How I develop a shooting idea (Patreon)

When I meet with other photographers I quite often get asked how I select models for my shooting ideas. Actually the process to prepare my shootings is quite the opposite direction. As I don't shoot commercial projects for e.g. the fashion industry, I'm not looking for the right model to implement a specific project. The process begins with an agreed shooting with a model I'm interested in.

So typically the first things I know are the model and the date.

From there, I start thinking about what style of pictures matches best with the model - be it because of her body, her style or the work she shows in her portfolio. If I don't know the model yet, this is the most difficult and critical step - a shooting idea, the model doesn't like or feels not comfortable with will result in bad pictures. On the other hand, if the model likes the idea, she will add own ideas, engage more and provide more than standard posing.

Hence, my list of models I work with is fairly short - 6-8 models, I'm constantly shooting with and where the results get better with every shooting. And 2-4 new faces, I didn't work with yet but seem to me having enough potential for more than just 1 shooting.

At the same time I have a list of shooting ideas which I prepare over weeks or months (location, outfits, moodboard, etc. ) and where I have a fairly precise idea what type of model I would like to see for this shooting. If the right model for such an idea passes by, I'm ready ...