How to Prepare for Your Musician Photo Shoot
My artists photo shoots tend to sit at around 45-60 minutes. It can be done in more, or less. Either way, that’s just enough time to get in, play and explore, and work to, and around an initial brief. Whether you're a solo artist with a debut single or six albums deep and still allergic to headshots, here's a few pointers on squeezing every last drop out of the experience.
Build a Moodboard
A moodboard is your visual pitch deck. Think of it as the difference between Lorde’s Melodrama and whatever that one random playlist Spotify made you last Tuesday. One has vision. The other has algorithm.
Collect images, video stills, album art, or even film scenes that align with your aesthetic. Not just what you like—what you are. We should then be able to glance at it and know whether we’re going full-blown moody synthpop or stripped-down Americana.
Choose Outfits that scratch the itch of the art
We’ve got time for 2, maybe 3 outfit changes. Pre-ironing is a great idea here. Avoid logos, unless you're actively trying to look like Travis Barker in a 2003 Kerrang! spread. Bring variety. Think silhouettes, texture, and contrast.
And no, it’s not about “flattering” your body. That’s Instagram language. This is about presence. Billie Eilish showed up in baggy Gucci for years and still looked like the main character. Dress for the story you want to tell, and we'll get a diverse array of images, whether you're in a banana suit or not.
Practice makes... better
Use your phone, take test shots, look at them critically. What feels natural? What looks forced? You don’t need to channel Bowie in every frame, but you do need to stop treating your face like a stranger. Confidence isn’t an accident. It’s rehearsal, disguised.
Don’t Assume Your Photographer Gets It
Your photographer is a collaborator, not a translator. This is a good thing. If you say “I want something edgy,” they might think you mean leather jackets and alleyways. You meant Grace Jones in a studio with a single spotlight. See the disconnect?
Be specific. Share your moodboard. Talk through ideas. Mention references. This isn’t about control—it’s about making sure you don’t end up with 70 photos of you leaning against a brick wall, wondering why you didn’t just shoot it yourself.
Set the Tone Before You Even Arrive
What you bring into the shoot, you’ll see in the photos. If you’re anxious, indecisive, or distracted, the camera catches it. Energy translates. And no, that doesn’t mean “just relax.” It means give yourself time to get into the right mindset—whatever that looks like for you.
Some artists meditate. Others blast Missy Elliott and throw on glitter. David Byrne reportedly used to jog in place before going on stage. Point is, do what gets you into your body and out of your head. The camera’s going to catch whatever’s in there—make sure it’s worth capturing.
Let's get intentional, and own what you’re showing the world. Book a Melbourne music photoshoot.
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