You know like all photographers like to say "I have no tricks, it's just a hard work". Well, guess what, I do have no tricks, except for this part :) Here are just some tips about the teamwork. Note, this is how I do things, maybe you should do everything differently.
1. Right people.I think the one most important component of my work is incredible, constant luck. I've got the right people to work with. I've got models, who are dedicated to the story we are trying to tell, I've got bright and inspired make up artists, hair stylists, designers, stylists, assistants on my team, I constantly reach new people in Switzerland and abroad and most of the time they are reliable and creative.
Tip 1. How to get the right people? Search, search, search...and only contact a person if you got butterflies from seeing his or her work. This way in some time you will have a strong network of people who can help you to discover the best part of your own talent.
2. Trust your team.As soon as you put together a team for the project you ought to trust this team. It does not mean you shouldn't have an opinion, but you are a photographer, you didn't study make up for a few years, you didn't practice for several years after that - you practiced photography.
Tip 2. So at least for me, comments like "Let's do pinky wet lips as a accent" is appropriate, but "Just do the make up as at this picture" is not.
3. Be there 100%.Got in a fight with your boyfriend/girlfriend? Can't afford holidays you aimed for? Leave all that at home. Models are late any you are pissed off? Leave that too. There is no place for that on set. Because now it is the time for your art to happen.
Tip 3. I have my own routine for the shooting day. One of the things I tell myself before the shoot - "It's gonna be the best shoot you've done yet". If I fail to believe it I would rather not do the shoot.
4. The feedback.Ok, try to imagine. You are on set, in the cone of light, with camera recording every your move, people look at you - photographer, maybe also team, maybe also strangers walking by - photographer tries to explain you what to do, but you can not see your body and face from the angle photographer does. And now imagine photographer or team tells you that you are doing it all wrong. Imagined?
Tip 4. This is why during the shoot I use only positive feedback. More intense feedback when it's going really well. When it's not I say something like "Okay, let's try something else now" - telling this in a noncritical voice is important.
5. Boundaries.This is not poetic and probably controversial, but this is what works for me. All the looks, glances, laughters etc the model gives you during the shoot, they are not given to you - they are given to the story. And of course you will react - you are not a robot - but there are things you can and can not do. It's crucial to channel that, so the model would feel comfortable and do her best.
Tip 5. My best works happened when I had a chance to work with model again and again. After we established mutual trust we can explore some complicated ideas together. But we are both there for our art - (my) photoset is a place of hard work, not dating/finding friends set up.