03/02/2026
Most of my photoshoots take less time than the preparation behind them.
That surprises people.
It shouldn’t. Before I ever pick up a camera, I plan.
Lighting. Location. Creative intent. Environment. Flow. Not because I have to. Because I don’t 'wing' things. 'Winging it' would feel like a test shoot, not a client shoot.
And honestly, I’d feel like a fraud. Every shoot has a plan. The plan changes depending on the genre, but it always exists.
Years ago, before the Army and policing, I was serving an apprenticeship to become a professional golfer.
I worked for Peter Gardiner in Chester. When he was away, his dad Tommy (retired golf pro) would help out and tell stories from life on tour.
One always stuck with me. Billy Casper (tour Pro - 1950's) was lining up an approach shot when someone in the crowd shouted. He walked back fifty yards and started his preparation again.
That wasn’t drama. That was respect for the process. I do a similar thing with my photography.
Once I understand what my client needs, I build the shoot backwards. I revise the plan. I rehearse it mentally. I know what each setup needs to achieve before the day arrives.
Does planning guarantee a perfect shoot? Probably not. But in my experience, it gets you about 98 percent of the way there.
And that’s why clients trust me. Not because I’m lucky. Because I turn up prepared.
Question for you: would you trust someone who “just sees how it goes” with your brand?
Images of me giving direction to Owen Blackwood, taking the shot, and the finished result.
