The Value of a Pre-Production Meeting

I’ve always found pre-production meetings to be one of the most productive parts of my process, especially when working as a commercial and advertising photographer. Before I even pick up the camera, these meetings help set the tone, clarify expectations, and ensure that the shoot runs as smoothly as possible. For me, preparation isn’t optional—it’s a core part of my professional photography workflow.

During a pre-production meeting—particularly in commercial photoshoot planning—I take time to carefully review the brief with the team and the client. When there are multiple meetings, each one allows us to raise concerns, ask questions, and refine ideas. In advertising shoot preparation, aligning the creative vision with the brand message, usage requirements, and client expectations is critical. These discussions help everyone get on the same page long before shoot day.

No commercial or advertising shoot is ever completely free of problems. That’s simply the reality of production. What pre-production meetings do for me is reduce the number and impact of those problems. Instead of reacting under pressure on set, many challenges are already anticipated and addressed ahead of time. This allows me, as an advertising photographer, to focus on execution, direction, and storytelling.

From my perspective as a commercial photographer, these meetings are essential for photography equipment preparation. I can plan exactly what lighting equipment to bring—the number of lights, the types, and the specific role each light will play in the shoot. Even though I naturally tend to over-prepare, having clarity during photography pre-production makes a huge difference. I can decide how many camera bodies to bring, which lenses are absolutely necessary, and which ones will serve as backups. I can also prepare the right light modifiers, grips, and stands, instead of guessing on shoot day.

Pre-production meetings don’t just benefit me as the photographer. They help every member of the production team—from stylists and makeup artists to assistants and producers—prepare properly. In commercial and advertising photography, where time, budget, and client expectations are tightly controlled, this level of preparation allows everyone to work efficiently and confidently.

In the end, a pre-production meeting is not an extra step in my workflow—it’s a foundation of how I work. It strengthens my commercial photography process, supports a smoother advertising photography workflow, saves time, reduces stress on set, and allows the entire team to focus on what truly matters: creating strong, purposeful, and effective images for clients and brands.

Cheers!