Three mistakes to avoid when planning your photographic shoot with a photographer.

A shoot is just like a Halloween outfit. Please give it some thought and plan it

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.

Some photographers use agents who can help ensure the shoot goes to plan, but you need to be meticulous when dealing directly with a photographer. Here I have summed up the three biggest mistakes you can make when planning your shoot.

1.     You didn't provide a brief.

Sending a brief should be the first thing you do once you have decided on your photographer.  As photographers, we love words and images, so send us what you are after and how many shots you expect to get out of the shoot.  It doesn't need to be in a pretty document; it can be websites, Instagram pages, screengrabs, words; however, you want to get your message across is better than nothing.  I love it when my clients have a clear vision of what they are after, for example, how many shots they require; I like to know what I'm doing before I arrive on the shoot.  Plus, it's great to pass on all this information to the creative team.

2.     You didn't speak on the phone or in person.

Email is great, but having a chat is an excellent way to nut out the logistics. As a photographer, I come armed with plenty of equipment and part of the fun of my job is thinking on my feet and being creative to get the shot.  But often, it's a tight schedule lots of images need to be created in a small amount of time; talking and planning with a photographer is imperative. As a client, you may not have the experiences on set that the photographer does, so call them to nut out the shoot with them, or even better, meet with them; that way, everyone is on the same page.  I love to chat anyway, so feel free to call me regardless. 😜

3.     You didn't communicate your expectations.

Make sure your photographer knows when you need the images before you shoot.  Editing takes half as long as a shoot does.  So, if you shoot for one day, editing will take a half-day. Photographers tend to be very busy; letting them know when you need images by a specific time is essential so they can plan to meet your deadline. 

It's safe to say that being clear on your expectations is paramount to a successful shoot. If everyone is on the same page about all aspects of the shoot, it will be successful, and you will be thrilled with the outcome.