Teamwork makes the dream work. That's why lots of specialists are involved when it comes to creative projects like a commercial photoshoot. But do you know who exactly runs around at the set and what their tasks and responsibilities are? In this article, you'll learn all about the team roles of a photoshoot crew.
Behind the camera: A whole crew. In front of the camera: Only me.
Creative director
Before a photoshoot gets organized, an idea and a concept are needed to outline the process and the expected results. It's a creative director's job to cast the team members, lead them and evaluate the outcome. They are the one in charge and responsible for the project, always guiding with a clear vision and with 10 backup plans in store.
Photographer
Obviously, the photographer plays a crucial role at every set. They work closely together with the creative director, usually brainstorming together and ping-ponging ideas off each other. I'm always impressed by the amount of coffee they drink and how they are bending over backward for hours to capture great shots.
Assistant photographer
Even at small sets, a helping pair of hands is needed to ensure a smooth photoshoot. Assistants wear many hats as they adjust the lighting, blow smoke or fan wind, hand out camera objectives and make sure that the photographer and model can shoot with as few interruptions as possible.
Model
Models are the team members with the least amount of stand-by time during a shoot. They need to be present from the beginning as hair and make-up start in the first hour, pose during the shoot and stay until the very end when the last photo has been taken. You need to be cut out to be able to put up with weird poses in even weirder weather conditions while people touch up your face and hair every few minutes. Although modeling asks a lot from you, I can't see myself in any other role than this one — being the canvas for beautiful creations is just too pleasing.
Make-up artist
Make-up artists (MUA) are key players since they can create anything from nude looks that give the illusion of flawless skin to edgy and bold face paint. I'm always in awe when they smack on a graphic eyeliner in just a few minutes. As a model, it's recommended to give the MUA information about your skin condition, skin type and skin tone before the shoot so they can prepare the right color palettes.
Hair designer
A hair designer is the cherry on top at a photoshoot set as the right hair can make or break a photo. As someone who has 0 hair styling skills, I'm impressed by the effortlessly-looking creations every time — braids, wet look, curls,... you name it. During a shoot, you can usually find hair designers next to the photographer with a bottle of hair spray in their hand, squinting their eyes to find and stick down any flying baby hairs.
Stylist
Stylists are the secret weapon of fantastic photoshoots. Stylists make the magic happen since you don't always need expensive clothes to create great looks. Just an eye for fashion will do. They're primarily focused on putting trendy outfits together including the right jewelry and matching shoes. Honestly, after having worn simply perfect outfits of stylists, you'll feel depressed and overwhelmed the next time you'll enter a clothing store on your own again.
Depending on the campaign's scale, more or fewer people work at a set. Sometimes, the client is present, for example, to check that everything is in line with the client's company values and style guides. Usually, the more experts work on a project like that, the more high-end the result will be.
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