The 5 Tips Commercial Photographers Live By

1. Get a good night's sleep.

The day of a photoshoot, it is essential that you arrive well rested, as you need to be “on” the entire day. An “entire day” could consist of anywhere from 10 - 18 hours and everyone from the PA to the client will be looking to you for your expertise and guidance. Just because you are busy shooting, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be aware of what's happening on the rest of your set.  Keeping your talent engaged, your clients happy and your crew on task can require a lot of energy and unexpected problem solving, so do yourself a favor and make sure you arrive with a high level of energy and positive attitude.

2. Triple check you have all the gear/equipment needed AND that it is working properly.

All it takes is for one piece of equipment to be missing or malfunctioning and your entire shoot can be derailed.  Make sure you trust the vendor you’re using and that you have all the lighting, grip, cameras, lenses, misc equipment and any necessary backups you will need to get you through the entire day BEFORE your shoot. Once you confirm all your gear is accounted for, take the extra few minutes to ensure all of the gear you own is working properly, all firmware is up to date and that your vendor performs the same maintenance check. For example, if you are planning to do a photoshoot utilizing fog, don’t just assume the machine you picked up and brought to set is ready to go and that’s all you need for your creative vision to be successful.  Test out new equipment ahead of time and make sure you have all of the right tools to go with it. This way, in case the fog machine isn’t working properly, and your lighting isn't what you envisioned, you aren’t left with no images and your talent and crew waiting around aimlessly for magic to miraculously happen. Do the prep, the results of your hard work will follow.

3. Create a realistic schedule. 

In order to set you, your team and your client up for success, a realistic schedule should be created to keep everyone on track.  Photoshoots more often than not, take their own unexpected course and it is unlikely you will stay within every minute you scheduled. Creating a roadmap is a key part to pulling off a flawless photoshoot.  Crew need to have ample setup time before anyone arrives to unload equipment and begin lighting as well as plenty of wrap time to get off set. Hair and makeup artists and wardrobe stylists need to know when talent are arriving so they are prepped and ready the moment they walk in the door. Prop stylists need to know the order of each scene so everything is in its appropriate place to begin shooting. Make sure everyone on set has a copy of the schedule and don’t forget to work extra time into each shot just in case something does go wrong or possibly takes longer than anticipated. Come out the hero to your clients, show them you’re prepared for the unexpected to save them from any OT expenses, they will love you for it! 

4. Have a backup plan.

And then have a backup plan to your backup plan.  Good photographers can solve problems quickly, but great photographers already have solutions to unforeseen complications. If you are trying something new on a shoot, or have a bit of anxiety around something you may be doing, listen to that instinct and take the time to create an alternative solution well in advance of your shoot...just in case you should need it. Never show up to a clients shoot with a new idea that you have not tested out, you will waste valuable time and resources on the clients dime. 

5. Communicate.

Making sure everyone involved knows where to be, when to be there, what their role is and what they’re shooting, is critical. Have kick off, status and pre pro calls with your clients to explain the process, next steps and expectations. Stay on top of your vendors on a daily basis to discuss what we need, what kind of crew they need, how many talent there are, how much we can afford to spend and provide them with updates as soon as they come in. Let your assistants and key crew know what they’re shooting so they can prepare the equipment and their crew list accordingly. Creating pre pro books with the location information, call sheets, schedules, creative comps, storyboards, wardrobe and prop moodboards and talent information are great tools to stay organized and ensure everyone you are working with has the information they need to make it a successful photoshoot.  By providing all the details you can, as soon as you can, you will avoid complications down the road especially on set. Communicate more than you think you need to and everyone will come out on top.