Reasons You Should Never Scrimp On Your Photo Shoot (Part 2)

Part 1 of this series focused on some of the common mistakes musicians make in securing promotional photos, specifically, not setting aside enough money for a quality photographer experienced in working with artists and shooting album covers. In this part of the series, I want to cover some common mistakes musicians make when it comes to wardrobe selection for their photo shoots.

As an image consultant, I’ve seen too many artists who have gone out and purchased clothing for a shoot without first consulting a wardrobe stylist. Either the clothes are too big, too small, not the right color for the backdrop(s), or not even a style that corresponds with their brand or their music.

Many times this can result in a disappointing finished product, not because the photographer did a poor job, but because the clothing selection made the artist look heavier, washed-out, or inharmonious with the musical style. When the artists aren’t happy with their photos, their choice is to either shell out more money for a second photo shoot, or just use the ones with which they are unhappy. If choosing the latter, they run the risk of losing credibility with the industry and various media outlets.

An image consultant can help artists save money the first time around in the following ways:

Before the photo shoot

• Locating clothing stores within the artist’s budget.
• Pulling items on behalf of the artist, either on loan or at the stylist’s/consultant’s discounted rate due to the trusted relationship with the store.
• Showing the artist what items work best for his or her body type and coloring.
• Ensuring the looks are congruent with the artist’s brand and the goal of the shoot.

During the photo shoot

Backdrops vary and change frequently (just stay away from railroad tracks and brick walls - they’re WAY over used!). Not every look works with every backdrop. Therefore, it’s important to have as many wardrobe changes as the photographer will allow. In addition, it’s important to have a stylist on the set of the shoot with his or her toolkit and expert eye for detail to:

• Determine which clothes and accessories work with each backdrop.
• Ensure clothing is fitting properly and there are no wardrobe malfunctions.
• Make any necessary adjustments (i.e. pinning, tucking, etc.) to the clothes for a flawless look.

After the photo shoot

Following the photo shoot, the musician and musician’s team will need to select only a handful of photos from up to 500 frames shot by the photographer. This can be overwhelming and there can often be disagreement between the team members on the best photos. An image consultant’s objective point-of-view and eye for detail can help make this process a little easier. A good image consultant will:

• Look at the emotion in the subject’s face to determine if it conveys the right message.
• Look at what the clothes are doing in the photo (i.e. how they are laying, what effect they are creating for the body, etc.).
• Look at the posing and camera angles to determine if they are making the subject look too short, too wide, or too anything!

A perfect example of this is when I was going through a client’s photos to help her find just the right full-length shot for the back of her album cover. There were two photos almost exactly alike, and she was really set on using a particular one. When I suggested the other one was the better choice, she asked, “What’s the difference?” My response: “That ever so slight space between your arm and your torso that shows off your tiny waist.” When she saw the difference in how her waist looked between the two photos, she was sold on the other photo as being the best choice!

When it comes to getting a perfect picture for your promotional photos, don’t scrimp on photographers or image consultants. It can be a costly mistake. Spend a little more for quality and expertise so you don’t have to spend even more in the long run. You won’t be sorry!

Lori Bumgarner is an image consultant and media coach for musicians and recording artists. She is the owner of the Nashville-based company paNASH (www.paNASHstyle.com), and can be reached at LoriB@paNASHsytle.com.