Photoshoot Planning & Production Lecture

18.03.19

Shoot categories
On-Set Roles & Responsibilities
Team Hierarchy
Creative Direction
Still Image Production
Styling workflow
Tips & Advice

Shoot Categories

Methodology & Technique

 

- Fashion: story/narrative and models (art director, photographer, stylist)

- Advertising: client based

- Beauty: make-up, minimal styling, MUAH is the stylist

- Still life: product only, no stylist, set designer and set dressing ore prominent

- Celebrity/Portrait: model focus, conveying their personality

- Commercial: prepped set, preparation is essential

- Location: sets are paid for, weather, back-up plans, changing areas for models, recce area beforehand to check shots

On-Set Roles & Responsibilities

Who does what?

- Model/Talent: focus of shoot

- Photographer: takes shots

- Photographic Assistant: aids the photographer

- Digi Tech/ Digi Op: checking images, recolouring, cropping, retouching images

- Stylist: creates looks for models on set, checking the images look at they should, is the clothing draping right?

- Styling Assistant: aids the stylist

- Art/Creative Director: pre plan shots beforehand, choose the shots to be taken

- Client: checking images, choosing finals shots

- Set Designer: create all sets, props, set dressing

- Set Assistant: aid the set designer

- Movement Director: choreographic background, aiding the model to change dynamic poses, making images more interesting, another element, help models walk down catwalk adapting their walk

- Hair Stylist: creates hair looks, watches it throughout shoot

- MUA: create makeup look 

- Nail Technician: create nail looks

- Seamstress: adjusts the garments on set if necessary 

- Chaperone: children under 18 require a chaperone, ensures facilities and safety of children, keeping them happy and entertained

- Director: directs the shoot

- Director of Photography/DOP: works with director, actually shoots the footage.

- Camera Assistant: aids with DOP

- Sound Technician: works with the sounds within moving film

- Producer: organises people on set and runs to the schedule and management side of shoots and ensures that all departments work together, sorts any issues on the day

- Production Assistant: assists a producer

Team Hierarchy

Understand the chain of command.

Creative Direction

Creative Direction is an essential component of any professional photoshoot. A creative document pre-shoot and serves various functions. Storyboarding before a shoot is essential to getting shots necessary. 

- Provide sign off for client/publication/agency. 

- Ensure creative team are on same page. 

- Keep on set decision making efficient.

Considerations; casting, shot list, departmental props, layout/dimensions

Still Image Production

Production is preparing and planning everyone and everything.

- Interpreting Creative 

- Casting

- Equipment Rental

- Travel & Accommodation

- Catering

- Scheduling

- Call Sheets

Styling Workflow

Creative

Look request

Collection

Fitting

On Set

Packing

Credits

Returns 

Tips & Advice

- Communicate clearly during pre-production

- Time is your most valuable asset

- Over plan, have backups but be flexible on the day

- Solve problems, don't make them

- Negative energy can kill a shoot, keep it positive

- Look after the model, and your fellow team

- Respect the hierarchy, be polite to everyone

- Food, drink and music is essential

- Collaboration is the key to strong creative

- Take responsibility for your fashion communication