A shot list helps you plan photos and videos in advance so you capture every important moment of your church event. By noting key people, activities, and candid shots, you ensure nothing is missed and that your visuals meet needs for social media, websites, and local media. This simple tool keeps your team organized and helps tell your church’s story with clarity and purpose.
Either further in advance or on the morning of an event, create a shot list, aka a wish list, of images and videos you'd like to have captured.
When creating your shot list, consider all the ways and places you may use the photos and videos and who you should include. Having a copy of the event agenda or planned run-of-show will be a helpful tool in the process.
Be thorough in crafting your shot list, as you'll want to be mindful of publicity and other imagery needs. This list is a great tool to help prevent you from missing an essential image during the bustle of the day.
Photo-wise, include all the must-haves, group shots and key moments you want to capture. Include photos such as:
· your pastor delivering a message
· the pastor with the event sponsor(s)
· sponsor banners as displayed
· members and guests enjoying the festivities, etc.
Include images that you want to serve to the media after the event. Also, highlight that you want plenty of candid shots that capture the unplanned, special moments and reactions that can happen.
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Undergo the same process for video. Note speeches or addresses you want to capture for sharing and/or archival purposes. Like candid images, stress the importance of getting plenty of supplemental B-roll as this works well for media, internal highlight reels to show at services or online and future stock footage needs.
Request vertical and horizontal photos and video. You'll use vertical for Facebook and horizontal for your website. Horizontal video is also ideal for sending to news stations after your event. Likewise, horizontal photos work well for sending a post-event photo with a written caption blurb to your local papers or websites.
Though you can email it in advance, a printed copy of the shot list is essential to provide to each person tasked with photography and videography, regardless of whether that's you, hired outside professionals, church staff or volunteers.
With the proper plan in place and even using a smartphone, you can get fantastic imagery that tells the story of your event and church to share with media outlets, on your social profiles and website, at church and for archives and stock content.
A shot list will keep you and your team on task and offer peace of mind during the busiest times.