Planning your project or shoot

Good planning is a recipe for success in almost any project.

To help you plan towards your project or shoot, and to help us to produce a product that is as close as possible to what you want, we have put together a few things for you to consider. Not all of these will apply to every project but they may well help you to conceptualize and convey to us what you need.

Budgets vary greatly between projects and the priority outcomes differ just as much.

It is important to know upfront what the working budget is in relation to the desired outcomes. This allows us to establish exactly what the possibilities and constraints are for the project.

It is also important to understand that lower budgets do not necessarily mean a lower quality of end product as there are so many factors to consider when planning.

All good things are worth waiting for but sometimes we just cant wait.

Having a clear time frame upfront helps us to ensure that you have what you need, when you need it.

These may seem clear to you but it is important to let us know of any specific deadlines or events we need to plan for.

It also allows us to let you know in advance if timing is going to be tight and we can discuss shifting any deadlines if possible and necessary to allow for the best possible end product.

Any shoot involving people involves wardrobe, hair, makeup, etc. Not all shoots will employ professional artists to assist with these but a little advance thinking will definitely help on the day.

Professional models and Fashion houses may want to showcase a specific item or range of clothing meaning we shoot to show off the clothing.

With portraits, families and groups etc, we want the clothing to blend in more so we can showcase the people. Bright, bold colors and prints may detract from the image unless used carefully and logos and printed images may date the pictures and draw the eye from the subject.

If you are unsure of what to wear feel free to contact your photographer for some suggestions.

Professional and commercial photographers use props every day from tables to glasses to stands to backdrops.

Portrait photography can also make use of props which add to the story of the picture. Maybe you have a specific passion or talent, or a child has a specific favorite toy or granny wants a picture of her grandchild in the sweater she just crocheted for them.

 

If you would like to include something specific in your shoot, let the photographer know in advance and they can ensure that they include that in the shoot.

 

For commercial customers it is equally important to let the photographer know if there are specific items you would like in your shots. It could be an ingredient of a food or a piece of machinery or a specific logo. Letting the photographer know in advance will ensure you get the shot you needed.

Like the name suggests, mood boards help establish the overall look, feel, color scheme, textures and so much more of the final product. This makes mood boards an amazing tool for just about anyone planning an artistic project involving others. They allow you to visually showcase the overall look, feel and mood of the project to everyone involved placing everyone on the same page, even before the shoot happens. 

 

It is highly unlikely that you will find an exact replica of what you ultimately want and so building that image visually allows to you create that replica upfront. Mood boards do not need to be complicated and could be just one or two images that have the same feel, colors and mood that you are looking for. Equally, they can be larger with multiple images, words, color swatches and other elements that together show what the end product should be like. Looking at the location of where the final image is to be used is also important to include on your collection.

 

Mood boards are not reserved for commercial projects only but are incredibly helpful when planning any shoot and establishing exactly what you are looking to achieve. They are not difficult to put together so  do not be afraid to gather a small collection of images that have the same feel that you want to discuss with your photographer. This may include images from their own portfolio or possibly from other artists whose images you may have seen that inspired and excited you.

 

Your photographer will really appreciate the guidance and can plan towards your project or shoot with clarity and direction. This is guaranteed to ultimately produce a better end product for you.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us and we will gladly assist you where we can.

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