Photoshoots from A to Z: tips & tricks from Trudy Kazangu

February 9, 2020

min read

Do you also want to set up a photo shoot but don't know where to start? Trudy's tips and tricks will give you a leg up!

Photographer Trudy Kazangu has been part of the Chase community for some time.

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She began as a writer with a passion for visual arts, making photography and videography a logical next step. She is currently an intern at Flair Belgium and working on her project "Tinted Souls. We recently worked with her on a paid assignment for one of our Chase clients.

Hi Trudy, how does organizing a photo shoot go?

Trudy Kazangu: "You must first know what you want to achieve with your shoot. Preparation is key! Freestyling is certainly allowed, but is usually very risky. Second, don't forget the three most important elements: your camera, charger and memory card. And last but not least, it's best to go to bed early the day before a shoot. It may not seem like it, but a photo shoot requires you to be very alert and precise. That can be very tiring at times."

"With the support of Anastassia Oudovitchenko, Senior Account Manager at Chase Creative, I was able to work in a very structured way for this shoot. Without her help, it would never have gone so well. Most of the shoot was worked out and prepared to perfection. Ana even noted the hour on the call sheet when the sun would rise. It may sound absurd, but it's necessary if you want natural light to work."

What about casting, mood board and location?

Trudy Kazangu: "Both Ana and I were responsible for casting the models. We had a diverse selection of women and it also went pretty smoothly with the client, who was satisfied with the casting. Based on the client's vision, I created a mood board on Pinterest. After the models were chosen, I specified the mood boards for each model. That helps tremendously during a shoot because you know in advance what you're going for."

Seeing the location before the shoot is definitely a plus. This time, unfortunately, I never managed to physically visit the locations before the shoot. But Ana always made sure I got detailed pictures of the rooms before I had to shoot there.

Image by @agneskena for @ray.bodycare

How did the shoot go in general?

Trudy Kazangu: "Thanks to the mood boards I made beforehand, we actually knew in advance what we wanted to achieve in terms of appearance. So that went very smoothly. The boards mainly served as inspiration and basis. Something that did not really go according to plan was time… When you are working on such an extensive shoot, time is your biggest enemy. You have to work fast and still perform well as a photographer. Not only for the client but most importantly for yourself. You solve that problem by being as prepared as possible before the shoot and start."

What are the main differences between shooting on location and in a studio?

Trudy Kazangu: "I've never worked in a studio, but I assume that in a studio you have more control over different factors such as lighting, positioning and space. Whereas sometimes that's a bit of a search when you're shooting on location."

What is your strongest and weakest point in photography?

Trudy Kazangu: "My strongest point is probably my ability to generally assess things visually well, i.e. styling people, choosing which color palette to go for, the location and models. My weakest point is that I often underestimate how much effort it's going to take me to get a project started. I just enjoy it so much that sometimes I forget that it's also hard work."

Photo by @agneskena for @ray.bodycare

Did you recommend hiring an assistant?

Trudy Kazangu: "I recommend an assistant if it helps you. For example, an assist can also slow you down in your work if they are not alert enough and simply don't have a feel for this kind of work. A shoot also succeeds on your own because often you just can't do anything else. A good assistant is really a luxury for me right now. I have always done this alone for and still do. So you can work just fine without one."

Do you have any tips for other photographers?

Trudy Kazangu: "The only tip I can give as a photography enthusiast is not to lose yourself in finding your own home style. That comes naturally and for any kind of photography you have an audience. Experiment as much as you can! In everything I do, I recognize mine, I think that's very important."

Photo by @agneskena for @ray.bodycare

Do you prefer doing your own thing or working "on behalf of"?

Trudy Kazangu: "I currently prefer to work on my own projects because the pressure is much lower. Photographing people is my favorite thing to do. My love for art actually started that way. Capturing faces, it's always so beautiful. Working on assignment for someone else is also possible for me, but then the client and I have to be more or less on the same wavelength. Collaborations are good learning processes and I know I still have a lot to learn!"

Did you achieve the 2019 goals you set for yourself? Any goals for 2020?

Trudy Kazangu: "In 2019, I had set a goal to make music. Unfortunately, I don't have enough time to focus on music, but I really need to work on that. Music makes me very happy and I can really use that happiness right now. My goal for 2020 is to save up enough money for my big trip through South America in October. There I want to make some more small personal documentaries like my series "Tinted Souls" and be able to do my own thing under the southern sun. I hope photography will help me achieve this goal. Also, this year I want to feel more at ease in everything I do and am. I want stability and serenity."

Article by Ashley Okwuego.

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