An editorial shoot, like any genre of photography, requires the perfect combination of planning and play. Timing is very important, especially when working with a celebrity. In this video, London-based photographer Ejatu Shaw shares a behind-the-scenes look at her shoot with radio host Roman Kemp.
Shaw shares her process of planning and shooting a fashion editorial, giving a clear look at what a typical shoot day would look like. Shaw begins by talking about her mood board process, where she not only outlines the types of images she wants to create, but also includes several examples for each. Mood boards don’t have to be structured, but there are about half a dozen overarching ideas that can be a starting point when you’re actually on location with the model.
Unsurprisingly, the rest of the video continues with the rest of the footage. The key point for me is the level of preparation Shaw shows to do a fashion shoot. Of course, this can be different for the shoot and for the photographer. Some photographers like to plan every detail, while others may just plan for broad ideas, or plans may include specific lighting arrangements or color schemes. But balancing your plan with the play space is important to get a natural feel in your images.
