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My Process For A Successful Shoot
The key to a successful outcome is understanding who your target audience is and then planning your photoshoot to ensure you capture images that will resonate. Whether you are new (or not!) to arranging a professional photoshoot, this guide will help you understand the key steps, in my experience, that will ensure success.
Here, I explain in general terms the process involved to ensure you get the most out of your investment in professional photography.
I’ve also written additional guides tailored to specific types of photography on each of my photography services pages. The topics include hotel photography, event photography, commercial photography and many more. These tailored guides are there for you to help you prepare for a great photoshoot with Tadhg Nathan Photography! Should you choose to commission me for a shoot we will use these guides as part of the process to ensure you will have stunning images to share with your customers.
Target Audience
We live in an age of image saturation on social media. People endlessly scroll looking at beautiful images all day long. So how can you ensure your images stand out from the crowd? Before the photoshoot there are a few questions to ask yourself;
Who is your Target Audience?
How would like your target audience to feel?
Your target audience might be varied. That’s ok! Different images will appeal to different demographics. Sometimes a small change in image composition is all it takes. The important thing to know is who they are.
We are attracted to photos that make us feel and sense of connection and belonging. For me, that resonance is at the heart of photography. But what else is important to you? Luxury, quality, professionalism? What are your unique selling points? What’s the story you want to tell?
The Shot List
Once you have booked me in, the next step is to compile a shot list. This will become our working plan for the day.
What’s a shot list? Essentially it’s a list of must have photos for your shoot. It’s also a checklist of what we need for each photo, who’s involved, where it is and what we are trying to convey.
Shot | Props | Location | Who | Feeling |
Main course | Table settings, candles, flowers | Window table | Chef and assistants | Ambience / gourmet / etc |
Staff meeting | Laptops, coffee | Boardroom | Few team members | Professional, friendly etc |
You can also create a mood board. Looking at images on Pinterest or websites can give you great ideas. Sharing these with me is invaluable in helping me understand what you want to create and I will be able to explain to you what’s needed to make something similar happen.
Although I have done photo shoots without a shot list, particularly for regular and experienced clients, in my experience having one will help maximise the number of quality shots captured on the day.
The shot list also highlights what props are needed for the shoot.
Finally, a key benefit of the shot list is that it helps you prepare you, your staff and suppliers for what is going to happen on the day. A key element of success is preparing for great teamwork on the day.
Preparation for the day
Prepare your staff – they will be needed to help with preparation (and possibly as models) so it’s important to prepare them, rather than spring it on them on the day! In a busy company, hotel or restaurant it’s often hard to take people from their responsibilities, so management of this is essential. Getting them involved will make them feel part of the process.
Prepare your suppliers – who is helping on the day? Do you need particular props to create a story you want to show? Get them engaged. Perhaps more business for you means more business for them too!
Review your shot list and props. That’s the go-to document.
Check locations. Are all light bulbs ok? Are windows clean?
Is weather important? Check in with me on this and we can plan shoot day based on weather. It’s possible to break up shoots where there is an indoor / outdoor location.
The Shoot Day
At start of shoot do a walkaround with all people involved in shoot and review shot list. Reviewing the plan for each photo will help greatly with time saving on the day. Preparing / staging areas in advance shortens the time for photography and maximises the number of shots that can be achieved.
Photography is a creative process. Reviewing test shots with a critical eye to see what can be improved in the shot setup is a great way to get involved. I always encourage trying things out and making suggestions.
I always aim to capture images that will resonate emotionally with the viewer.
Finally, have fun!
Processing
The final step is processing of the images. I endeavour to get your images to you as quickly as possible. This depends on quantity of photos and workflow.
Images are shared via cloud gallery where you can view share and download images.
If you have a particular style in mind, such as from your mood board, I will process to your wishes. Otherwise I will process images to have the strongest impact.
My Process For A Successful Shoot
The key to a successful outcome is understanding who your target audience is and then planning your photoshoot to ensure you capture images that will resonate. Whether you are new (or not!) to arranging a professional photoshoot, this guide will help you understand the key steps, in my experience, that will ensure success.
Here, I explain in general terms the process involved to ensure you get the most out of your investment in professional photography.
I’ve also written additional guides tailored to specific types of photography on each of my photography services pages. The topics include hotel photography, event photography, commercial photography and many more. These tailored guides are there for you to help you prepare for a great photoshoot with Tadhg Nathan Photography! Should you choose to commission me for a shoot we will use these guides as part of the process to ensure you will have stunning images to share with your customers.
Target Audience
We live in an age of image saturation on social media. People endlessly scroll looking at beautiful images all day long. So how can you ensure your images stand out from the crowd? Before the photoshoot there are a few questions to ask yourself;
Who is your Target Audience?
How would like your target audience to feel?
Your target audience might be varied. That’s ok! Different images will appeal to different demographics. Sometimes a small change in image composition is all it takes. The important thing to know is who they are.
We are attracted to photos that make us feel and sense of connection and belonging. For me, that resonance is at the heart of photography. But what else is important to you? Luxury, quality, professionalism? What are your unique selling points? What’s the story you want to tell?
The Shot List
Once you have booked me in, the next step is to compile a shot list. This will become our working plan for the day.
What’s a shot list? Essentially it’s a list of must have photos for your shoot. It’s also a checklist of what we need for each photo, who’s involved, where it is and what we are trying to convey.
Shot - Main course
Props - Table settings, candles, flowers
Location -Window table
Who - Chef and assistants
Feeling - Ambience / gourmet / etc
You can also create a mood board. Looking at images on Pinterest or websites can give you great ideas. Sharing these with me is invaluable in helping me understand what you want to create and I will be able to explain to you what’s needed to make something similar happen.
Although I have done photo shoots without a shot list, particularly for regular and experienced clients, in my experience having one will help maximise the number of quality shots captured on the day.
The shot list also highlights what props are needed for the shoot.
Finally, a key benefit of the shot list is that it helps you prepare you, your staff and suppliers for what is going to happen on the day. A key element of success is preparing for great teamwork on the day.
Preparation for the day
Prepare your staff – they will be needed to help with preparation (and possibly as models) so it’s important to prepare them, rather than spring it on them on the day! In a busy company, hotel or restaurant it’s often hard to take people from their responsibilities, so management of this is essential. Getting them involved will make them feel part of the process.
Prepare your suppliers – who is helping on the day? Do you need particular props to create a story you want to show? Get them engaged. Perhaps more business for you means more business for them too!
Review your shot list and props. That’s the go-to document.
Check locations. Are all light bulbs ok? Are windows clean?
Is weather important? Check in with me on this and we can plan shoot day based on weather. It’s possible to break up shoots where there is an indoor / outdoor location.
The Shoot Day
At start of shoot do a walkaround with all people involved in shoot and review shot list. Reviewing the plan for each photo will help greatly with time saving on the day. Preparing / staging areas in advance shortens the time for photography and maximises the number of shots that can be achieved.
Photography is a creative process. Reviewing test shots with a critical eye to see what can be improved in the shot setup is a great way to get involved. I always encourage trying things out and making suggestions.
I always aim to capture images that will resonate emotionally with the viewer.
Finally, have fun!
Processing
The final step is processing of the images. I endeavour to get your images to you as quickly as possible. This depends on quantity of photos and workflow.
Images are shared via cloud gallery where you can view share and download images.
If you have a particular style in mind, such as from your mood board, I will process to your wishes. Otherwise I will process images to have the strongest impact.
My Happy Clients
