How to Plan for a Photoshoot
Your images will make or break your website and your digital brand. So it makes sense to make hiring a photographer for a brand photoshoot a high priority on your business-building list.
Below are tips for before the shoot to keep things organized and moving. I’ve also put together a recommended shot list to use as a launching pad, but please adapt it! You’re brand and story are unique; make sure your photos show it!
And finally, if you need a doc to get you started in writing all this down, here’s a Photoshoot Shot List Spreadsheet.
Before the Shoot
I’m going to assume you’ve already vetted your photographer—you know their style and skills. So now, you can help them help you by being on top of your game:
Identify your goals. Why are you taking this time and money? What do you hope to create? How will you know that this experience was worth it?
List how you will use these images. Will they be for social media content, website images, presentations? What platforms will you be using? Be sure to cover all your methods and mediums.
Send your photographer examples of images that you want to replicate. This could be a Pinterest mood board, a Dropbox folder of samples, or a Google doc with images copied and pasted into it. Just give your photographer a heads up!
Create an ordered shot list (example below) and send it to the photographer. This should be an ordered and prioritized list of all the types of images you’d like to make. Organize them by location, then by outfit (if you’re doing wardrobe changes), and even who should be in which shot. Put the ones you care about least at the bottom, just in case you run out of time and can’t get to them.
Use your shot list to create a timeline. Some shots might take a moment, others might need some travel time, outfit change, or set up. And don’t forget to plan in breaks! You can only smile for so long before you need a snack. Plan for that time so that you can get all the shots you need!
Get your props together beforehand and make note of when to use them in the shot list. This is a great example of if it’s not written down in the plan, you’ll probably forget to use those props or forget to bring them altogether!
Scope out locations. Your business story probably does not all unfold in the brick-and-mortar shop. Where else might clients relate to your story? Most likely the service you provide or the product you sell offers benefits that last long after the customer has visited you. Take images to show that part of the customer’s journey.
If your photographer doesn’t have an assistant, bring someone along to manage the shot list. This person will be responsible for getting people into the right location, outfit, prop, etc. — at the right time — as well as for getting the next image needs on deck.
Recommended Shot List
A great starting point for creating a shot list is to make sure each of the examples you sent your photographer (see first bullet above) is on your shot list. Then think through all the different ways you might be using these images and the different types of people who will be reacting to your visual story.
Remember, you’re collecting images that you’ll use for a while now in a variety of ways. So get a variety of versions of the same set up. You don’t know if you’ll need an image for where you’re looking right, left, straight on, over your shoulder—or should it be close up or zoomed out, horizontal or vertical—so take all those shots!
Professional and candid headshots to showcase your credentials and your personality.
Look at your company values and take a few photos that represent each of those pillars.
Make sure each of your services has images. Perhaps have examples of each step of the process to tell the whole story of how you serve.
If you sell products or have company swag, take great images of those as objects and of people holding/using them.
Images of textures or unbusy spaces that could be used for backgrounds.
Take photos with negative space in mind (think for social media banners or digital ads).
Create a flat lay with your props—not all of your photos need to feature you!
Think ahead to different events, holidays, or seasons. Can you create visuals for that speaking event or that holiday campaign? (But only if this fits with your goals! You may need to schedule a separate shoot for this type of content!)
So there you have it. Good luck! And if you need a bit more help staying organized, download this Photoshoot Shot List Spreadsheet.
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