Photoshoot Planning for a Smooth Landing

Photoshoot Planning for a Smooth Landing

09.25.24 · Sonia Greteman

The client loves the campaign concepts. Now it's time to deliver excellence.

When Piedmont Airlines decided they were ready for fresh creative, Greteman Group got to work. We created three distinctly different concepts and presented them to our client's savvy marketing team. They chose our favorite concept, which is always an advantage. The next big decision: stock photography or an original photoshoot? Sometimes stock is the way to go because of timing or budget, but this time shooting directly to our vision was optimal.

Correct Casting is Crucial

We worked closely with our client determining pilot casting - offering diverse options who will connect with the target audience. We knew we needed to keep it local to work within our budget. Working closely with two modeling agencies we found just the right people, gender, ethnicity and age to act as our Piedmont professionals. A variety of current headshots were submitted to the marketing team for review. After their selection we worked with the agencies to determine usage rights, day rates and availability.

The Photographer Can Make or Break a Shoot

Our photographer's portfolio confirmed she was the right fit for the assignment. Once her availability and budget was secured, we started working on the details. An easy access studio with white seamless background and professional lighting were musts. Then we finalized usage rights and schedules, confirming it all in writing.

Consider Wardrobe Details

Getting the wardrobe right was essential. Making sure the exact, correct uniforms were available was crucial. We requested current clothing sizes from our models and the Piedmont marketing team went to work sourcing their pilot uniforms, jackets, shirts, ties, lapel pins, hats and aviator sunglasses. Even providing a uniform "cheat sheet" to ensure no details are missed. The model-specific uniforms fit perfectly - creating the pilot look we needed. Some further instructions to the models: wear black pants, black belt, natural hair and makeup and bring some pilot attitude.

Succinct Schedule Saves Time and Money

With a tight budget, planning becomes vitally important, so we opted to shoot the models back-to-back allowing buffer for clothing changes, makeup touch-ups and ample time for a variety of poses. A pre-shoot briefing made sure the team had a shared vision. More than 1,500 were captured in an efficient and productive half-day shoot.

Lots of Options to Choose

The photographer brought energy and direction to the shoot. Our assistant art director helped with prepping each model, making sure the uniforms were correct, model releases were signed and the next model was ready. I served as creative director, putting myself in the client's shoes, sweating the details and making sure the vibe was professional and friendly, polished and approachable. Everything to secure the right look and feel: smiles, body language, power, confidence, attitude and charisma. They all showed up in these incredible images.

Creating Final Ads

The client reviewed our favorite images and picked the winners. Our creative team cleaned up photos, added graphic backgrounds, finessed headlines and styled typography into the final creative. Digital ads were created in a variety of sizes.

The Right Team for Aviation Clients

Our agency has been working in the aerospace sector for over 30 years. We know the aircraft, understand the target markets, and are embedded in the industry. We've demonstrated our expertise countless times resulting in the creation of brand photo assets that tell our client's story and build their brand.

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