Free guide

How to plan a photoshoot

Every shoot that goes badly has the same root cause: it wasn't planned properly. Below is the 7-step process we run before every wedding, portrait, and commercial shoot — the same workflow Chroma & Code Studio guides you through inside the app.

1. Step 1

   Pin down the brief

   Before you touch the calendar, write one sentence on what the shoot is for and where the images will live. Instagram grid, print portfolio, wedding album, Amazon listing — each shifts framing, aspect ratio, and shot count.

2. Step 2

   Scout the location

   Visit in person or on Google Street View at the same time of day you'll shoot. Note window direction, background clutter, power sockets, and (for weddings) exactly where the ceremony faces relative to the sun.

3. Step 3

   Build the shot list

   Start from a template (wedding, portrait, food, product) rather than a blank page. Order shots by location and light, not by importance — you'll shoot in the sequence you can physically move through the space.

4. Step 4

   Draft the timeline

   Anchor to sunset for outdoor work. Add 15% buffer to every block. Allow 90 seconds per family combination for formals. Confirm the timeline with the client/planner in writing.

5. Step 5

   Prep the kit

   Two bodies, three lenses, doubled cards, doubled batteries. If you use flash, pack an off-camera trigger + spare AAs. Charge everything the night before, format cards, wipe sensor.

6. Step 6

   Run the day

   Print the shot list or run it on your phone. Tap each shot done as you go — a live view of what's left keeps you honest. Skip anything the timeline can't support; don't try to catch up by rushing portraits.

7. Step 7

   Back up before you sleep

   Two copies before you go to bed. One on your laptop SSD, one on an external drive. Cards stay untouched until both backups are verified. Client cull can wait; data loss can't.

Frequently asked questions