Photoshoot preparation guide

Before your Queer Friendships photoshoot

A practical, calm guide to help you know what to expect before, during and after the shoot.

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Start here

The main things to know

This is a relaxed and collaborative photoshoot. You do not need to perform, know how to pose, or present a perfect version of your friendship or relationship.

No experience neededI will guide you, and we will figure things out together.
Some moments may be slowerThere may be lighting tests, adjustments and moments of waiting while I set things up. This is normal.
You can ask, pause or say noYou can pause, take breaks, ask questions, or say no to anything at any time.
Your comfort mattersWe can adjust the direction at any point.

Quick overview

A simple session flow

1

Arrive & settle

We’ll say hello, get settled, and make sure you know where to put your things.

2

Start simply

We may begin with simple or neutral poses while I test lighting and framing.

3

Create together

We’ll try prompts, gestures, closeness, movement, or your own ideas.

4

Pause & adjust

You can ask for a break, change direction, or say no at any time.

5

After the shoot

We’ll talk about delivery, image use, and anything that needs checking.

The guide

Jump to a section

01 · About the project

About the project

Project name: Queer Friendships

This project explores queer friendship, connection, care and chosen family through photography.

It focuses on how relationships between people can be expressed through simple interactions, shared moments, body language, distance, movement, gestures, and being together in the same space.

The aim is to create images that feel natural, open to interpretation, and reflective of different ways people relate to each other.

This project is not about showing one “correct” way for queer friendship or connection to look.

More about the project

Pinterest moodboard

You can look through the moodboard before the shoot if you would like some visual references.

Queer Friendships vibes Pinterest board

If the board does not load here, open it on Pinterest.

Visual approach

  • Portraits from head / waist up
  • Half-body images
  • Full-body images
  • Standing or sitting poses
  • Natural, candid, guided, artistic or conceptual images

The shoot may include

  • Exploring interaction between people
  • Testing lighting setups
  • Trying different angles and compositions
  • Adjusting the setup throughout
  • Experimenting with positioning, movement and simple gestures
Moodboard / visual references

You can look at the project moodboard before the shoot if you would like some visual references.

Queer Friendships vibes Pinterest board

If the board does not load here, open it on Pinterest.

02 · Before your session

Things to think about

This is the most important part of the guide.

It may help to have a quick conversation with your friends before the shoot about what feels comfortable for each of you.

You do not need to have all the answers. This is just a way to make the session feel easier, more collaborative and more comfortable once you are in front of the camera.

Physical closeness and touch

Some photos may involve physical closeness or touch, but only if that feels okay for everyone being photographed.

You might want to ask yourselves

  • How physically close do we feel comfortable being in the photos?
  • Are hugs or touch okay?
  • Are some types of touch okay, but not others?
  • Do we want to avoid anything that feels too romantic, intense, staged or vulnerable?
  • Are there types of touch that feel natural to us?
  • Are there types of touch that do not feel like us?
  • Do we want Lise to know anything before we start?

Touch could include

  • Sitting or standing close together
  • Leaning on each other
  • Holding hands
  • Linking arms
  • A hand on the shoulder
  • A hug
  • Resting heads together
  • Fixing someone’s hair or clothing
  • Playful movement or silly poses

You can also choose no touch. Connection can still come through eye contact, body language, laughter, distance, mirroring, shared objects, movement, or the way you look at each other.

Mood, energy and feeling

It may help to think about the kind of energy or feeling that best represents your friendship or relationship.

The photos can be laughing, playful, funny, soft, chaotic, tender, quiet, serious, awkward in a good way, dramatic, natural, or something else entirely. There is no right way for queer friendship or connection to look.

You might want to ask yourselves

  • What feels most like us?
  • Do we want the photos to feel more fun and silly, or more soft and intimate?
  • Do we want to show laughter, care, playfulness, comfort, chaos, tenderness, confidence, awkwardness, or something else?
  • Are there moods or styles that do not feel like us?
  • Are there poses, gestures or dynamics that feel natural to our friendship?
  • Are there things that would feel too staged, too romantic, too serious, or too vulnerable?
Poses and boundaries
  • Are there poses that feel natural to us?
  • Are there poses that would feel awkward or uncomfortable?
  • Do we prefer standing, sitting, moving, looking at each other, or looking at the camera?
  • Do we want to be guided, or do we want space to try our own ideas?
  • Is there anything we definitely want to avoid?
  • Is there anything we are excited to try?

You do not need to prepare exact poses, but having a few thoughts beforehand can make the session feel easier.

03 · During the photoshoot

What to expect

The shoot will be guided, relaxed and collaborative.

Before we start, I’ll do a quick practical check-in and point out anything useful to know in the space, including light stands, cables, bags, exits, bathrooms, and where you can place your belongings.

At the beginning, we may start with simple or neutral poses while I set up and test the equipment. At this stage, I may be more focused on the technical setup, which means I may give less direction at first. This is normal and will evolve as the shoot progresses.

There may be moments of waiting or silence while I focus. This is completely normal.

During setup or testing phases, you may be asked to stay in position for a short time. You can always ask for a break if needed.

As we go, I will give more direction. You don’t need to know how to pose or get it right.

If you move between poses, try to move slowly so I have time to adjust or capture different moments.

Technical setup and adjustments

During the shoot, I may pause or make small adjustments while I work through the technical setup and creative direction. This is a normal part of the process and does not mean you are doing anything wrong.

I may:

  • Test lighting and camera settings
  • Take test shots
  • Adjust the setup
  • Pause to think or refine ideas
  • Try different angles, compositions or creative directions
  • Ask you to repeat or slightly adjust small movements
  • Place equipment or reflectors near you
  • Ask you to briefly hold something
Ways to create images together

We may try a few different approaches to create movement, interaction or connection in the photos. You can choose what you want to start with, adapt anything, or say no to anything that does not feel right.

Option 1: Silly prompts

These are small prompts to create movement, laughter or interaction.

  • Whisper a fake secret
  • Look at each other like you just got away with something
  • Pretend you are in a very dramatic band photo
  • Try to make each other laugh without speaking

Option 2: Silly poses

These are more visual or playful poses. I may show printed examples, but you can adapt them or skip anything that feels awkward.

Option 3: Physical closeness

This could include hugs, leaning, holding hands, sitting close together, or other forms of closeness, only if everyone is comfortable.

Option 4: Your own pose

You can suggest something that feels more like you.

This could be a pose, a gesture, a way you normally sit together, something symbolic, something playful, or something very simple.

We may try a mix of these options, but this is not a checklist you have to complete. The session can change depending on what feels comfortable, interesting or natural.

Being in front of the camera

You don’t need any experience.

I can guide you, or we can work more freely depending on what feels comfortable.

Sometimes I may:

  • Take photos while you are moving or not formally posing
  • Explore unusual angles or expressions
  • Ask you to repeat small actions
  • Try something more abstract, experimental or conceptual

Some images may feel different from how you usually see yourself. This can be part of the artistic process.

There is no right way to do this.

04 · After the shoot

After the shoot

Images will be delivered within the timeframe discussed.

If tethering works as expected, you may be able to review the images immediately after the photoshoot and request removal of specific images.

For full details on how images can be used and not used, please refer to the model release form.

Image use
  • Promotion of the Queer Friendships project, including posters, flyers and digital advertising
  • Portfolio
  • Exhibitions
  • Artistic work
  • Publications
  • Festivals and festival programs
  • Editorial publications

05 · Practical and technical details

Practical details

Duration and timing

Estimated duration: approximately 20 minutes.

Shoots can sometimes run slightly over time depending on the creative process, technical setup, or how the session is flowing.

Who will be present

The photographer and several photography assistants may be present.

Assistants may help with lighting, reflectors, technical setup, behind-the-scenes tasks or the flow of the session. They will introduce themselves when you arrive.

Everyone present is there to support the shoot and will respect your space.

Clothing, styling and appearance

You are welcome to bring different outfit options if you would like.

Clothing can be simple and comfortable, or more styled, depending on your preference. Comfort is more important than perfection.

If possible, avoid large logos, brands, very busy patterns, or lots of writing on clothing, or bring alternative options just in case.

Hair and makeup are completely up to you. You have creative freedom.

There is no nudity. Some skin may be visible depending on clothing, but this is entirely controlled by the person being photographed.

Lighting and equipment

The shoot will use flash.

There will be visible light bursts during the shoot.

  • Camera and lenses
  • One or two lights
  • Reflector
  • Backdrop stand
  • Grey seamless paper backdrop
  • Laptop
  • Table
  • Tethering cable
  • Tripods
  • Lighting stands
  • Cables

Everything will be set up as safely as possible, but please be mindful of your surroundings.

Unexpected situations

Photoshoots do not always go exactly as planned, and some unexpected things can happen. This is a normal part of the process.

  • Technical issues with lighting, flash, camera settings or tethering
  • Needing to pause to adjust or fix equipment
  • Testing different setups
  • Changing direction during the shoot
  • Slight delays or longer setup times than expected

If something like this happens, I will communicate with you and keep things as smooth as possible.

06 · Consent, comfort and boundaries

Consent, comfort and boundaries

Your comfort is important.

You can stop or pause the shoot at any time, decline any pose or direction, change your mind during the shoot, ask for a break, ask questions, suggest another idea, and ask to make something less intimate, less posed, sillier, softer, or more natural.

You do not need to explain or justify a no.

Changing your mind is completely okay.

If at any point you feel uncomfortable because of the environment, people present, equipment, direction, or anything else, please let me know. We can pause, adjust, or stop at any time.

This is a collaborative process, not a performance.

Useful things to say

  • “Can we try something else?”
  • “That one doesn’t feel like us.”
  • “I’d prefer not to do touch.”
  • “Can we make it less intimate?”
  • “Can we make it less posed?”
  • “Can we do something sillier?”
  • “Can we pause for a minute?”
  • “I changed my mind about that pose.”
  • “I’m not sure, can we see another option?”
  • “I’d rather stand / sit / move differently.”
  • “I have an idea.”

Things to remember

  • You are not expected to perform closeness.
  • You are not expected to look a certain way.
  • You can be awkward, quiet, silly, emotional, serious or unsure.
  • You can take time.
  • You can say no.
  • You can ask questions.
  • You can make suggestions.
  • The photoshoot is a collaboration.

Questions?

Let’s talk.

If anything feels unclear or you want to share accessibility needs, ask a question, or talk through ideas before the session, feel free to get in touch.

Contact