Answers for the planning notebook
Short, practical answers to the questions photographers ask most often while preparing an assignment.
What is a shot list, exactly?
A written list of the photographs an assignment needs, ranked by priority and linked to times and places. It is a safety net for essential coverage, not a script for every frame.
How long should a shot list be?
For most half-day jobs, eight to fifteen must-have rows, plus a handful of should and could rows and one protected open block. If it does not fit on one printed page, it is probably too long.
Will planning make my photographs feel stiff?
Not if you secure the essentials early and then deliberately spend time observing. Planning reduces pressure, which usually makes images more natural.
When should I share the list with a client?
Send a draft about a week before for corrections, and a final version two days before the shoot. Ask the client to confirm names, spellings and timings in writing.
How do I plan for weather and changing light?
Use a sun-position tool and a forecast, give each location a time window, and write a fallback frame for overcast or rain. See the places guide.
What does product-free editorial mean?
A visual story about people, places, communities or ideas that is not designed to sell a commercial product. The editorial guide has a full sequence template.
Paper or phone?
Paper is faster to mark and never runs out of battery. Keep a digital copy as a backup and share it with any second shooter.
How do I handle group photographs at events?
Request a written list of named groups and ask for a helper who knows the guests. Schedule groups at a fixed time with a plain background and open shade.
How many images should I deliver?
Agree a range in the brief. Include every must-have frame and the strongest unplanned photographs, edited tightly. Fewer strong images beat many similar ones.
What should I do after delivery?
Review the marked list within a week, note what was missed or surprising, and update your template. The workflow guide explains the full loop.