Time to freshen your corporate portrait?
What next?
Here are some procedures with tips that will assist you ensuring a smooth, well planned shoot, avoiding unexpected troubles along the way.
You first step should be to prepare a brief and production schedule with your Photographer. This should include the following criteria;
i) Identify the style of Photography you require, in keeping with your Corporate Identity and Marketing Direction. Do you want studio or locations portraits?
The decision is ultimately yours, but your photographer will be able to assist you with the merits of each. Perhaps you will require both. The logistics and costs of your shoot can vary greatly dependant upon this, so identify this early in the process
ii) Number of staff to be photographed
iii) What is the end use for the images? You will need to determine this for the purpose of the licence on the images
The factors to be determined for the licence are;
a) media for the images to be use. eg Online/Annual Report/Press/
b) territory for the images to be used. eg Australia only, Worldwide?
c) period of use. eg 12 months, 24 months or buyout
iv) File types required. Check this with who will actually be receiving the files and laying them out into documents or online. The likely file types will be JPEG, TIF, PSD etc. Do you need the files to be
resized and web ready? Do you need black and white conversions?
v) Prepare a timeline. Discuss with the photographer when you require the images, and work backwards to ensure you have enough time to plan, shoot and deliver
vi) What format is required, landscape or portrait or both.?Is the images for a particular style of layout? Do you need to leave space within the image for copy?
vii) Consider colours that you may want to include or as importantly exclude from the shoot. You may be considering a coloured background for a studio shoot, or are there corporate branding or uniform colours that need stipulating
viii) Allocated space for the Photography is setting up a studio at the offices. If your Photographer is setting up a location studio you are going to require a large space to accommodate the backdrop, lights
camera, hair and makeup. Will power be needed for lighting and hair and makeup? Can lights be turned off if necessary? Confirm this with your photographer. The ideal scenario is that the Photographer can reconnoiter the space prior to the shoot day
ix) Parking - Do you have loading dock access and on site parking for the Photography and crew such as assistant, stylist or hair and makeup if required?
x) Security Clearance – If you intend to shoot in the foyer or building surrounds, do you require a security clearance from building management?
xi) Public Liability Insurance – Ensure that your Photographer has the required PL Insurance, to protect them and your staff from any mishaps. They should be able to provide you with a certificate of
currency
xii) Timings required. This will be determined again by the style of Photography, and number of images or setups. I always suggest leaving a little more time for each subject that you expect. It covers interruptions such as wardrobe malfunctions, hair fixes, delayed phone calls etc. No subject likes to be rushed, or alternatively to be kept waiting, particularly if they are at all anxious about being Photographed, which is the case more often than not.
xiii) Delivery of Files. Would you like files send via FTP or Yousendit, to a Dropbox or would you prefer a disk. Do you require printed proof sheets? Additional post production costs may be incurred depending on which of these is preferred.
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This is by no means a complete list of the considerations that you need to make, but a good starting point. Please enquire with any questions or comments, or to have a PDF copy sent to you.
studio@simongrimmett.com
0410 340 769
www.simongrimmett.com
