Photography Storyboard Template
Crafting a photography storyboard
Storyboards in phorography allow you to plan out each shot, so you’re not scrambling on location trying to figure things out on the fly. Plus, a storyboard makes a photoshoot run a lot smoother, serving as a creative reference point and blueprint for entire teams and collaborators.
In this step-by-step guide, we will use StudioBinder’s storyboard creator to illustrate each stage of the process. While StudioBinder is our preferred tool, the following steps are universally applicable, whether you're using digital software or sketching with paper and pen.
Step 1
1. Decide your presentation format
When creating your photography storyboard, consider the number of panels per page based on the anticipated shots and the detail level you want to include. If you have a more detailed storyboard, consider having fewer panels and larger frames. If you're aiming for a more high-level overview, you can use more panels with smaller frames for a clearer flow.
How to do this in StudioBinder
- Switch between view types (from 1 - 4 columns).
- Hide or reveal shot specs (scene number, description, audio, video).
- Automatically fit your image to the aspect ratio.
Step 2
2. Analyze the pitch or treatment
Determine what the photoshoot concept is about through the treatment or pitch. Ask yourself what emotions or story points need to be conveyed? What is the mood and tone of the concept? These questions will help you plan your shots and populate your storyboard with the best imagery in our next step.
How to do this in StudioBinder
- Import a script or treatment to automatically turn scenes into blank storyboards.
- Tag each line to create a new panel in the storyboard.
Pro Tip — Pay attention to how lighting descriptions and its role in setting the mood for each scene. Natural light can convey warmth, while artificial lighting might be used for dramatic effects.
Step 3
3. Create or find images
Decide how you will populate your storyboard. Consider creating rough sketches yourself or enlisting the help of a storyboard artist for more detailed illustrations. These visual drafts are invaluable for deciding the key elements of each shot.
Leverage existing photographs or capture preliminary shots with stand-ins. This approach helps to visualize the final presentation and refine the vision before the actual shoot.
Arrange images sequentially in the order they will appear. This strategy ensures a cohesive narrative flow, providing clarity and structure for your creative process.
How to do this in StudioBinder
- Upload images anywhere, including previous projects.
- Use your webcam to capture hand-drawn frames.
- Reorder images by simply clicking and dragging frames.
Step 4
4. Add descriptions and annotations
Build out your storyboard with detailed notes. Include information about camera angles, lens choices, and lighting setups. Annotations should also note any special effects or post-processing plans to align with the final vision.
How to do this in StudioBinder
- Add scene descriptions, audio information like dialogue, and video information explaining the visuals like shot types and sizes.
- Create arrows, text and shapes to further clarify the direction of each image.
Step 5
5. Share and collaborate
Distribute your storyboard to key team members, such as the assistant photographer, make up artist, or stylist, and gather their input to refine the plan. Use collaborative tools to allow team members to comment and suggest changes.
How to do this in StudioBinder
- Share with a view-only link, and invite collaborators to work on this specific feature/page (not the entire project).
- Collaborate with clients and team members with the comment feature.
Step 6
6. Print the storyboard
After you've made any last-minute adjustments for clarity and completeness, print hard copies of the storyboard for easy reference on set, serving as a guide to keep the shoot on track.
How to do this in StudioBinder
- Generate storyboard PDFs for a professional presentation with added security.
Conclusion
Photography storyboard complete
During a photoshoot, a lot of magic unfolds spontaneously, but having a solid game plan provides a foundation for ideas to blossom. Storyboards are a fantastic way to prepare and guide the shoot.
This photography storyboard template is one of many storyboard templates you can use. Browse other storyboard templates on our Templates page.
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