When you hire a pro, you get certain benefits. Like the ones in this list.

And when you shoot, why not behave like a pro also? Life’s easier  when you do.

“After The Business Meeting, A beer” (June 2013)

For tomorrow’s shoot, an outdoors birthday party with family shots, I am beginning with a checklist. Here’s mine for tomorrow:

1. Prepare the cameras  – at least two, since you must have a spare for everything you bring.
2. Everything cleaned.
3. Camera bag packed with all neede daccessories.
4. Camera batteries charged.
5. Flash batteries charged.
6. Spare batteries packed.
7. Strobe power pack charged,
8. Large lights (studio strobes) packed.
9. Light stands packed.
10. Flash accessory bag checked and full. Including pocketwizards (with good batteries), modifiers, attachments, cables, and a light meter (including spare battery) . I have a separate checklist for that bag.
11. Everything sitting by the door.
12. Assistant arranged

Then I organize the shoot itself: I have a checklist for the shoot that ensures I know things like:

1. Names, phone numbers
2. Address of shoot
3. Parking checked
4. Car fuelled up prior to shoot
5. Change, ID, etc packed
6. Small items like comb, pens, note pad, etc packed
7. Business cards packed

The small things make the difference. A shoot like tomnorrow’s, what do I bring in the way of lenses:

1. Canon 1Dx with 24-70 f/2.8L
2. Canon 7D with 70-200 f/2.8L

Then I bring a 35mm prime, a 50mm prime, and a 16-35mm f/2.8. Optionally, I bnring the 100mm macto and the 45mm f/2.8 tilt-shift lens.

The FIVE SUCCESS FACTORS for this type of shoot:

1. Bring all sorts of stuff even if you do not expect to need it.
2. Spares for everything.
3. Checklists, on paper.
4. Prepare the night before.
5. Get there early.

Have fun!

Michael

PS those of you who say “but that’s a lot of work!” – yes, that is why you pay the pros for their work. It’s work, real work…!