4 beginner photographer mistakes to avoid in your first model session

over the weekend, I shot my first model session. like many photographers, I started with a friend, which alleviated some pressure, but I couldn't shake all the nerves. like many things in life, my first shoot did not go exactly as planned. (as a future wedding photographer, I should probably get used to that.) from a lack of preparation to the unfortunately wet weather, there are certainly a few things I'd do differently if I could go back and do it all again.

make a rainy day plan

(or, at the very least, pack an extra change of clothes!)

for anyone pursuing photography, shooting in the rain is inevitable. however, it is also not the best place to start either. it's just an extra variable that needs to be accounted for.

for the first half of the session, the weather held up. in fact, the clouds acted as a natural softbox. however, during golden hour, the sky opened up. my model got soaked. I had to wipe my lens of condensation repeatedly. we had to constantly cover the flame of the oil lamp to ensure it stayed lit.

eventually, I accepted my fate, folded up my umbrella, and tossed it to the side; drenched was my new state of being, and I fully embraced it. however, I wasn't alone. when we were done with our witchy and woodsy photoshoot, my model danced in the rain, which yielded some dope results.

in hindsight, I wish I suggested a backup shooting location in the event of poor weather. perhaps I could've rescheduled the outdoor shoot and opted for a cozy cafe instead. at the very least, knowing it was going to rain, I should've proceeded assuming I'd get wet and brought an extra pair of clothes.

come with a shot list

me at my first model session: "I had concepts of a plan..."

one of my biggest beginner photographer tips is to bring a shot list to your first model session. experienced photographers often dismiss shot lists as overrated, but I believe this comfortability with shooting on the fly only comes with experience. new photographers, on the other hand, may not know what they want under pressure, which is why a shot list can be so helpful.

going into my first model session, I jotted down in my notes app a few ideas for poses I wanted to capture. once I reached the end of my notes, I ended up forcing a few awkward poses simply to take more photos. needless to say, I regretted not giving myself more guidance.

my plan for my first model session was to mainly shoot off vibes. however, there is so much to think about in the moment: camera settings, lighting changes, composition — and all of that is in perfect weather conditions! it's understandable that ideas would be forgotten, but that's where your shot list comes in.

if you're like me and love to use your notes app, you might want a gadget like this camera-mounted phone stand to be able to easily reference your shot list on your phone during photoshoots.

give clear instructions

and if you can't, then ask, "what do you think?"

throughout the session, my model repeatedly asked, "what do you want me to do?" and "how should my face look?" my flustered response each time was, "hm... I don't know." as my model patiently waited for direction, I frequently followed this question up with, "what do you think?" and honestly? not the worst response!

in this case, my model was a friend, which made it easy for us to bounce ideas off one another. we came up with poses and looked for the best spots for backdrops as a team. however, I realize that relying on your model to participate in the brainstorming process may not be the best look for clients who expect the photographer to lead the session. photographing off vibes may not cut it.

as I pursue wedding photography, I imagine I will frequently seek input from my bride and groom on capturing their big day; this will ensure they are happy with the results. so, this approach isn't the worst idea for me! however, this may not work for all styles of photography.

practice problem-solving

where there's a will, there's a way.

because of the overcast weather, the sunlight did not stretch as long as I had anticipated; essentially, there was a lack of blue hour. as a result, I decided to end the session when we ran out of sunlight. however, it didn't have to be this way.

a potential solution to darkness is pretty obvious in hindsight: use my camera flash. at the time, I had not yet explored using the flash function on my Canon Rebel T7, but even if I didn't feel comfortable trying out a new feature, I could've utilized my phone flashlight to illuminate my model.

if I only had improvised a backup light source, I'd have a couple of dozen additional photos to work with and showcase in my portfolio — even after culling! sure, flash is a totally different vibe than the shadowy portraits taken just a few minutes apart, but at least I'd have a full gallery if I were a little more resourceful.

after all, not every photoshoot is going to occur in the most optimal conditions — especially wedding photography. receptions will be dark, and I need to get comfortable adapting to my environment.

at the end of the day, firsts are bound to be messy. few people are gifted enough to effortlessly and flawlessly pick up a new skill. mistakes are part of the process, but as long as we reflect and ask ourselves what we can do better next time, we might be alright.