Process guide: how we plan, scope, and deliver campaign photography

If you are setting a budget, requesting quotes, or preparing a brief, start here. This page outlines the decisions that define scope, usage, and outcomes before production begins.

1. Initial alignment

Every project starts with a short conversation to establish goals and placement.

We define:

  • Campaign or project goal

  • Primary placements, such as website, ads, email, press, or social

  • Timeline and key dates

  • Budget range and internal constraints

Why this matters: most cost, licensing, and schedule issues trace back to assumptions made at this stage.

2. Scope definition

Before pricing or scheduling, we define what will be produced.

We outline:

  • Number of final images and priority assets.

  • Required formats, crops, and variations.

  • Level of concepting and styling.

  • Usage terms and expected lifespan.

Planning check: if scope had to shrink, which three images would remain?

3. Creative direction

Concepting translates strategy into visual structure.

This includes:

  • Tone and visual references

  • Styling and prop direction

  • Lighting approach

  • Brand and campaign guardrails

The goal is clarity, not constraint.

4. Pre-production

Once scope and direction are set, production is prepared.

This typically includes:

  • Shot list and production plan

  • Prop and surface sourcing

  • Schedule and milestones

  • Review and approval points

Why this matters: strong pre-production reduces rework and keeps the shoot focused

5. Production

Shoot day is for execution, not open-ended decision-making.

The focus is on:

  • Lighting and composition

  • Consistency across assets

  • Building hero and supporting images

  • Allowing flexibility for crops and placements

6. Post-production + delivery

Final assets are prepared for use across channels.

Deliverables typically include:

  • Retouched and color-corrected finals

  • Crops and format variants as defined in scope

  • Web and print-ready files

  • Usage documentation

What this process protects

  • Budget, through defined scope and usage

  • Timelines, by reducing late-stage changes

  • Outcomes, by aligning creative decisions with real placements

Readiness check

Before requesting quotes or confirming a timeline, ask: do we know where these images will live, how long they will be used, and which ones matter most?

Contact

If you want a second review of your plan before it is finalized, reach out.

→ Reach out at sara@sara-anderson.com