Catalog Photography: 25 Quick Shots

During an intensive session at the ACCM Conference in Boston on May 21, a panel discussed assorted ways to maximize catalog photography budgets. Most notable among the tips fired out by Carliss Million, VP/creative director of catalog consulting firm Lorel Marketing Group; Geoff Van Sonsbeeck, cofounder/owner of pregnant women’s cataloger Isabella Oliver; and Sue Blesch, senior account executive at North American Color, a pre-press and printing company, were a 25-step plan to make your catalog shoot a success. Below is their list, a hodgepodge of necessary tools, actions and assorted quirky suggestions.

1. concepts and mood boards

2. implications on creative

3. the right team

4. copyrights and ownership

5. scheduling

6. objectives

7. ask: Who is your market?

8. understand image usage

9. consider how you’ll cross-sell

10. plan your props

11. visit the location

12. monitor weather conditions

13. review objectives

14. prepare

15. brief the team

16. share expectations with the team

17. brief the models

18. brief individual shots

19. remember set-up time

20. watch out for variety and versatility

21. stick to the plan, but be flexible

22. be tough and keep things moving

23. bring chocolate

24. have a back-up plan

25. if there’s an unexpected opportunity, take it.