Shoot Prep Guide

Thank you for scheduling your beach shoot with me—I’m thrilled to work with you!

We should have already gone over the shoot concept and discussed some ideal items for you to bring to the shoot. You should also have a moodboard to give you more insporation regaring looks. But, here’s a quick guide to help you prepare for the shoot as well.

Timing is Everything

We’ll be working with a very limited golden window—about 20 to 30 minutes of the softest, dreamiest light of the day. So, Please arrive 15–20 minutes early, fully makeup-ready in your first look.
This gives us time to review outfits and accessories, ease into the flow, and be ready to shoot the moment the light is right. Sunrise moves quickly, and those golden tones don’t last long—so being on time means we can capture every second of the amazing sunrise.

What to bring

Pack smart so you feel confident and prepped.

  • Swimwear sets - Bring 2–3 options.

  • Cover-ups or layers - Think sheer wraps, oversized shirts, sarongs

  • Slides or flip-flops - For walking across hot sand or rocks.

  • Warm layer - A robe or long jacket. This is Chicago, mornings can be a chilly and windy.

  • Towel or blanket to sit on or use between sets

  • Water bottle – hydrate!

  • Touch-up kit – face wipes, gloss, blotting paper, travel mirror

What I will bring

I will bring everything to ensure a successful shoot.

  • Speaker - We are going to have fun and music is a vibe.

  • Changing Tent - I’ll bring a popup privacy tent for you to change look in.

  • Coconut Oil - I always have it in my bag every shoot… but its great for that wet look.

A Week before

Things to concider witin a week before the shoot

  • Waxing: If you wax, plan to do it a few days before the shoot to avoid any redness or bumps—especially for areas that might peek out of your lingerie.

  • Eyebrows: Ensure your eyebrows are shaped, groomed, and filled in for a polished look.

  • Salon Prep: If you’re getting a haircut or color, schedule it a few days in advance to make sure you’re fully satisfied with the results.

  • Manicure: Treat yourself to a salon manicure and pedicure if you want a flawless finish.

  • Avoid Sunburn: Please stay out of the sun before the shoot. While a subtle tan can look beautiful, red, blotchy, or peeling skin with tan lines do not. So try to limit sun exposure to keep your skin looking smooth and even.

  • Skip the Spray Tan: Avoid spray tans or self tanner. They often cause an orange tint and can get on your hands, which is tricky to correct in photos. Natural skin tones photograph beautifully, so embrace your natural glow!

  • Hydrate & Moisturize: Drinking plenty of water and following a skincare routine will give your skin a natural, luminous glow. Moisturizers and lotions are perfect for maintaining that fresh look!

  • Watch Your Salt Intake: To prevent water retention, try cutting down on salt and avoiding alcohol. These small steps can help create a leaner, more defined look.

  • Final Fitting: “Fortune favors the prepared.” Try on each outfit and lingerie piece, check for fit, and remove any tags or labels. Steam or iron your items and hang them properly to keep them looking fresh as you travel to the beach.

The Day of your Session

Before Your Session

  • Deodorant: Please use clear deodorant the day of the shoot.

  • Clothing: Please wear loose-fitting clothing to the shoot in order to avoid skin impressions—avoid tight jeans, leggings, socks, or tight underwear and bra’s. All these create marks on the skin over time and requires extra editing. So its totally ok to show up in baggy sweat pants and a sweat shirt or shorts and a t-shirt.

  • Eat Light: Have something light but filling before you leave to keep your energy up.

  • Hair & Makeup: Arrive camera-ready with hair and makeup done (whether by a makeup artist or yourself). Bring lip gloss or lipstick for touch-ups.

  • Payment: Have your final payment ready (credit card or cash is fine).

Most Important:
Remember, this shoot is going to be fun! My job is to capture your beauty, sensuality, and confidence. Take a deep breath and RELAX. It’s totally normal to feel a bit nervous, but you’re in great hands. I’ll guide you through poses and work with you to capture your best shots so you leave feeling amazing and confident!

Location

We will discuss a location to meet and I will send you a map showing our first shooting location. Please make sure to be on time. We only have a few minutes of golden hour and will not get those shots if we miss it.

I like to arrive early to scout locations and get my equipment setup and ready. So I usually arrive about 30-40 minutes early. So, if you would be more comfortable meeting at a parking location and walking to the beach together definately let me know and we will arrange that.

 FAQs

  • Its always better to have too many looks. So bring 3-4 looks, but we will most likely be shooting in three of them. We may shoot more, it just depends on how we are doing on time and if we are quickly progressing through the shoot.

  • I usually like to do 1 look per hour but depending on how many locations we pick and the time it takes to walk back and forth to them. Shoot time can vary anywhere between 3-4 hours.

  • First and foremost, I am a Professional Photographer. I will not be hiting on you, or trying to sleep with you on a shoot. That would be detrimental to my business and is inapropriate behaviour in that environment.

    Boyfriends, husbands, or significant others can attend beach shoots. But, in my experience, I find they are an unnecessary distraction to the models. They are free to come to the beach. But, I ask they watch from a distance and need to understand they should stay out of our shoot. They should definately not coach or direct the model in any way shape or form.

  • You will receive a proof gallery link within a few days of your shoot. From there you can chose the aloted number of favorites based on the shoot you chose (details can be found in the description on the shoot product page in my store.

    After you make your selections, I will edit them and create another “Completed Images” gallery. That will contain only your selected edits. There you can download them to your devices.

  • Editing for paid shoots is usually completed within 2-3 weeks. For tfp’s and collabs they could take up to 1 month depending on my availabiliy.

  • I can deliver all your photos within 1 week for $300. This does not include the time it takes for you to make your selections from the shoot gallery.

  • Yes you can, I charge $25 for each edited photo over the alloted amount that came with the shoot.

    You can chose what images you would like to add from the shoot gallery while you are making your selections for the shoot. Just comment on all the photos you would like from the shoot and I will send you an invoice for the overage. The invoice will need to be paid in full prior to releasing the edits.

  • I do not give out RAW (in camera .arw) images ever. However, I will sell you the unedited jpeg photos.

    50 Images: $200 | 100 Images $300 | Entire shoot: $1000

    Just let me know and I will send you an invoice.

  • I do not provide ride-share reimbursement to or from photoshoots. You are responsible for travel to and from photoshoots.

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