How to Plan Your Dream Photoshoot: A Step-by-Step Guide (Without the Nerves)
You've thought about it more than once.
Maybe it's a fitness milestone you want to document, a weight-loss journey you're proud of, a milestone birthday, a sensual boudoir session, documenting your relationship, a group or team celebration or a personal brand that's finally ready to look as good as the work you're putting into it.
And every time the thought crosses your mind, something quietly talks you out of it — I'll book when I'm fitter. I'll book when I feel more confident. I'll book... one day…
Here's what fifteen years and over a thousand shoots has taught me:"one day" never shows up on its own. Readiness was never about your body. It's a decision — and the moment you make it, everything else falls into place.
That's exactly why we built the Life Portraits booking process the way we did. Not to test you, not to demand perfection before you even walk in the door, but to take every ounce of overthinking off your plate so all you have to do is show up. Below is the exact roadmap — from that first flicker of "maybe" to holding a gallery of images you'll treasure for life.
Step 1:
Define Your Goal
Before you book anything, get clear on what you're actually celebrating.
Are you marking a hard-won fitness milestone?
A body transformation you've earned the right to be proud of?
Building a personal brand or business that needs imagery to match your ambition?
Rewarding a team or gym community for their hard work?
Life Portraits was built around a dual belief: that your body is worth celebrating exactly as it is today, and that your brand deserves the same level of care. That's why our packages span Fitness & Health, Boudoir & Glamour, Branding & Commercial, and Team Photoshoots— each directed to make you look and feel unstoppable, whatever season you're in.
And to be clear: you do not need to be in "competition shape," camera-ready, or a single kilo lighter than you are right now. We photograph everyday people, fitness enthusiasts, competitive athletes, wellness coaches, and ambitious founders — every body type, every stage of the journey.
SWIPE through our outfit and styling inspiration guide below!
Step 2: Claim Your Calendar Block
Once you know what you're booking, head to our Brisbane studio scheduler to browse upcoming session dates across our curated locations — think iconic gyms, architectural homes, and professional studios around Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Select the date, style and package that works for you, then secure it with a deposit.
Don't see a date that suits you? Email us directly and we'll work with you to lock in a custom time, location and package.
A word of honesty: the butterflies usually kick in the second your booking is confirmed. That's completely normal, and honestly, it's a good sign — it means this matters to you.
The moment your deposit lands, our pre-shoot planning process kicks into gear so you're never left wondering what happens next. Communication is key for us!
Step 3:
The Prep Protocol
This is where we take the guesswork out of your hands entirely. In the lead-up to your session, you'll work through:
Styling & moodboard— curating outfits that make you feel like the strongest, most "you" version of yourself. Send us inspiration images, poses you love, or a Pinterest board — whatever helps us understand your vision, we'll help you refine it.
Hair & makeup - Help with booking one of our trusted suppliers. This is all sent out in an email as part of your booking proposal. See our hair and makeup blog HERE.
Tans & nails — small finishing touches that make a big difference on camera. We typically suggest an easy at-home tan and stick-on nails to round things out, no expensive salon trip required.
Every recommendation exists for one reason: so that on the day itself, you're not managing fifty small decisions. You're just showing up.
Step 4: Step Into the Experience
From the second you walk through the door, Creative Director, Emily MacDonald and the Life Portraits team take over. This isn't a stand-still-and-smile kind of shoot — it's hands-on, high-energy direction that guides you down to your fingertips.
No stiff, mannequin poses. No wondering what to do with your hands. Just an experienced team creating an environment engineered to melt camera nerves fast, so you feel safe, seen, and — by the second outfit change — like an absolute supermodel.
This is the part clients consistently tell us they underestimated. You don't need modelling experience walking in. You need a team who knows exactly how to direct you — which is precisely what fifteen years, a Telstra Business Awards Top 5 Finalist title, and a Lord Mayor's Women in Business Grant have been built on.
Step 5:
Your Visual Legacy
After your session, you'll receive a breathtaking, high-end gallery that captures your strength, your dedication, and — most importantly — who you actually are, not a stiff, over-posed version of you.
These aren't just photos to scroll past once. They're assets: images that celebrate a milestone you'll want to look back on, and imagery that carries real authority across your personal brand, your business, or your social presence. It's the difference between images you post once and images that keep working for you.
Ready to Take the Leap?
You don't need modelling experience. You don't need the "perfect" body. You need a team you can trust — and over 80 five-star reviews from clients who walked in nervous and walked out feeling like a pro say we take that seriously.
Browse upcoming Brisbane studio dates and book your session →
Prefer to talk it through first? Email us at info@lifeportraits.photography or DM @lifeportraits.photography — we're always happy to help you find the right fit before you commit to a date.
How to Prepare for Your Photoshoot: Tips from International Model & New Life Portraits Employee Colly!
Maybe you’re going into your first ever shoot, or maybe planning for your fifth! Either way, you’ll want to know how to really elevate your results and create images with your photographer that you’ll be proud of, to show off to friends and family… or maybe just as a gift to that special someone.
Over hundreds of photoshoots and almost a decade of modelling, I’ve refined my shoot preparations and posing to now get the best possible results each time. There’s no one-size fits all guide, as the key thing which will make a photoshoot successful is whether you are comfortable. So take whichever tips suit you most.
I’m thrilled to share these tips and tricks for a successful photoshoot with you!
Preparing for the shoot:
Moisturise your skin, but not too much that it leaves marks on furniture. Dry skin can look dull in photos, where cared-for skin will look supple and healthy, and more evenly catch the light
Having professional hair and makeup will create a beautiful finish to your skin, but not compulsory. It depends on the look you’re trying to achieve and where the shoot is taking place. For example if you’re wanting to create a boho look, you’ll want to keep it minimal and possibly outdoors in natural light. If you’re going for a fitness, glamour or studio look, lights and flash will blast through most day makeup.
Hair with texture, curled or natural, looks best. Avoid straightened hair- unless its part of the look you’re after, such as sleek or fashion styles.
Avoid taking all black outfits or large amounts of black clothing, as it can swallow light and make it hard to define your shape in photos.
Check out the photographer's social media profiles and their portfolio to get an idea of what to expect. Communicate with them what you have in mind before the photoshoot. Something to consider here is the photographers editing style too. Make it clear what you do and don’t want in the pictures now, to save time later.
If its an outdoor shoot, a longer indoor one, or you have long travel time, take water and a hat. I’ve gotten sunburnt and dehydrated on too many shoots and not only is that bad for the obvious reasons, but it will show in the photos and you won’t have a great time.
For winter photoshoots or windy locations, prepare for cold conditions, take a jacket.
On the shoot:
Most poses benefit from breathing high into your chest instead of your abdomen to accentuate your hourglass shape.
Pimples and temporary imperfections can be removed in post-production, so don't worry about them. In fact, just forget all about them! The less on your mind, the better your expression will sit. Often the most beautiful photos are caught between poses or in a moment when you’re just relaxing. On that note:
Think of things that make you happy. I know this sounds unrelated, but people have micro-expressions. Tiny tensions around the eyes and mouth or just the slightest increment of the head angle can change how an expression is perceived altogether. Thinking of your pet or your partner or something nice that has happened to you will come out in the photo. And hey, even if it doesn’t, now you’ve spent time thinking about something that makes you happy, so its a win anyway!
If you have a lot of hair, keep it on one side to avoid losing your neck or jaw in photos
Point your toes to elongate your legs.
Lips slightly parted helps to create a soft and relaxed expression. Softly exhaling through your lips helps too.
Communicate. If something is suggested that you aren’t sure about or isn’t really ‘you’, simply say it.
Aim for a handful of excellent shots instead of cramming in too many outfits or poses. Quality over quantity is key.
Remember to relax and have fun during your photoshoot!
Colly x
7 tips to Nailing your First Fitness Photoshoot - Brisbane Health, Fitness & Boudoir Photography
So you’ve achieved a weight loss goal, you’ve just competed or you’ve reached a health milestone and you want to capture your efforts and physiques with a photoshoot…… GREAT DECISION!
A fitness, boudoir or fashion photoshoot captures this time in your life and documents your hard work, sacrifices, motivation and time through imagery. We take a moment in time and freeze how you felt and how strong you are as a person to reach your goals. We all need to remember to celebrate our successes and reflect on our journey and investing in a photoshoot is a wonderful way to do so.
Having competed in figure bodybuilding in the past, reaching this high point in my physique and then not capturing this moment was the biggest regret I ever had! So if you’re daunted by the cost, how to be prepared, what to wear, where to shoot….. we can help you! We’ve gone into 7 tips to nail your first photoshoot below:
1. Prepare for the investment of a photoshoot it’s worth it! Budget this into your competition costs or weekly budget or opt for interest free payment plan
We find with a lot of clients that price is off-putting and people do not see the value in spending the money on capturing this moment in time. After all the hard work you’ve put in, time, sacrifices, hard hours in the gym… what are you doing to document you reaching this goal? Yes you can tick it off the list of things you’ve done and write about it on social media, but nothing outweighs the captured image and freezing this successful moment in your life. In order to prepare for the cost of a photoshoot, budget this into your costs for competing, or when you start a weight loss journey, start putting money away each week for this. At Life Portraits, we allow our clients to pay $150 upfront and then fortnightly/monthly payments, leading up to your shoot. The cost is worth the value and joy it will bring to your life looking back at these moments for years to come, and for generations to come!
Download our pricing and see our work on our fitness page HERE!
2. Watch our BTS Vlogs on tips to prepare for your fitness photoshoot
These Vlog features how to prepare, tips on posing, outfits and behind the scenes fun. This will give you a good idea of how we work at Life Portraits.
Watch them both BELOW:
1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOo6bh9XuIA
2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp0IEBlyquY&t=3s
3. Narrow down the style of imagery you want - Boudoir, fitness gym, fitness fashion, beach, lifestyle
The first step to planning a photoshoot is to determine the style of imagery you want. Once you have secured this style we can then guide you in choosing your location, outfits and types of posing. We provide a pinterest gallery of examples to help you decide what you’d like to do.
4. Find a location that suits your style and your personality
At Life Portraits we provide our clients with a full suburb breakdown of locations around Brisbane for options for their photoshoots. Sometimes, choosing a location is the hardest part of the photoshoot process as their are so many themes you can channel. Once you have the style of imagery that you want, we can then match a location to this style. Common locations include; gym, beach, graffiti walls, coloured walls, street style, lifestyle greenery open spaces, apartments/houses for boudoir. You can see lots of great examples on our instagram page
5. Narrow down your outfits to 2/3 options that matches the style of imagery you want and your location
Once you’ve nailed steps 2 & 3, we will guide you with pinterest boards and through email communication what outfits to use for your photoshoot. Common ideas include bikinis, one pieces leotards or body suits, booty pants, fashion wear, fishnets, lingerie, sports wear, leather jackets and boots, body crystals etc. We help you match your outfits to the colours of your location.
6. Preparing for the photoshoot day with hair, makeup & tan
You’ve done all the hard work to get to this point, now you want to look a million dollars for your photos! We always suggest to our clients that you get your hair, makeup and tan done professionally so that you are looking 10/10 for your photoshoot. Having this done reflects in your photos, looks a million dollars, boosts your confidence. We work with some great professionals in the industry, one of our most recommended is Shique Beauty in Brisbane - specialising in hair, makeup, tans, nails etc.
7. Photoshoot day - Have a bag packed with outfits, snacks, water and MUSIC
It’s photoshoot day! Make sure you have a bag packed the night before so you’re not rushed for the photoshoot and you’re calm and ready for the day. We always suggest that you play music on your shoot to help you relax, get into the motion of posing and enjoy the experience. We will guide you with posing, positioning your body in the best way possible to make you look your best.
Now all you need to do is relax and enjoy the experience! If you’ve been thinking about a fitness photoshoot in the Brisbane or Gold Coast area, we’d love to hear from you. Life Portraits specialises in portraiture, weddings and commercial but has a sub brand LP Fitness where we work with fitness competitors, weight loss transformations and capture people in a state of celebration of their health and wellness.
We’d love to hear from you! Email us at info@lifeportraits.photography to book your shoot. Or contact us on our website.
