A portrait for a company website, a model portfolio, and a fashion story may all start with a person in front of a camera. They need different framing, styling, and planning. A clear brief gives the session direction while leaving space for something unexpected.

01 / Give the images a job.

List where the photographs will appear: your website, an agency submission, social media, a press kit, or a campaign. Choose one main purpose and tell your photographer about any secondary uses.

Bring a small set of references and explain what you like about each one. Is it the light, the expression, the movement, or the sense of place? A few specific observations are more useful than a large folder with no direction.

02 / Choose a setting that supports the idea.

A studio gives you a controlled setting. A street location brings architecture, passing activity, and changing light into the frame. Neither needs to be the default: choose the environment that helps tell your story.

For a New York location session, keep the route manageable. Several nearby settings can give you variety without spending the session moving between neighborhoods. Discuss access, location permissions, changing arrangements, and a weather alternative before committing to a plan.

Explore our architectural settings or Moody studio direction for different approaches.

03 / Build a small, intentional wardrobe.

Start with one complete look that feels right for the images you need. Then add a second direction if your session allows time for it. Try everything on together, including shoes and accessories, and check how it feels sitting, walking, and turning.

For agency submissions, follow the receiving agency’s specific requirements. Keep those references separate from more styled portfolio ideas so the brief makes clear which images serve which purpose.

04 / Give the day enough breathing room.

Include preparation, travel between locations, outfit changes, and a little settling-in time. If a particular light or setting matters, mention it early so the schedule can be built around it.

Share your actual delivery deadline as well as your preferred shoot date. A session date and a delivery date are separate decisions. An alternate day can help when weather, access, or schedules change.

Our session calendar lets you request a preferred date, an alternate, or a multi-day window. The studio confirms availability personally.

05 / Agree on what you’ll receive.

Before booking, confirm the number of final images, the selection process, the retouching approach, file sizes, and the expected delivery schedule. If you need both vertical and horizontal crops, say so before the shoot.

For film, be specific about the intended length, formats, sound, and where it will be shown. Discuss usage, additional edits, and any studio, location, or travel costs as part of the final quote.

Your brief, in six lines.

  • Purpose: What should these images help you do?
  • Audience: Who will see them, and where?
  • Direction: Which references, setting, and wardrobe feel right?
  • Timing: Preferred dates and final delivery deadline.
  • Deliverables: The photographs or films you need.
  • Budget: Your working range and priorities.

You don’t need to have every answer. Knowing what you’re still deciding gives us a useful place to begin.

Let’s shape your session.

Compare the session options and tell us what you have in mind.

Plan your session