How to prepare for a school marketing photoshoot

14 June 2026 · Beyond Bonjour

By Simon Jones, The Bonjour Agency

Getting this right will mean you get the most from the day because, let's face it, this isn't an inexpensive dent in your marketing budget.

How to Plan a School Marketing PhotoshootA great photoshoot can transform your school's marketing. The right images make your website come alive, give your prospectus real warmth, and do more to attract the right families than almost anything else you can produce. But a poorly planned shoot? It's a long day that delivers very little.Here's how to plan one that actually works.Start with what you need, not what looks niceBefore you think about locations or call times, sit down with a blank page and list the images you're actually short of. Not the ones you'd love to have, the ones you genuinely need.Think about your website. Which pages feel thin? Where are you using old images, stock photography, or pictures that no longer reflect the school? That list becomes your shot list. Everything else is a bonus.Common gaps schools tend to have: genuine classroom learning (not posed), outdoor spaces at their best, boarding life if relevant, sixth form, and co-curricular activity. Be honest about where yours are weakest.Pick the right day — and the right time of yearTiming matters more than most people realise. You want full classrooms, green outdoor spaces, and ideally some decent light. That rules out exam season, early September when everyone looks slightly lost, and the dead of winter if you can help it.Late spring, May or early June, tends to be the sweet spot. The grounds look their best, the students are settled, and there's enough light to work with even on a cloudy day.Also think about the time of day. Natural light in the morning is usually softer and more forgiving. If your grounds face west, late afternoon can be beautiful. Talk to your photographer about this before you confirm the date.Brief your photographer properlyA good school photographer will ask you good questions. But don't wait to be asked. Send them a proper brief in advance that covers your shot list, the locations you want to use, the age groups you need represented, and any sensitivities to be aware of (consent restrictions, children who shouldn't be photographed, etc.).The clearer your brief, the more efficiently the day runs. A photographer who arrives knowing exactly what they're after will always outperform one who's working it out on the day.Plan the logistics carefullyOn the day itself, someone needs to own the schedule. That's usually you.Think through: which classes you'll pull students from and when, how you'll move between locations without losing time, who will escort the photographer around site, and how you'll handle the inevitable disruptions (a lesson that overruns, a pupil who's off sick, rain that wasn't forecast).Brief your colleagues well in advance. Teachers are much more cooperative when they've had a week's notice rather than a knock on the classroom door.Consent comes firstThis is non-negotiable. Make sure your consent list is up to date before the shoot, and have someone check it on the day. It's worth having a quick conversation with your GDPR lead before you go ahead, just to make sure your processes are watertight.Getting this right protects the school — and it protects you.After the shootBuild in time to review the images properly. Most photographers will deliver a gallery within a week or two. Go through it methodically against your original shot list, flag your selects, and give clear feedback if you need retouching or alternatives.And keep the outtakes. Images you don't use today might be exactly what you need in six months.A well-planned photoshoot is one of the best investments a school can make in its marketing. Get the planning right, and the results will speak for themselves.

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