How to Write a Professional Shoot Brief and Shot List with Claude

Quick answer: Give Claude your product, audience, mood and channels, ask it for a one-page brief first, correct it, then ask for a numbered shot list with framing, pose, light and location per shot. Doing it in two steps gives a much better result than asking for everything at once.

Two steps beat one

If you ask for a brief and 20 shots together, the shots are generic. Agreeing the brief first gives the shot list a clear direction.

The method

1. Paste product, audience, mood, channels and any must-have shots.
2. Ask for a one-page brief and edit it.
3. Ask for 20 shots as a table: number, framing, pose, light, location, purpose.
4. Ask it to mark the 5 'hero' shots.
5. Ask it to turn each shot into an image prompt.
6. Save the brief as a template for next time.

Prompt to copy

Using the approved brief above, write a shot list of 20 shots as a table with columns: #, framing (close / half / full), pose, light, location, channel, purpose. Mark the 5 hero shots. Keep the same model and styling across all shots.

Common mistakes

• Skipping the brief step.
• Not saying which channels the images are for.
• Forgetting to ask for hero shots.

Where to do this in the Lab

• Creative Workspace — pay as you go, no subscription.
• free Prompt Builder
• Claude & ChatGPT workshop (€97) — learn how to use Claude and ChatGPT for 10 finished creative projects, zero code.

Related

• 10 Claude & ChatGPT projects for creatives
• Director treatment template for AI campaigns

FAQ

Can Claude write a photoshoot brief?

Yes. Give it product, audience, mood and channels and edit what it drafts.

How many shots should a shot list have?

For a small campaign, 15–20 with 5 hero shots.

Can it turn shots into prompts?

Yes, ask it after the shot list is approved.

Is there a free template?

Yes, the free Director's Brief PDF on the workshop page.

Next step: learn the whole workflow in a recorded workshop (see all workshops) or save with a bundle.