You’ ve decided the Who (photographer), What (Product/strains) and When (typically 1-3 days around harvest).
Want tips on how to prepare your space for a cannabis photoshoot? To help the professional photographer work efficiently? Help set them up for success for your on-site cannabis photoshoot. Keep reading.
Create them a workspace
Figure out how much space the photographer will need for your particular type of shoot. Different gear setups will require different space requirements. Depending on the photographers gear and the type of shoot they will be performing the specific needs will vary. Experience level and equipment your photographer possess will help determine a role on how much space they need.
Keep reading for general guidelines to set your photographer up for successful shoot
You will want to help find a spot that has:
- Low traffic – If possible choose a spot without many other people needing to pass through.
- Lighting – Firstly, Unless you’re after grow room shots, avoid having the photographer work under any grow lights. Grow lighting is really harsh lighting, it’s very difficult to make quality and beautiful pictures with. The photographer should be able to provide their own light and overpower standard room lighting.
- Airflow – Turn off HVAC and fans for the workspace if possible for shooting branches, or on-site macro work. A fan can ruin a shot if stacking, the wind moves the trichome or fan leaf in between stacked shots.
- Tools– You may feel inclined to offer your tripod, lights or some other piece of auxiliary photo equipment to the photographer. They will bring what they need to perform the job, like any professional. The photographers trust and experience is in their own tools, they have practised and know what works and the limits.
- Space – The more space available the better, for product, macro or Inflorescence (live branch) photography. The greater area there is to spread out and setup a mobile studio the more efficient the photographer can be. It can be challenging if your tripping over your own gear and side stepping random grow equipment.
- Vibrations – Are the enemy of macro and micro photography work. Depending on the level of magnification, it might make sense to schedule an after-hours shoot. This can allow more equipment, lights and traffic to be minimized.
Bonus preparation tips
- Plan – Tag plants prior to the arrival of your cannabis photographer, help narrow the search down for the best specimens.
- Shot list – Think about what content you will need, and for what purpose. For instance, if you said that you need a grow room shot for a website header banner. The photographer can help visualize they will need to frame the shot wide, that the main subject needs to work in more of a panoramic ratio. Making a list of needed shots and expressing what their use will be can drastically improve the results for your shoot.
- Label – Be sure to have everything clearly labeled and legible. There is no shortage of acronyms or strain names, help stop any confusion from starting.
- Water – Place stems in water if you cut any branches prior to the photographer arriving.This will help keep them plants from wilting. Just as you would for a bouquet of flowers or a christmas tree. For plants with larger fan leaves or highly magnified trichomes this is essential.
Every shoot and photographer will work differently. Hopefully these general guidelines will help you prepare for a cannabis photoshoot and help ensure its success. Reach out
Let me know what has worked for you, or any questions in the comments below!