How to prepare for a content day
This is all about how to prep for your content day. I've shot enough of these now to spot the pattern early. Businesses that are prepped walk away with a proper library of content they can use for months. The ones that don't tend to have a lovely morning and a slightly scrappy afternoon, and nobody wants that.
why preparation matters more than the shoot itself
A content day is one focused day. You can't add hours if the morning runs long. The goal is a full library of usable photos and videos, and that only happens if the shot list, the space, the people and the products are ready before I arrive.
Prep isn't admin, it's the difference between 40 usable shots and 200.
1. sort your space
Whether we're shooting in your café, your workshop, your hotel or your kitchen, the space needs to look how you want it to look on Instagram, on your website and in your ads.
clear surfaces of anything that isn't yours (branded pens, other suppliers' materials, personal items)
wipe down counters, tables and any glass in shot
swap dead flowers for fresh ones, or take them out entirely
open blinds and curtains, natural light is doing half the work
tidy the corners you don't think about, they always end up in a wide shot
2. plan your outfits (if you're on camera)
If we're shooting founder or team content, you're going to end up in a lot of frames. One outfit is fine for a single-scene shoot, but for a full content day, it’s worth bringing options.
2 to 3 outfits, ideally one neutral, one branded and one that feels most like you
avoid busy patterns, tight stripes and logos from other brands
bring an extra top in case of coffee, food or paint incidents (trust me…)
keep hair and makeup close to how you'd want to see yourself online
3. batch your products, menus or props
If you sell things, get them ready in advance. The last thing we want is to be plating up dishes or rewrapping products on the day.
pull out every product you want featured, cleaned and photograph-ready
if we're shooting food, brief the kitchen on which dishes and in what order - it’ll be your key dishes, or any new menu items you want highlighted
if we're shooting a menu or seasonal launch, print or prep everything the day before
have back-ups of anything precious in case something spills, breaks or wilts
4. line up the people
Not every content day needs faces, but if yours does, the people need to know they're being filmed.
brief team members on what to expect, what to wear and roughly when they're needed
ask permission from any customers who might end up in shot, or block off a shoot window before opening - maybe adding a small, simple poster saying we’re shooting content today, if you don’t want to be in it, talk to the girl with the camera or the manager
if you want a real customer moment, invite a regular in and tell them what they've signed up for
5. review the shot list one more time
I'll send the shot list before the shoot. Read it properly.
flag anything you don't want to do or aren't comfortable with
let me know to add anything you've thought of since the planning call
confirm timings, especially if we're shooting across different parts of the day (morning service, prep, evening ambience)
6. the night before
get an early night. content days are long and you'll perform better on camera if you're not knackered
eat a proper breakfast the next morning. mid-shoot low blood sugar is a real thing
what to expect on the day itself
I arrive around 10am, unless arranged otherwise, do a quick walkaround, set up lighting, and we start shooting to the shot list. we'll break for lunch, keep going through the afternoon, and usually wrap by 5pm - obviously timings are subject to change depending on the needs for the shoot (evening/night/sunrise) but it will be a max of 8 hours.
There’s no need to entertain me. If you’re not on camera, just bring over a cup of coffee, point me at the plug sockets, and we’re good to go. I may request a hand here and there (literally!) depending if we need a few extra human elements.
after the shoot
You get two full editing days after the shoot. Photos will be colour-graded as per your brand, videos cut and edited in a tone that suits you, everything sized and delivered in a shared folder within 10 working days.
ready to book?
If you're planning a content day and want to know whether your business is a good fit, book a call with me or read more about how a content day works.