A simple plan for the week before, the day of and the days after your shoot, so one session gives your business every image it needs.
A professional photoshoot is one of the fastest ways to refresh your website, listings and social channels. The photographer brings the camera and the experience, but a little preparation on your side is what turns a few nice pictures into a complete library you can use all year.
Start with where the photos will live
Before you think about angles, list the places the images will appear. A website banner needs wide, horizontal frames with room for text. Social posts work best as squares or vertical shots. Listing and booking platforms often have their own size rules. Knowing this upfront tells the photographer how to frame each shot.
- Website: banners, team page, service pages
- Listings: Google Business Profile, delivery apps, real estate portals
- Social media: feed posts, stories, cover images
- Print and sales: menus, brochures, pitch decks
Write a short shot list
A shot list keeps the session focused and makes sure nothing important is missed. It does not need to be long. Ten to twenty lines usually cover a small business: the storefront, the main space, signature products or services, details that show quality, and people at work.
Put the must-have shots at the top. If time runs short, the photographer knows what to protect.
Get the space ready for the camera
Cameras notice everything. Walk through the space the day before and look at it the way a new customer would.
- Clear counters, desks and shelves of anything that is not part of the story.
- Hide cables, trash bins, paperwork and personal items.
- Replace any dead bulbs and keep the same color of light across a room.
- Clean windows, mirrors and glass doors, inside and out.
- Restock products so displays look full and intentional.
Tip: take a few phone photos of each area a week before the shoot. Small distractions you no longer notice in person become obvious on a screen.
Prepare the people
If your team will appear in the photos, share the date early. Solid colors photograph better than busy patterns, and branded clothing helps the images feel consistent. Ask who is comfortable being photographed, and plan the schedule so that work does not stop while the photographer is there.
Choose the right time of day
Natural light is soft and flattering, so many interiors look best in the morning or late afternoon. For a restaurant or a shop, the hour before opening is often ideal: the space is clean, quiet and fully set up. For action shots, such as a busy dining room or a team meeting, book the session for the moment that activity happens naturally.
On the day
Have one person available to answer questions, move furniture and approve shots. Go through the shot list again when the photographer arrives and point out any areas that are off limits. Then step back and let the professional work.
After the shoot
With Phocus.io you preview the photos online, select the ones you want and download the final edited files. Keep them in one shared folder, name them clearly and note where each image is used. A well organized library makes the next update, and the next shoot, much easier.
