From End to End
I'm the kind of person who doesn't like to make a decision until I have enough information on something, information makes me feel comfortable and secure in knowing how something is going to work ahead of time. Essentially, I'm pretty sure I just don't like the unknow very much - which rings true for a lot of us!
So this month, I thought I would write about the shoot process, from initial booking, to final image delivery, for those of you who would like to know a little more about the process, how it all works, and a general time frame. I'll bet that you'll be pretty surprised about how much goes into a shoot - a photoshoot is so much more than just one day!
Step one: Enquiry
The first step on getting the ball rolling on your shoot is the enquiry. The moment you take that leap and finally book the shoot you've been thinking about for months (If not years!) is an exciting one, because you're actually DOING IT! Doesn't it feel exhilarating when you finally do something you've been thinking about forever? I'd certainly say it does!
Once you’ve filled out the enquiry form on the website (Which can be found here), I’ll get back to you within 48 hours, and we’ll discuss any additional requirements for your shoot, date, time, location, payment (This can be done by instalments, or in one lump sum) and any questions you may have.
Step 2: Before your Shoot
It's very likely that you'll have a few weeks between finalising your booking, and the day of your shoot (I tend to book up around 6 weeks in advance currently, so last minute bookings are becoming a rarity!), in that time, make sure have a think about outfit choices, deciding if you wanted to buy anything new for your shoot.
Top tip: If you plan on buying any clothing or accessories for your shoot, do so in plenty of time in case you need to send items back and reorder should something not fit, or not look quite right.
During this time, I also encourage you to ask any questions you may think of before your shoot, my inbox is always open to help make sure your shoot day is absolutely perfect!
A week ahead of your shoot I’ll also reach out in case of any last minute questions or concerns.
Step 3: Shoot day!
It’s finally here, the day of your photoshoot!
I’ll be arriving at our chosen location slightly early to set up and plan some shots out ahead of time so that I’ll be ready for when you arrive.
On the day of your shoot, give yourself plenty of time to get ready, it’s better to have too much time than too little. There is nothing worse than having to rush doing your hair and makeup, and then drive in a panic to your shoot location feeling totally fried before we’ve started! Give yourself lots of time so you can really relax and enjoy the whole experience.
When we start shooting, I’ll ease you into it all with simple posing and a few lighting tests to make sure we’re getting exactly what we want for your images, all whilst regularly checking in to make sure you’re happy and comfortable, as well as happy with the style of images we’re creating.
This day is all about you, so that’s how I run a shoot - you’re the star of the show!
Once your shoot is over, firstly you'll be beaming! Every client starts off a little nervous and finishes buzzing, something I absolutely love!
Once my gear is packed down, I'll explain the timeline ahead for your photos (This is variable, which I'll explain in the next step), and what happens next, as well as giving you a price list for wall art so you can have a think about what would work best in your home.
Step 4: Processing
This is the amount of time it takes for me to get your images retouched and ready to be delivered to you.
After every shoot, I make sure to post at least 1 image on social media as a sneaky peek (unless requested not to) to give you a little something from the day - Photos are exciting, so I like to share a little something as soon as possible!
Processing time on your gallery can vary, dependent on how busy I've been with other shoots (An editing backlog is inevitable when we get into the summer season!) and the type of shoot you've had - bigger shoots with more images will take longer. Usually, this period can be anywhere between 2- 7 weeks, but the earlier in the year you book, the shorter this time tends to be - one bonus to booking an early spring shoot!
When I'm processing your images, I'm making sure that they're absolutely perfect, taking the time to remove objects, adjust white balance, tidy up wild fly aways, clean up backgrounds, and add that special magic that makes an photo a Pursuit Images photo.
You're paying for a luxury service and deserve the absolute best in your images, so every bit of care is taken to make sure of that.
Step 5: Your viewing session
When your images are ready, I'll get in touch with you to arrange your viewing session - very exciting!
You'll be invited into the office to see your images up on the 38" T.V. that I have specifically to showcase your images and make your viewing even more special - I can vouch that images look absolutely fabulous up on the big screen and give you full impact so you can really appreciate them!
In this time you'll also have the chance to purchase wall art of your images, from a carefully selected list of products, products that I've taken the time to select specifically to display your images in the best possible way. I'll guide your through the price list, asking questions to make sure I can advise you on the best option for you.
I'll also help you make the tricky process of deciding which images you want as wall art as stress free as possible, using my tried and tested selection method to help you choose the images you love most.
One comment I get a lot is how hard it can be to choose (Which is a wonderful compliment that shows I've done my job right!), so I want to make sure I can help make image selection as straightforward as possible, again, advising where I can to make things even easier.
You'll leave your viewing session with a beautiful branded USB with all of your retouched images as low resolution files, as well as the excitement of knowing that your chosen images will be on their way to the lab for printing A.S.A.P!
Step 6: Wall Art Delivery
After your viewing session, I'll put the order through to the lab to get your choice of wall art into production as fast as possible.
Each product is made totally bespoke, hand crafted in the West Midlands to the highest standards, so there is usually a 2 week production time on all wall art - but I think all of my past clients would agree, it's totally worth the wait!
So there you have it! The shoot process from start to finish, as as you can see, it's so much more than just one day, it's a whole journey, and it brings me an immense amount of joy to be able to give my clients this time and time again.
I do hope that you've enjoyed being along for the virtual ride of a shoot from start to finish, and that you now have a greater understanding of everything that goes into making the shoot experience completely magical, whilst giving clients that luxury service that is guaranteed when they book in with Pursuit Images.
And perhaps now that you know a little more about the process, you might feel ready to take the leap and get yourself booked in for that dream shoot!
If so, then feel free to fill out an enquiry form which can be found here. I'm now booking up 2022, so if you’ve got a show planned, or want a specific date, please get in touch quick to make sure you get the date that you want!
Stay strong,
Emma
