The Element Of Surprise

I’m the type of photographer who likes to control everything. At least, that’s how I started. I usually want to understand everything technically before I allow myself to play creatively. That’s just how I’m wired. I’m naturally a technical person, and that’s probably one of the reasons I fell in love with photography—it presents endless technical challenges.

When I was new to portrait photography, I would almost overprepare for every shoot. I planned my lighting setups along with backup options in case they didn’t work. I prepared posing ideas and alternatives. I even planned the wardrobe thoroughly. Once I felt confident that everything was covered, only then could I shift my attention to the creative side.

Back in 2004, I had the opportunity to attend a shoot and workshop with Xander Angeles. During one of the sessions, I asked him how he prepared for an editorial or personal shoot. I simply wanted to know if my process was similar to that of other photographers.

His answer completely changed my perspective.

He said, “You’ll lose the element of surprise.”

At first, I didn’t know what to make of it.

I understand that every photographer develops a unique creative process and workflow. But this advice came from someone who had already achieved success in the industry, so I couldn’t just dismiss it. For weeks, I kept thinking about what he meant. Was my workflow wrong? Did I need to change the way I worked? At the time, it didn’t seem to make much sense.

In commercial photography, preparation is everything. If you can finish a production without any surprises, you’ve done your job well. Of course, unexpected problems will always find their way onto the set, but careful planning greatly reduces the chances of things going wrong.

Editorial and personal work, however, are different.

That’s where his statement began to make sense.

As the years passed and I gained more experience, I slowly understood what he meant. Too much preparation can sometimes leave very little room for discovery. When every detail has already been decided before the shoot begins, you may unintentionally remove the opportunity for unexpected ideas to emerge. Those unexpected moments often become the most memorable photographs.

When you’re just starting out, I still believe it’s important to prepare—perhaps even overprepare. Experience hasn’t yet given you the confidence to troubleshoot technical problems on the spot, so planning ahead helps you avoid costly mistakes.

But as your experience grows, something changes.

You begin to trust your technical skills. You know you can solve lighting problems, direct your subject, and adapt when things don’t go according to plan. Because of that confidence, you no longer need to control every detail before the shoot. You can leave room for experimentation, intuition, and happy accidents.

That’s where the element of surprise lives.

It’s a frightening idea when you’re a beginner. No one wants to end a shoot feeling that every photograph is a failure, so overpreparing feels like the safest option. And in many ways, it is.

But there comes a point when preparation should support creativity—not replace it.

These days, I still prepare for every shoot, but I no longer plan every last detail. I leave enough space for the session to evolve on its own. Sometimes the best ideas aren’t the ones you planned. They’re the ones you discover while you’re creating.

Keep on shooting, everyone!