Your outfit should be something that makes you feel confident and comfortable, and your mindset should be one of self-acceptance and positivity. One without the other won't get you very far.

You need to engage with what's happening during your photoshoot; don't leave it up to the photographer.

Reviewing images during a professional shoot gives you a chance to adjust pose, expression and styling while changes can still be made—rather than relying on retouching later.

First, present yourself like you would for a job interview.

Then, do your hair and makeup like you would for a nice night out.

Please don't wear red, all black or checks; they don't photograph well.

Choose portrait-session clothing that fits well, reflects the purpose of the image and helps you feel confident. Katie shares practical guidance for outfits, hair and makeup.

Clients always wonder what the process is when shooting with me. Below, I have broken it down into steps to know what to expect.

Wondering what happens during a professional portrait session? Katie walks through her Sydney portrait process so clients can understand how to prepare and what to expect.

Man, it's hot out there! During Summer, I'm pretty fussy about where and when to shoot. Because I mainly photograph people, I do not want them to sweat, have red skin, or generally be uncomfortable. Do you know why? You do because you are intelligent people! But just in case you are unsure, I have created a list of fantastic places to shoot your portrait or your campaign during the summer months in Sydney.

Do you need dynamic portraits of your incredible team to share with the world? But you have no idea on what photographer? It can be hard working out how to make this essential and expensive project work for you; I have developed a plan to help you along the way.

Before booking a photographer, clarify your goals, budget, visual style and practical requirements. These four steps will help you choose well and create a stronger brief.

A shoot is a big deal; there is often lots of money involved. However, it's down to the planning in achieving an excellent outcome. I credit this knowledge to all my years of assisting. Back then (yes, it was a long time ago), we shot on medium and large format film, so it was essential to have a plan to know how much film to have on set. Plus, a courier was expensive and few and far between, making it difficult to correct mistakes while on set.