Last week in my Travel and Vacation Photo Seminar, I emphasized the importance of doing research and creating a shot list. There was a lot of note taking going on when I presented an example. So i thought I’d post it here for all to have.

Good research and staying organized is key to coming home with great travel photos. Quite often your trips are short and the itinerary is tight. Knowing what photos you want to get before you arrive on location can save you a lot of stress and ensure you get the shots you need to fully cover a location.

A shot list is a way to organize before you get on location. It’s a tool for formulating how you will portray a location. Its field notes from the research that you did before you left. It’s insurance that you don’t forget anything.

The details of my shot list change with each assignment or trip I do. However, the basic categories are always the same. Do your research and fill in details of specific locations and subjects for your destination.

These are the major categories I try to cover.

• Skylines
• Street scenes
• People
• Recreation / sports
• Culture – performing arts, museums, galleries
• Historic monuments and buildings
• Shopping
• Hotels and restaurants
• Entertainment – night life, clubs, bars
• Story telling close-ups or details
• Neighborhoods
• Festivals, street fairs, parades
• Aerials

If you come home with at least one or two good shots from each of the categories on your shot list, you can feel confident you have a well-formed portrayal of a location.