling - 1 to 2 weeks
Shoot - Depends on no. of days required
Post-processing (inclusive of feedback) - 2 to 3 weeks

Commercial Shoots
Commercial shoots are typically more demanding in nature because the requirements are more exact and they have to be executed to a level of perfection. That means a lot of planning and coordination is involved. In fact, the photoshoot might be the shortest part of the project. Unlike corporate shoots, commercial shoots are typically for advertising use.

As commercial shoots are usually handled by advertising agencies, they usually have a ready brief on hand to find a photographer at the right price point to deliver the requirements. But if you’re a direct client without an agency, here are what the photographer would need to know:

- Is this a Key Visual or an Image Library assignment?
- Do you have a concept on hand or require the photographer to come up with the concept? (Kindly show us some photo references)
- How many photos do you require / how many scenes are we photographing? This will determine the amount of time needed.
- What is happening in each photo? (Where are they shot? / How many people are in the scene? / What are they doing? / What is the mood? - Be as detailed as possible, include photo references for clarity too). If this is not given or needs to be discussed, typically the photographer will charge extra for conceptualisation.
- What kind of talents do you require for your shoot? What is the ideal age range and race you’re looking at?
- How long will the photos be used? Which medium will they be displayed on? Which countries will they be used in?
- What is the budget? The budget determines the level of production the photographer /producer can put together and the quality of your final image. RTQs without budgets are typically ignored by commercial photographers.

Commercial lifestyle photography for Shangri-La Hotel Singapore.

Timeline for Commercial Shoots
Digestion of brief/clarifications - 1 week
Pre-production Meetings/Planning/Scheduling/Recce - 2 to 3 weeks
Shoot - Depends on no. of days required
Retouching (inclusive of feedback) - 3 to 4 weeks

I hope this gives you a clearer idea on the considerations behind a professional photoshoot. Feel free to hit me up if you’ve any questions or want to make a suggestion! I’m always happy to hear them :)

- Matt

How to achieve candid yet professional-looking photos?

I’ve been approached enough times by my clients for candid yet professional-looking photos that I think it’s worth writing a post to share how I achieve it. I’ve been doing candid professional portraiture for about 4 years now and to be honest, I didn’t even think of it this way until clients came up to me consistently asking for the same thing. I was just making portraits the way that felt right to me.

I was giving some thought as to why this request is so popular. Often times, clients come to us photographers with a vague request and it’s our job to turn that vague brief into a photograph. This is my take on candid professional portraiture.

What is Candid?
Usually, my clients will come to me and tell me they want their photos to look candid. The most common example is: “You know those photos of guests captured at a wedding? I want to look like that.” It is an unadulterated moment, pure and honest. Everyday, we put ourselves in different social situations and perform different roles, it’s almost like an act. I think the reason why people love candid photos is because it is a moment of truth and a peek into our true selves. Having a candid portraiture taken is a way of conveying what’s unique about you in a way that’s honest and not try-too-hard.

How to achieve the Candid look?
Breaking down what’s behind a candid look is one thing but achieving it consistently is another. Unlike a wedding, a seated portrait session relies entirely on the photographer to create moments. Here’s what I do:

1. Create Trust
If a candid photo reveals true selves, the subject must first be comfortable revealing his or her true self in front of the photographer. Many photographer use the phrase “Just relax” or “Just be yourself” but I prefer to engage in a conversation. Typically, I spend the first 5 minutes of the session just chatting and picking up tiny details in the conversation that I can use later on during the photo session. If you want to establish trust, first listen, then engage. Have a genuine interest in your subject’s life and extract the parts you find interesting and turn them into visuals.

2. Reactions, not Instructions
I never believe in asking my subjects to “Just smile”. It’s the same as asking you not to think about the pink elephant in the room. (What do you think about?). If you want a genuine smile, you’ve to coax it out of your subject. Tease, distract, exaggerate, ask questions. A good portrait photographer has an ample vocabulary of techniques they can tap on to bring out the reaction they want.

However, that being said, after the subject has warmed up sufficiently and trusts the photographer, direct instructions can be given to the same effect. It all boils down to how skilful the photographer is and how much the subject trusts the photographer.

3. Seek feedback
I liken portrait making to a dance. Both parties have to participate equally for the pair to move and communication is paramount to create seamless, graceful movements. Despite having clients come to me after seeing my portfolio, there’s still a 30% chance of not shooting a photo as they totally love. The most common feedback is not about the photo per se but about their body parts.

Almost everyone has a part of their face/body they don’t like. Conversely, they also have sides of their body they want to show more of. Hence, I always show my clients their photos mid-way through the shoot after they’ve sufficiently warmed up and seek their feedback. A photographer’s ego can be pretty big but I try to treat feedback as an exercise in humility and empathy, and a chance to learn something new.

I’m currently into the second week of my commitment to write ONE blogpost every Monday. What do you want to see more of? Hit me up and we’ll have a conversation :)

- Matt

How I approach a portrait shoot

I have been photographing people for around 4 years now. And at some point, I realised I have an approach to capturing people. There’s something I look out for in every single one of my portraits and a way I go about finding that.

I’ll be honest. While I’m writing this post partially as a first step to tackling SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), I also want to take this opportunity to share with you how I view portrait-making so that you know what to expect when you hire or collaborate with me.

Unlike photographing a piece of still life, there are a lot of opportunities for inter-mingling of ideas and senses when photographing a human being. I see a lot of beauty in that. I’m naturally curious about people and their life experiences, and I approach every conversation with the hopes of learning something new.

I’m not sure about you, who you are, and how you communicate. But I can confidently say this is how I communicate best and my best photos come from an open conversation about who you are as a person, your likes and dislikes, and your life philosophies. I ALWAYS relish in the opportunity to know you as a person first and photo subject second. And if we stay as friends after the shoot, that’s a bonus for me.

If that sounds like the portrait experience you would like, please read on for my approach :)

I approach a portrait shoot with 3Cs in mind:
1. Curiosity
2. Comfort
3. Connection

Curiosity
My first step to photographing people is to have a genuine, unfettered curiosity about them. Although I’m most parts Introvert and being around people for long periods of time drains me, I enjoy being around them. I believe every individual is unique and I'm not just saying that to sound worldly. The reason why I say this is because no one in the world has the exact circumstances as anyone else, even twins, and circumstances shape world views and world views eventually form personality. When two individuals come together (in this case you and I), there are infinite number of ways our energies can interact and infinite amount of knowledge we can glean off each other. Isn’t that wonderful!? (At this point you really should be thinking this, otherwise you wouldn’t have read this far)

That’s Step One, I want to know you, before I photograph you.

Comfort
After talking to and photographing countless of people, I realise not everyone is equally open to sharing about themselves. It’s not a good or bad thing. It is just what it is. I can’t do anything to change that behaviour, but what I can do, and always do, is to create a safe space for you to express yourself. I try to take a non-judgmental approach to better understand people. It really doesn’t matter who you are, what I’m curious about is your motivations behind what you do.

Comfort comes not just from thinking you can trust me as a person but also knowing you can trust me as a photographer that wants the best for you. One thing I usually ask my clients is: What are you trying to portray through your portrait? What “information” do you want people to extract from your photo at first glance? Knowing that information is powerful because I can help you create that.

I don’t believe in telling you “just relax”. I believe in Trust.

Connection
This is the ultimate thing I look for in my photos. I’ll be honest with you: I love glam moments (I mean who doesn’t like to look good right?) but I love genuine moments more.

I romanticise the idea of the Photograph (sometimes to a fault) and its ability to immortalise a unique splice of time in the universe with one frame. And that splice of time where I notice your genuine connection with me or the camera is what I aim to capture. It is special to me and I can only hope it’s equally special to you.

I think this blogpost covers broad base my approach to portrait-making. I don’t think it’s the only way but it’s my way. And that’s how I consistently achieve the type of photos you are seeing on this portfolio.

Feel free to let me know your thoughts, I’m always happy to learn something new!

I’m also making it a point to write ONE blogpost every Monday to share my thoughts, solutions or fun new projects. If you’ve something you want to know, hit me up and I’ll connect with you.

- Matt