If you’re shooting a wedding day, a portrait session, or an event, chances are there will be a variety of different situations and types of shots to shoot.
There’s one question you’ll need to answer before you start shooting. How do you organize and plan the workflow of your photography?
This article will help you work through this question and get started.
The question I’m referring to is “how do I use my shot list to plan my workflow?”
Planning the workflow for a wedding photographer means that you have a rough idea of what types of shots you are going to get on the day of the wedding. This means that you know the best location and the ideal light to capture your subjects.
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Here are some of the reasons you should plan your workflow:
1.It makes you organized.
2.It helps you save time on the day of the wedding.
3.It gives you a visual image of what you are working towards.
4.It saves you from making costly and possibly embarrassing mistakes.
To begin your workflow planning process you need to define your shot list.
What is a shot list?
A shot list is a list of the types of shots that you plan to take on the day of the wedding. These are the different types of shots you will need to shoot. The shot list will help you plan your workflow on the day of the wedding.
Step 1 – Define your shot list
Your first step in defining your shot list is to make sure you understand the types of shots you will be taking.
There are different types of shots that you will be shooting. These types of shots are:
-Close-up: shots of people in a close range
-Mid-close-up: shots of people in a mid-range.
-Wide-angle: a wide angle shot of people and objects.
-Macro: a close up shot of flowers and other plants.
-Portrait: a portrait shot of a single individual.
-Event: shots of events such as weddings, birthday parties, etc.
-Group: shots of a group of people, such as a wedding party or a large family gathering.
-Action: shots of activities such as sports events, dancing, etc.
Once you have a good understanding of the different types of shots that you will be taking, you can start creating your shot list.
Step 2 – Write down your shot list
You should write down your shot list. It will help you define your workflow and plan your workflow on the day of the wedding.
Make sure you write down the name of each shot type (i.e. Close-up) and the order of each type of shot (i.e. Close-up, Mid-Close-up, Wide-angle, Macro).
List your shot list
To make it easier to read, you can put your shot list in order of the different types of shots you will be taking. For example, you could start with the shots that you will be taking at the beginning of the ceremony, move to the portraits that you will be taking during the cocktail hour, then move on to the shots of the cake, then the photos of the reception, and then you will finish your shot list with the shots of the guests arriving and the speeches.
When you are done writing your shot list, you will know exactly what type of shots you need to take to capture the wedding day.
Step 3 – Set a timeframe
You will probably have a week or two to plan your workflow. If you are planning on taking more time, set yourself a timeframe of about 4-6 weeks.
Set a timeframe
Once you have a good idea of how much time you have to plan your workflow, you should start making a list of the different types of shots you need to take.
When you are making your shot list, make sure you list every shot that you will be taking. Even if you think that you will only be taking a few types of shots, make sure you include them all.
Include all the types of shots you need to take.
You can make a timeline of the wedding day, including all the different types of shots. You should also note the times that you want to shoot the different types of shots.
Timeline for the wedding day
Timelines for weddings are a great way to help you plan your workflow.
Once you have a rough idea of the types of shots you are going to be taking, you can start planning your workflow.
Start planning your workflow
It is best if you start planning your workflow at least one month before the wedding. You should have a solid idea of where you want to position yourself, and how you are going to position yourself, so you can focus on your workflow.
This article will give you some ideas about how to plan your workflow.
Step 4 – Select your camera equipment
Before you start your workflow, you will need to decide what type of camera you will be using.
Decide on your camera
You will need to make sure you have the correct equipment for the type of shots you are planning to take.
For example, if you are planning to take macro shots, you will need a macro lens.
If you are planning to take portrait shots, you will need a portrait lens.
If you are planning to shoot an event, such as a wedding, you will need a compact digital camera.
If you are planning to shoot events, such as a sports event, you will need a DSLR camera.
Select your camera equipment
Once you have decided on the type of camera you will be using, you will need to make sure you have the appropriate equipment for that type of camera.
You will also need to select a tripod for your DSLR camera.
Step 5 – Take photographs
The last step is to shoot your photos and edit them into a final, professional-looking image. I use Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop for this task. Now you have your images ready to be printed or shared.