7 Things I Learned From Leading A Photoshoot For The First Time (on the brand side)

Before the coronavirus took havoc on us all, I traveled to North Carolina in place of my manager, the Director of Marketing, to help co-lead a photoshoot for one of our brands with our media agency.

It was the first time that I had ever attended a shoot without a manager and was allowed to guide the shoot a bit more with my expertise.

I thought that I'd be nervous about taking on such a significant learning opportunity, but it wasn't that bad. Thanks to my team (the media agency, a brand manager, and a product manager), I was able to get through a two-day shoot without too many mistakes. 

It was also not my first production shoot, so I knew my way around a bit. The most significant difference this time is that I was the person who had an opinion that everyone was interested in hearing. I also had a little more leverage now being considered "the client."

In the past, I was the last person to be asked about what I thought or if we needed to change anything. Unless you count that one time, I executed a Facebook Live event as a Junior Account Executive in Indianapolis, with a professional race car driver for the very first time. But I digress. Besides the below 40-degree mountain weather, this moment was SO much more appealing!

This was a big moment for me, not only because I was considered a key player, but because we were shooting new products that were to be launched this year.

When you're launching a new product, ALL EYES are on any outgoing marketing materials, and if there were a mistake, it would be seen. Especially since we were launching a new product that enthusiasts were eager to get their hands on, and critics were ready to find an error.

When I returned home from my trip, my manager asked me to share my experience, since it was a learning opportunity for me to attend on behalf of the brand. Of course, I was eager to do a FULL write-up, which inspired this post. 

I thought, hey, why not share what I learned on my career blog, so others out there who are going through the same experience could relate, or maybe there's a junior marketer out there that could use a few pointers.

Here are the seven things that I learned from co-leading my first professional photoshoot as a Marketing Manager on the brand side. 

(1) Be prepared for the elements.

Before leaving for the trip, I ensured that I had enough clothes and layers to combat any weather change, especially since it was the middle of wintertime in North Carolina.

In the past, I’ve only assisted with indoor production shoots or outdoor shots during the hotter months. So, I wasn't quite sure what to pack. I knew that North Carolina was a part of the south so that it couldn't be much colder than Georgia, right? WRONG. It was freezing.

I tend to overpack anyway, so this habit helped me prepare for each day with comfortable shoes, appropriate clothing (I wore at least three layers), and extra socks (the second day I wore two pairs). 

If I ever attend an outside shoot during the winter months again, I’ll also bring tea, a thermos, and body warmers - including the ones that go inside of your shoes.

(2) Be early.

Thanks to the Brand Manager, who is always on time, we were early for the shoot on both days. This helped us to build a relationship with our agency, get our barrings of the shoot location, and stay on schedule both days.

If we had arrived late or even on time, we would not have had enough time to eat, check our emails for any emergencies back at the office, or noticed that we were missing something.

(3) Make sure that you have everything.

I arrived with comfortable and appropriate clothing, shot lists, computers, phones, chargers, and we still forgot something! I’ve learned that it’s essential to check over the production list three times before the shoot starts, and if you don’t have everything, have a plan to get everything that you need without delaying the shoot. 

After realizing that we forgot to grab an essential key product for the shoot, I decided to keep the shoot moving along so we could stay on time. Then, after careful consideration and discussing it with our Product Manager, I understood that the missing piece was needed to capture the features of the full product line.

Thanks to my good relationship with our Traffic Manager back at HQ, I was able to get her help with overnighting the product from Georgia to North Carolina. Note: it's important to make good friends at work, just in case you need them to do a last-minute, time-sensitive solid for you. You never know!

(4) Be helpful and willing to jump in.

I’ve always loved shoots, so this was not new to me. I’ve pointed this out because even if you’re not a newbie to a production shoot, you should always have a helping hand and an eager spirit. 

I didn’t make any of the photos this time as extra talent, but I was teased about being thrown into a shot or two. This reminded me that no matter if you’re needed to keep a fire because it's freezing outside, grab a prop, or be a hand model, be willing to help out your team.

(5) Be humble and respectful to the director and photographer.

As the new Associate Marketing Manager for the brand, it was new for me to give on the spot feedback. I’m thankful that my co-leads were there as I gave feedback because that encouraged me throughout the shoot. 

As the client, I’ve learned that it’s crucial to provide comments and feedback throughout the process. And depending on your director's personality, they usually welcomed it because it's needed for their creative process. 

The key is to be respectful and humble to the people who are right there, fighting the bitter cold and climbing ladders to capture your products at the right time with the perfect lighting. 

(6) Trust your agency, but verify.

A few times, we told our agency that we trusted them and their work, so it was comfortable to sit behind the camera without needing to say much. However, I've learned that it’s still your brand, so you must check-in to see if we captured what we needed.

Looking back, there were moments where I could have been more vocal, but now that the shoot is over and we have final edits, it's too late. Be sure to speak up when you have the chance so that you're not wasting your time and your companies budget. 

(7) Learn from the experts.

I was able to learn from the experts that were there on the shoot with me. The director, the photographer, the food stylist, the product manager, and the brand manager all taught me something interesting about their role while on the shoot. 

• Director: How to jump in and guide the photographer.

• Photographer: Lighting techniques and something about stabilizing the image with an orange filter — I still don't quite understand what that means, but yeah, it was cool. 

• Food Stylist: How to make (cooked and uncooked) foods look fresh and juicy.

• Product Manager: Product tips and essential things to capture that I would not have known, especially since I was the newest team member.

• Brand Manager: How to manage an agency on set, build a relationship with the product managers, and be sure that we’re staying true to the brand story through images.

Overall, I had a blast and learned so much about my role as a marketing manager on the brand side. I look forward to our next shoot, so hopefully, we're all back to BAU this fall.