Planning - how much or how little

[twojackstudio]

Hi,

I guess this only applies to fashion and advertising photographers, but how many of you do proper shoot planning? I'm doing fashion photography up here in the north and of late I've been planning ever detail of my shoots - so much so that I've been wondering whether anyone else out there does the same?

Do you recce the location beforehand, take reference shots, draw lighting diagrams, have meetings with the other people involved to brainstorm creative ideas and do set design / get props for your shoots?

I guess I'd just like to talk to another tog doing this kind of work.



Regards
Heinz - Two Jack Studio

[Cathus]

it would be great to have the opportunity to meet with all the people listed on the photo above to plan a shoot. I don't even have a model to plan with let alone anyone else to add to the creative mix & would like to get into this type of photography.

[Cutter]

Having just started out on the road of photography which was instigated through trying to achieve the hair shots I needed for competition work, I am realizing that its got to be your method, otherwise you are aimlessly going around like a headless chicken achieving nothing. My self and my team are constantly trying to achieve certain looks and then its me who has to try to capture those looks on a photo ( its tough) but I am learning all the time about lighting. Its great when you achieve what you set out to do.
I went on a shoot with DCmag Paul Grogan iin the october edition, I was amazed about how long it took to find a location and set things up, but it was a great learning curve.
Keep up your great work.
Ps Love the shot : After the night out

[AndyStevens]

I only really do Landscapes so not really relevant to your question Heinz - but yes, I do make in-depth preparations if I'm planning a particular shot/shoot. Google Earth, Sunrise/Sunset calculator, tide tables, weather forecasts etc etc etc - it's nice to be able to get into position for the planned shot in plenty of time and watch the anticipated show unfold.

If I'm getting up at 4am, I want to maximise the potential so as to make it worthwhile - just a shame the biggest variable is the British weather

Cheers
Andy

[twojackstudio]

@Cathus: yeah, it takes a lot of networking to get into contact with good creative people.

@Cutter: It sounds like you and I are more in the same boat. The planning, I think, makes the shot. When everything is setup and the lighting, makeup, set design, etc is ready you could take the pic with a disposable and get something good.

@AndyStevens: Oh believe me, we fashion photographers working on location also have a big bone to pick with the British weather gods. ;-)

Thanks for the replies!
H

[AndyStevens]

I'll bet H, at least I don't have to worry about bad hair days in the wind and rain!

Cheers
Andy

[riddell]

A lot depends on the budget and what and who its for.

At the end of the day, work is work and time is money, so to go out an Recce sites or have meetings etc, you have to build into the price.

And sometimes its most definitly required. Other times you can simply just draw on logic, skills and experience to get it all perfect.

Paul.
www.photographybyriddell.co.uk

[OldBoy]

Well, as most of my shots are nature planning is done on the hoof, depending on what time of year, day and weather conditions. I decide what lenses I need by looking at the sky and then decide what I may be shooting on that day. As I go to the same place, Sandwell Valley Park, at all times of the day and in all weathers throughout the year, then I know all the locations, what will appear and when.

[KeithT]

I have always found that my best stuff comes from forward planning. As I also write short stories as a secondary hobby, planning is certainly essential for that. It's the bloomin' weather that let's all the planning down, especially for landscape photography.

[ABERS]

I don't know if it counts as forward planning, but making a mental note of places and things that imprint on your mind as you are driving and can't stop. They are there and gone in a flash and you see them as a photograph somewhere in your head. I've got one at the moment that is as clear as a bell, but I'm struggling to remember exactly where it was!