How to Plan a Photoshoot: The 7 P’s…

How to plan a photoshoot

The 7 Ps is a British Army adage for “Proper Planning & Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance”. When it is explained, the humour & shock of the mild expletive help make the adage memorable. Stick with me for a moment & let’s twist this around. Let me explain how to plan a photoshoot.

“Proper Planning & Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Photos”

How to plan a photoshoot

Planning & preparation is key to the success of a shoot. I put a huge emphasis on this. Whether it be a branding, fitness, headshot or event shoot.

On the day of a shoot, I want everyone to walk in knowing;

Who is being photographed.

When they will be photographed.

Where we are taking the photos.

What props & accessories are needed.

I worry about how. That’s the technical element, the aperture, shutter speed, lighting & which lens to use.

We established the why at the first point of contact.

You’re hiring me for my ideas, creativity, knowledge & expertise in creating captivating photography.

But I can’t do it without your input. Investing time in the planning & preparation stage of your shoot is as important as the actual shoot itself.

Planned well, the shoot will run smoothly, on time & on budget.

And the photos will delight you.

Why plan?

A lack of planning results in a chaotic shoot. People don’t know what they are doing or where. They don’t have the right props or accessories. They turn up late & haven’t brushed their hair or ironed their shirt. The shoot will overrun. This costs you, the client, money. Inevitably, the photos will disappoint you.

Depending on the type of shoot, we will spend anything up to 90 minutes planning the session. This can either be in person over coffee or via video. 

We’re preventing those piss-poor photos.

Almost all of the planning can be done in the classic who, what, when, where, why, and how format.

How to plan a photoshoot

So, in no particular order here is my advice on how to plan for a photo shoot.

Why?

When talking about how to plan a photo shoot, the first thing to consider is why.

What is the purpose of the shoot?

A new headshot for LinkedIn? Photos for your website, a specific marketing campaign or to launch a new service.

Why are we taking photos?

Who?

Firstly, who will be photographed?

Secondly, who needs to be involved? 

If you’re a sole trader, that’s easy, it’s probably only you!

Perhaps you run a small business, will your team be photographed? If they are, involve them in the planning. There will be less resistance if they have been able to input into the vision for the shoot & sometimes the best ideas come from those working IN the business rather than ON the business.

Who else do you need to consult?

Do you outsource your marketing or design work? If yes, you may want to talk with your marketeer & designer before your shoot. They will want the photos to fit within your brand guidelines to create a cohesive visual identity when they are used.

They will guide us on the style & approach needed when shooting. 

It’s important that you are all on the same page. As a business owner, it’s no good if your vision of quirky, urban photos with attitude is at odds with your designer wanting clean white backgrounds for a social media marketing campaign. 

Anyone who influences how & where the photos are used should be involved in the planning stage of your shoot. It may also be helpful to have them present on the day too.

If you don’t have a design & marketing team it is still important that the photos we create sit with your existing brand identity. I will look at all of your marketing collateral, from website to printed materials to ensure that what we shoot works alongside your existing brand.

What?

What are we shooting?

A simple headshot or perhaps a whole portfolio of storytelling & illustrative images for your photo library.

What photos are needed?

AKA the shot list! To make sure we take the photos needed, a shot list is essential.

During our planning meeting, we will start to pull together the shot list. The storyboard is, if you like, the shoot bible. The result of all the planning & preparation. We include the images you require. Where we will take them, who will be in them & what props are required.

When we have the key elements in our plan, it’s up to you how much detail you want to go into on the shot list. Some people will include what they will be wearing for each set-up too.

What props & accessories do we need?

Are we shooting images of you working remotely in a cafe? Don’t forget your laptop, your notebook & a pen. Personal trainer training a client in the park, what fitness equipment do you need to bring with you?

Props are a great way to enhance your images & give a little flavour of who you are & what you do. Your prop may be as simple as a yoga mat, but equally, it could be an elaborate array of cakes to show off your baking skills.

When?

When are we shooting?

Time of year, time of day. Light quality varies from week to week, month to month. An outdoor shoot in April is very different from one in November. For outdoor sessions, I recommend that shoots take place early or late in the day to capture the beautiful soft golden light of early morning & late afternoon. During the winter months, we want to make the most of the daylight so I schedule shoots earlier.

When do you need the photos?

Do you have a deadline? For example, a print deadline for a press release in a trade publication? I usually supply the images within two weeks of your shoot.

Where?

Where & how will the photos be used?

Are they for your website, social media, a magazine or printed marketing collateral? It is helpful to know how the photos will be used as this may influence the way I shoot them.

Where is the photo shoot taking place?

Are we using your home, your home office, or your home gym? Shooting in your own space is easy but it is important to make sure it is clean, tidy & it’s free from clutter & distractions. (And by distractions, I do mean children, pets & ‘helpful’ partners…!)

Other options include shared office space, a hotel foyer, or the cafe that you always work in. If you want to use a public space, you will need to ask permission from the owners. As long as we avoid their busy times, independent cafes are generally happy to be used. (If your local cafe agrees to you have your photos taken on their premises it’s always a nice gesture to buy a coffee whilst we are working!)

If we are shooting in several locations, how will you & your team travel between them? Is there enough time to do this or will you need to add additional time to your shoot package?

How?

How will we create the images that you want?

This is my domain!

Once I know the purpose of the shoot, the style of the images & when & where we are shooting, I can plan how I will take them. What equipment will I need? What lighting do I need to bring? You focus on the who, what, when, where & why & leave the how, to me!

I’d love to take photos all day…

People often say to me “I’d love to be a photographer, I’d love to spend all day taking photos…”.

In actual fact, taking photos is only a very small part of what I do. Planning & preparation often takes longer than the shoot itself.

Because I place such importance on preparation, a pre-shoot planning meeting is included in all my shoot packages. For a social media headshot, this will be a 15-20 minute phone or video call. For a full branding shoot, this could be several hours over coffee.

The planning session is also a great way to get to know each other before the shoot. We’ll have started to build a rapport that will help you feel comfortable in front of my camera. Because the more at ease you are around me, the more comfortable you will feel being photographed.

So remember, when talking about how to plan a photoshoot, we do this because…

Proper Planning & Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Photos”.

Interested in updating your photography?

I offer a no-obligation 30-minute initial consultation where we can start exploring the who, what, when, where, why & how to find out what you want & what I can do. During this call, I can tell you how to plan a photoshoot & we can make a start on planning yours!