THE ORIGINAL PLANNING DOCUMENTS OF
A S U C C E S S F U L F A N T A S Y S H OCopyright
O T I N©2010
G by the photographer
Your Name
Title of
Your
Shooting
Confidential
This document is absolutely confidential. It may not be shared with anyone other than individuals
granted permission by the photographer. In case you received this document from anyone other
than the photographer then you have received illegal materials.
Table Of Contents
How To Use This Template........................................................................................................... 2
Production Countdown Checklist .............................................................................................. 3
The Great Photo Idea ...................................................................................................................... 4
The Story............................................................................................................................................. 4
Roles And Responsibilities Checklist ....................................................................................... 5
All Contact Details And Addresses ............................................................................................. 6
Contacts Details Of The People Involved ....................................................................................................... 6
Confidential:
Addresses Of The Places Involved .................................................................................................................... 6
Location
Requirements Checklist
..............................................................................................
7
This document
must
not
Styling Matrix ....................................................................................................................................
8
rd
be
shared
with
3
parties
Carry On Luggage Checklist ......................................................................................................... 9
Check In Luggage Checklist ........................................................................................................ 10
Weather Forecast 15 Days Before Shooting ......................................................................... 10
Copyright ©2010 by the photographer
Location Visit Checklist ............................................................................................................... 11
Day Before Shooting Checklist .................................................................................................. 12
Gear Checklist ................................................................................................................................. 14
Takeoff Checklist ........................................................................................................................... 14
The Holy Shooting Schedule ...................................................................................................... 15
Ramp Up Step By Step List .......................................................................................................... 16
List Of Frames To Produce In Each Scene ............................................................................. 17
Varying Point Of View .................................................................................................................. 18
Lighting Setup ................................................................................................................................ 18
Postproduction ............................................................................................................................... 18
Lessons Learned............................................................................................................................. 19
Templates For Shooting Contracts / Model Releases ....................................................... 19
English Contract ................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
English / Chinese Contract ............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
English / German Contract ............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
English / Japanese Contract ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
How To Use This Template
This template makes it super easy for us photographers, to come up with a solid and
complete planning for a photo shooting. I used it several times now and with each iteration
it is getting a little bit better and more complete.
Here’s how I use the template and how I suggest you use it, too:
First customize the template for a shoot. Start with the production countdown checklist on
the next page. Go through the list and delete the lines which do not apply to the shooting
you are planning. If you are not traveling to another country for a shooting, then obviously
items like “get a visa” and “get vaccines” do not apply to you. Simply delete them.
Then go through the remaining chapters, remove everything that does not suite you this
time.
Second, fill in the information you have. Start with your great shooting idea. Describe it. If it
is not big yet, make it bigger. From there on go through the rest of the chapters and fill in
everything you already got.
Thirdly, use the production countdown checklist to work on every aspect of the planning.
You already wrote down your big shooting idea? Excellent, then tick off the first box (can be
Required parameters are missing or incorrect.
-2©2010 by the photographer
tricky in MS Word – I usually just replace it by an “x”. While you are at it, also tick off “start
making a production book”. You just started it. Next thing is planning the location. Fill in
your location requirements checklist, let your location scout come up with a suitable
location, customize the location visit checklist and so on, until you can tick of the location
planning checkbox.
Go on like this until the complete Production Countdown is ticket off. By that time you
should be right in the middle of your well organized shooting, ready to take at least 3 killer
exposures.
Have fun and…
Good light!
-- Michael (michael@zelbel.com)
Production Countdown Checklist
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12 Weeks Before – develop a big shooting idea
11 Weeks Before – start making a production book
9 Weeks Before – plan the location with your location scout
8 Weeks Before – define the roles of your staff
7 Weeks Before – define the scenes to shoot
7 Weeks Before – start working with your translator
6 Weeks Before – define props and fashion with your stylist
6 Weeks Before – define hairdo and makeup with makeup artist
6 Weeks Before – organize and align with models
6 Weeks Before – align with assistant
6 Weeks Before – get location permit
5 Weeks Before – book flights
5 Weeks Before – organize transport to location
5 Weeks Before – organize parking
5 Weeks Before – organize a fallback location/studio
4 Weeks Before – collect and distribute all contact details
4 Weeks Before – build the team
3 Weeks Before – test lighting ideas
3 Weeks Before – care about a studio as fallback
2 Weeks Before – check weather forecast
2 Weeks Before – make detailed shooting schedule
2 Weeks Before – align models, stylists and other team members
1 Week Before – go through preparation checklist
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-3©2010 by the photographer
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6 Days Before – buy props and stuff in home country
5 Days Before – check weather forecast again
4 Days Before – align on what models and stylists bring with them
3 Days Before – traveling to the destination
2 Days Before – check the location
2 Days Before – define where to put what on location
1 Days Before – go through preparation checklist again
1 Days Before – buy local props and things locally
Shooting Day – go through gear checklist
Shooting Day – follow the shooting schedule
Shooting Day – follow the shooting plan
The Great Photo Idea
This shooting is about…
The key statement that the photos make is…
I imagine the following scenes…
Some examples for photos like this are…
The Story
We will think of the shooting as taking photos of scenes from the following little story. This
will help us to express a common mood and expression when it comes to setting up the
scene, clothing and makeup, posting, lighting and all the other creative elements.
The main characters of our story is…. She is living in… One day she…
Required parameters are missing or incorrect.
-4©2010 by the photographer
Roles And Responsibilities Checklist
Each team member is responsible for their tasks and for overcoming their challenges.
Role
Model
Top Tasks, Responsibilities and Challenges
Casting
Result
1. Have top body condition on day of shooting,
good nails
2. Sign release with complete transfer of all image
rights incl. commercial
3. …
4.
Hair and
Makeup
Stylist
1. Care that the makeup is like planned and always
perfect
2. Care about the hair
3. …
Fashion Stylist
1. Bring the clothes
2. Closely align with hair and makeup stylist
3. …
Location
Scout
1. Care for a suitable location
2. Deal with every obstacle on location
3. …
Drivers/
Assistants
1. Be prepared with checked and filled up cars on
day of shooting
2. Know exactly the route to the location
3. …
Translator
1. Capable of translation photoshooting related
terms;
2. Stay on my side all the time, and proactively
translate whatever I say to whoever I address
3. …
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-5©2010 by the photographer
All Contact Details And Addresses
Contacts Details Of The People Involved
Model
Model
Makeup and Styling
Fashionstyling
Location Scout
Agent
Postproduction
Photographer
Other
Other
Addresses Of The Places Involved
Location
Address….
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-6©2010 by the photographer
Hotel / Base
Address….
Markets/Shops for stuff needed
Address….
Fallback Location / Studio
Address….
Restaurant for dinner after the shooting
Address….
Location Requirements Checklist
Category
Requirement
Result
Type
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-7©2010 by the photographer
Distance
Accessibility
Privacy
Legal
Examples
Styling Matrix
Category
Across Scenes
Scene #1
Scene #2
Scene #3
Scene #4
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-8©2010 by the photographer
Makeup style
Eyes
Lashes
Contacts
Cheeks
Lips
Hair
Others
Fashion
Accessories
Props
Examples
Carry On Luggage Checklist
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passport incl. visa
production book
camera body
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-9©2010 by the photographer
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camera fallback body
camera battery chargers
lenses
memory cards
speedlights
laptop + charger
…
Check In Luggage Checklist
Photography items
Props for the shooting
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camera tripod
laptop holder
guerilla pod
angle view finder
speedlight cables
snoot
color filters
light stands
umbrella swivels
umbrellas
reflectors
greycard
lens cleaning kit 
gaffer tape
USB cable
GPS tracker
velcro
a piece of aluminum wrap 
card reader
compass
wigs and similar
costumes
sunglasses etc
music for the shooting
Other items
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clothes
toilet items
luggage strap
Weather Forecast 15 Days Before Shooting
According to the 15 day weather forecast of AccuWeather (http://zelbel.com/weather) the
weather on location at the scheduled day of the shooting will be like this:
Temperatures:
Felt Temperature:
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-10©2010 by the photographer
Wind:
Clouds / Rain:
Sunrise / Sunset:
…
Location Visit Checklist
Checkpoint
Result
Parking Space? Distance to set?
Electric power 220V available?
Restrooms?
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-11©2010 by the photographer
Changingroom?
Retreat in case of rain?
Place to store gear?
Drinks, food, snacks available?
Where is the sun at the time of
shooting? Where is it going to set?
Can the models pose conveniantly?
Mosquitoes, bugs?
Temperature at location?
Is it a public place? Viewers /
spectators expected?
Can we play music?
Can we get in conflict with
somebody?
Find the exact position for your
shooting!
Make sample photos! Good exposures
of sky, greenery, rocks, other
elements of the compositions!
Is the location really suitable?
Day Before Shooting Checklist
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camera batteries charged
memory cards clean
speedlight batteries charged
laptop battery charged
external battery charged
laptop hard drive got 20GB space
got music for the shooting
all participants have address and driving instructions
Required parameters are missing or incorrect.
-12©2010 by the photographer
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contracts are printed and ready to sign
weather forecast is OK
got drinks and food for the shooting
Required parameters are missing or incorrect.
-13©2010 by the photographer
Gear Checklist
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production book
camera body and batteries
fallback camera body and batteries
lenses
memory cards
tripod
lightstands
flashes
flash cables
snoots
color filters
umbrellas
angle view finder
laptop + external battery
USB cable
reflectors
graycard
GPS tracker
velcro
gaffer tape
aluminum wrap
lens cleaning kit
compass
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bugspray
sunscreen
clothes
jewelry
wigs
smoke effects
drinks
fruit
Takeoff Checklist
Things to check before we start driving to our location
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equipment checklist checked
clocks in Laptop and cameras on local time
cameras zero’d out and working
GPS tracker got space and is running
cars are filled up and driver knows the way
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-14©2010 by the photographer
The Holy Shooting Schedule
We absolutely MUST stick to the following schedule on the day of the shooting
Shedule, [Date…]
aa:00 – bb:00
bb:00 – cc:00
cc:00 – dd:00
dd:00 – ee:00
ee:00 – ff:00
ff:00
Drive to location
Prepare Scene #1, Makeup
Shoot Scene #1
Shoot Scene #2
Shoot Scene #3
Pack up the stuff an leave Location
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-15©2010 by the photographer
Ramp Up Step By Step List
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List of activities to be done directly after arriving on location
1. Mark the exact spot where we shoot the first scene by putting a bucket there
2. Park the cars as close as possible
3. Models oil their skin
4. Everybody use bugspray
5. Setup the camera tripod for the first scene
6. Setup camera, check the main settings
7. Attache remote trigger, angle viewfinder, pocket wizard
8. Tether with laptop
9. Setup the lightstands with the main light and the kicker light, just place them somewhere
10. Compose the geometry of the scene, probably with an assistant posing
11. Place the lightstands at the correct position
12. Adjust the power of the main light
13. Adjust the power of the kicker light
14. You are ready to go, shoot your first scene
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-16©2010 by the photographer
List Of Frames To Produce In Each Scene
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List of the frames we shoot in each scene.
Before the model enters the scene:
1. Available light exposure
2. Optimum Sky exposure
3. Grey Cube
4. mainlight switched on
5. all lights switched on
6. lighting setup documentation
With the model
7. First making-of photos
8. Makeup test portait
9. Model speaking her text
10. Model right after speaking
11. Model turned her head*
12. Creatively improvised
13. Details, closeups
14. Second making-of photos
Required parameters are missing or incorrect.
-17©2010 by the photographer
Varying Point Of View
During
POV 1:
POV 2:
POV 3:
…
Lighting Setup
Here are some scribbles (probably made online with (http://zelbel.com/diagram) for the
lighting setup for our different scenes:
….
Postproduction
For postproduction the following is planned
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Stretch photo by 5%
Make eyes 5% bigger
Rubberstamp pimples and spots
Make skin smoother
sharpen
…
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-18©2010 by the photographer
Lessons Learned
In our shooting the following thing went wrong, or can be improved. I will add checkpoints
and planning steps to the production book of the NEXT shooting, so that these things cannot
come up again:
Issue 1
…
Issue 2
…
Templates For Shooting Contracts / Model Releases
There is another version of this template that comes with the Beijing Blueprint eBook. That
version contains also some model release contract templates.
Required parameters are missing or incorrect.
-19©2010 by the photographer