5 things to prep before a photographer visits your site.

Most of the businesses we work with aren't sitting around waiting for a photographer. They're running jobs, managing crews and keeping customers happy. That's exactly why the shoot should fit around the work, not the other way around.

None of this takes long. Twenty minutes the week before is plenty. Here's what makes the biggest difference.

1Know what the photos are for

Before anything else, think about where the photos will end up. A new website hero, a tender document, a recruitment ad and a month of Instagram posts all need different shots.

A website banner needs wide, landscape images with space for text. Socials need vertical crops. Tenders need clear shots of your equipment, your people and finished work. If we know the end use, we shoot for it, and you won't find yourself short of the one image you actually needed.

Quick win: jot down three places the photos will be used, and the one shot you'd be gutted to miss.

2Book the shoot around real work

The best photos happen when something is actually going on. A concrete pour, a delivery, a crane lift, the first day of vintage, a new machine arriving. Movement, sparks, dust and people at work look far better than a quiet site staged for the camera.

Look at the week ahead and pick the day with the most happening. If timing is flexible, early morning and late afternoon light is softer and more flattering, especially outdoors.

3Tidy the hero areas, not the whole site

You don't need to clean the whole place. Real work looks real, and that's the point. But a few quick fixes go a long way:

• Wash the branded vehicles and machines you're proud of
• Move bins, pallets of rubbish and stray hoses out of the main shot areas
• Check signage is clean and the logo is visible
• Clear the front counter, reception or cellar door of clutter

Think about what a customer would see if they walked in. Those are the spots worth five minutes.

4Get the right people ready

People make the photos. Let the team know a photographer is coming, and ask who's happy to be in shot. Some love it, some would rather not, and that's fine.

Branded uniforms and clean, correct PPE make a big difference, especially for tenders and recruitment. If there are a couple of team members who are great with customers or proud of their work, put them front and centre. Natural, relaxed photos of real staff do more for your business than any stock image.

5Sort access and safety upfront

Nothing slows a shoot down like waiting at the gate. Let us know in advance about:

• Site inductions, and whether they can be done online beforehand
• PPE requirements beyond the usual boots, hi-vis and hard hat
• A contact person on the day, with their mobile number
• Areas that are off limits, or anything confidential that can't be shown

With that sorted, we can spend the day capturing the work instead of waiting for sign-offs.

Get these right and a single shoot day can fill your website, socials and tenders for months. Do it every month and you never run out.