How To Brief A Photographer

We discover how teams can get the most from each other by talking to AOP agent Siobhan Squire and Ben Stockley, a photographer she represents

- Siobhan Squire & Ben Stockley

Getting the photo you want depends on briefing your photographer correctly. We spoke to AOP agent Siobhan Squire and a photographer she represents, Ben Stockley, to find out the best way to go about this.

How should art directors brief a photographer?

Siobhan Squire: It’s always nice to have a scamp rather than just a written brief for advertising work. It’s also great if creatives have some idea of the scale of the job before briefing.

A good creative will be available for a discussion with a photographer. It’s crucial, not only to gauge how a photographer might interpret the brief and to hear what they might add to it, but also for a photographer to glean any finer details that might not be apparent and to start what should be a collaborative discussion. For editorial work, the joy is what is often an open brief!

What makes a brief work?