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Planning a photo shoot can feel a bit overwhelming at the beginning. There are so many elements to organize and coordinate—from deciding on the creative concept and selecting a photographer to creating shot lists and scouting locations. Rest assured, with a little advance thought and planning, your photo shoot can run smoothly and efficiently from start to finish.
Every project is different. If you’re starting from scratch and you’ve decided on a brand-new look and feel, you may want to begin planning several weeks in advance so that nothing slips through the cracks. If you’re working on a project with an existing look and feel, you can begin planning one or two weeks ahead of time.
All photo shoots should start with a creative brief, a document that outlines the creative direction and deliverables for the shoot. In this detailed overview, you can begin to think about how you want your photos to look, the number of people you want to include in the shoot, and how the photography can be used in various formats to represent your U-M school, college, or department.
Mood boards can be used to plan and organize the type of photography you want to see in your piece. This is something you can show the photographer to give them a sense of how you are going to use the photographs and the style that you are looking for.
For example, do you want something that’s shot from above or something that’s shot from a low angle? Horizontal or vertical?
Are you doing something where you want to show motion?
There is nothing more important than finding a talented photographer that you can collaborate well with on projects. Start by reviewing and comparing portfolios from photographers to determine which would best suit the type of shoot you are producing. Then reach out to your favorites with your creative brief and ask them to provide an estimate. We regularly work with our creative partners Michigan Photography on projects. Their photographers are talented and have great insights about the best places to shoot on campus.
It is helpful to create a shot list, a simple checklist of every photo you want to capture on the day of the photo shoot. The shot list also includes some visual references and extra details like camera angles or lighting set-up. A clearly defined list will ensure that nothing slips through the cracks.
A call sheet is a simple tool for organizing your shoot. It outlines everything your talent and crew need to know before the day of the shoot, such as location, contact details, schedule and arrival time. A seamless call sheet will help you avoid a disorganized (or disastrous!) photo shoot.
Plan to attend the photo shoot. Ask the photographer to share what they are capturing along the way and provide feedback. Help keep the shoot moving and on schedule.
It is also important for the art director or designer to scan the background to make sure it’s clear of clutter or items that should not be included such as a soda can or trash. The more eyes you have on the shoot, the better. You do not want to be Photoshopping out water bottles after the fact!
