It is widespread when I call photo assistants to tell them I am unsure about what we are doing today. For example, we may be setting up and taking lights down all day long as we go around a college or school campus.

It is widespread for me to shoot what would typically be about 10 to 12 assignments, all packed into one day. So, for example, I filled in 11 locations in 1/2 day on this assignment.

Fuji X-E2, 18-55mm, ISO 400, ƒ/5.6, 1/640

Here is my shot list for Thursday 1/2 day of shooting at a Catholic High School:

• Science Lab
• Helicopter Aerial Photo Shoot of Campus
• Students by statues of Mary & Jesus
  •  Female by herself
  • Male by himself
  • Male and Female
• Drums from around the World Class
• Spanish Class
• Computer Class teaching Adobe Illustrator
• A small group in the Library
• Priest Teaching class
• Priests with students and talking in the lobby
• Calculus Class
• Robotics Class

My clients’ skills are to walk into any situation and come away with photos that will engage their audience. Any problem can require special lighting skills to shoot available light and even knowing how to shoot aerial images of campus.

There is no time to brainstorm and come up with many ideas. Instead, I deviseth an approach for a couple of minutes and then execute it in about 30 to 40 minutes. This process includes setting up studio strobes and taking them to our following location. Again, I work with two assistants to make this go quickly.

The hardest part is the client who has not worked with a professional who will make each location look the very best by creating light may not be aware of the time it takes for each site. The client’s reference is to see the local newspaper reporter come in and take a few photos and then write a story. Those photographers typically use no flash or on-camera flash due to the speed they need to work and the fact that most of the time, the photo is Black and White.

Fuji X-E2, 18-55mm, ISO 250, ƒ/5.6, 1/500

 With 30+ years of shooting for colleges, national publications, and major brands, I have enough experience to see the big picture from a high altitude for my clients. So if you need a great perspective to pick the best visual approach for your storytelling, give me a call. Also, call me to schedule a class if you want to learn how to do this yourself.