Doing a birthday-themed photography session is certainly easy for some people. Especially when the photography session has been well planned, starting from makeup preparation, costumes, location, and props. However, what happens when the photography session is done suddenly? That's what happened to me. The client contacted me a day before the session started, and I agreed. However, it turned out that the client only made minimal preparations.
To be honest, I was quite surprised when we first met for the photo session. The client only did minimal makeup and did it herself without hiring a makeup artist. In my opinion, even without a good location and adequate props, at least people would be drawn to a beautiful face thanks to the skilled hands of a makeup artist who can enhance her beauty.
Nevertheless, the show must go on. As a photographer, I still strive to produce interesting and high-quality photos. Because when these photos are displayed on social media, the photographer will also receive attention. And when the photos are not appealing, my reputation as a photographer is also at stake.
I paid attention to several things during this photo session. First is the costume. The client wore the costume she wanted, which was fine by me, and I was actually glad that the client had prepared it. However, what caught my attention was that the client seemed to be half-hearted in wearing it. There was a part that looked uncomfortable, which was the shoulder area. She wore a dress with thin straps, exposing the straps of her underwear. She should have worn a strapless undergarment to avoid that. The client asked me if I could remove the straps during the editing process, and I answered that it was possible but there would be an additional fee. Because this was not the photographer's fault, and it was caused by the client's lack of awareness in preparing her costume.
In terms of makeup, since the client did it herself, there were some parts that she tried to cover up, such as making her hands and feet appear whiter than her face. As a photographer, this was very noticeable, especially when viewing it through the camera. To address this, I adjusted the exposure higher to match the skin tones of her face, hands, and legs.
The last issue is about time. During the photo session, the client promised to arrive at 4 p.m., when the sunlight is ideal. However, in reality, the client arrived at 5 p.m., when the sunlight was almost gone, so I had to rush through the photo session. Not to mention the less-than-ideal mood because of waiting for an hour at the shooting location.
My advice as a photographer is to consult with the respective photographer before any photo session, including costumes, makeup, location, and other aspects. Because the photographer also wants to deliver great photos for their clients. Thus, the photographer will naturally suggest the best options based on their experience in photography.
By the way, here are the results of the photos. I have done my best for my client. However, as I mentioned earlier, there is a limit to how much a photographer can go in providing the best results. Since some mistakes here were caused by the client, as a photographer, we must maintain our professionalism until the point where our services are appreciated. I believe I don't need to resort to high-end editing since the client herself doesn't seem to care much about what she wore.
I hope these photos are still appealing. Thank you.
Warm regards from me.