Photoshoot Planning

Equipment:

- Cannon 5D: £2000

- 300mm Lens: £400

- 64gb Memory Card: £60

- Tripod: £30

- Fuel & transport: £30

Locations:

- Rock beach and surrounding area, Cornwall

- Looe estuary, Cornwall

Planning my photoshoots is pivotal in terms of the success of my product. A successful photoshoot will ensure that location, equipment and props are all organised beforehand. I need to explore imagery and photographic themes - however from looking at a current landscape photographer and researching photographic techniques, I have been able to build on my skills and knowledge. Furthermore by planning and researching I will be able to ensure that my work is of the highest possible standard and the images which I take all fit current themes set by current media producers. 

Due to the fact that my photoshoots will all be outdoor, landscape and on-location based, I am going to be required to fully utilise the natural lighting of the time and day. Therefore I will need to take advantage of the specific weather conditions on my chosen location. In contrast to my AS portfolio, where I explored artificial lighting techniques such as light boxes and use of lamps, I am going to need to learn how to set up a camera appropriately so I can make full use of the current lighting conditions at my photoshoot locations. I want my images to have a natural look to keep my target audience engaged, so I am hoping that I am able to do this with natural lighting instead of artificial lighting.

In order to get high quality photographs I need to have a professional set of equipment at my disposal. To do this I will make full use of the college's photography department where they have top of the range SLRs, tripods, lenses and memory cards. I will check out this equipment from the photography department before my photoshoots. I am hoping to use a professional Canon 60D SLR as is this is one of the higher range cameras that are available for me to use. The use of a memory card with a large capacity is vital as it will allow me to shoot my photographs in RAW and JPEG files - I am hoping to use a memory card with a 32gb capacity. 

Regarding location, I am hoping to visit two different sites to conduct two contrastingly different photoshoots, however both will fall under the same category of majestic landscape photography. Firstly, I have chosen Looe, Cornwall, to take a range of photographs over and around the estuary. I am hoping to take photographs of both the landscape and the wildlife in its natural habitat - this will follow ideas set up by magazines such as Cornwall Today,  Devon Life and Wild Cornwall. Secondly, I would like to visit Rock, Cornwall as this is a popular attraction for both Cornish residents and tourists in the area. The landscape at Rock will allow me to fit the same ideas as the previous shoot, whilst also giving me a contrasting edge which will fit coastal themes. 

My decision not to use a model is one which follows conventions and ideas set by traditional, regional magazine front covers. By adding a model to a traditional landscape image, the eyes are instantly drawn to the subject as opposed to the natural beauty in place, which is what I want my audience to focus on. In conclusion, by exploring and logging my ideas it has helped me to visualise the types of images I want, the equipment I will need and also some of the lighting techniques which will be important.