Suzie (00:00)
Welcome to the Shoot Academy Bitesize. One question, one clear answer to help you become a confident and profitable shoot location host. So today's question comes from Ellie in Walthamstow who asks, "What if I've got builders in? Should I still say yes to a shoot or will it put people off?" Over to you Louise.

Louise (00:21)
Ellie, this is a great question and it's something that's actually very appropriate for me right now because I have just had a shoot and I have got builders in. It comes up a lot for hosts mid project and our advice is really only offer the space if at least one area of your home is safe, shoot ready and clearly unaffected by the works. Clients need clean usable backdrops. So if you've got dust sheets, tools or noise from building works in every room, it's probably best to hold off. But if you've got, a finished spare bedroom or a hallway that's untouched and looks great, it could still work. The most important thing is just to be completely upfront. Let your clients know what's going on, show clear and current photos, and be really specific about what's available and what's off limits. And that way, everyone's making informed choices and expectations are realistic from the very start.

Suzie (01:19)
So true Louise. And a good rule of thumb Ellie is if you wouldn't photograph it for your listing, don't offer it for a shoot. So stick to the spaces that are finished, safe and easy to prep, even if that means just the one room.

Louise (01:33)
Absolutely. And of course, we cover this in the course. Your reference point is going to be module one, especially lessons four to six, where Suzie and I help you identify your home's USPs. Our top tip is to focus on your strengths and work out which spaces are your real selling points. You might even find that a recently revealed brick wall mid renovation adds just the right kind of texture that will work for a creative project.

But the most important thing again is only offer spaces that are genuinely usable and 100% safe.

Suzie (02:08)
Yeah, so thanks Ellie. Being transparent and realistic is the key. So you don't need to wait until every room is perfect, but you do need to be sure what you're offering is genuinely ready to shoot in.

Louise (00:00)
Welcome back to the Shoot Academy Bitesize. One question, one clear answer to help you become a confident and profitable shoot location host. Today's question comes from Jake in St. Albans who asks, "I've got a product shoot coming up and I've never hosted before. How many people usually turn up on the day? I've heard it can be anything from two to 20." Suzie.

Suzie (00:23)
Well, thank you. And such a good question, Jake, and one we get asked a lot. Because the truth is there is no single standard crew size. It all pretty much depends on the shoot. So you could have a small content job, which might involve just two or three people. Or you could have a big commercial campaign, especially one that's involving video that could bring a team of say 10 or maybe even more. The key thing, Jake, is to find out in advance. So you are absolutely entitled to ask for crew numbers, names and timings. And if that info isn't offered upfront, it's completely fine to follow up. Knowing what to expect helps you prep your space, helps you manage your parking and plan your own day - and feel confident about it. So clear communication at the start makes everything smoother, no matter how many people are coming through the door.

Louise (01:14)
Absolutely. And a useful tip from my own experience, Jake, would be simply ask who your main point of contact will be on the day as well. And if you can, get a mobile phone number or email from them. Often this will be the producer or the lead photographer. That way, if you need to check timings or flag anything, you've got a direct line to each other.

Suzie (01:35)
Yep, and we cover this in module five, lesson four of the course, what to expect on shoot day, where you'll find a breakdown of who might be on site, how to prep, whether you're home or not, because of course you're not necessarily expected to be at the shoot (for the first one we would say probably try and be there.) And there's also a downloadable checklist in the hub, and this will help you feel totally ready.

Louise (01:57)
So Jake, thank you for asking such a smart question. I hope that it's clear that being knowledgeable on who's coming and when they're coming will really help you set the tone and stay in control of your upcoming shoot day, even if you're not there in person. This is one of the reasons that this opportunity can work so flexibly around your life. Thank you, Jake. Let us know how you get on with the shoot and all the best of luck.

Suzie (02:20)
Thank you so much, Jake. Bye bye.

Suzie (00:00)
Welcome to the Shoot Academy Bitesize. One question, one clear answer to help you become a confident and profitable shoot location host. Today's question is from Sara in London, who says, "A friend of mine had a shoot at her house and one of the crew accidentally scratched her wooden floor. Now I've got my first booking coming up and I'm a bit nervous. What should I do if something like that happens?" Over to you Louise.

Louise (00:24)
Thanks, Sara, well, this is a really good question that I'm sure everybody can relate to, to a degree. And you are definitely not alone in thinking about it. So most shoots are hugely respectful of the spaces they use, but the occasional bump or scratch can happen, just like with any busy day at any busy home. And the important thing is to be realistic, well-prepared, and clear with communication from the very start of the shoot. So one of the simplest things that you could do and should do is take photos of the key areas in your home before the shoot starts, particularly floors, surfaces, anything delicate. And that way, if something does go wrong, you've got a clear reference point. It's entirely reasonable to walk the crew or the leading member of the production crew through any areas you're concerned about when they arrive, and perhaps even to do your photographs at the same time with them. So for example, you might mention a soft floor finish or ask them to lift rather than drag their heavy kit or your sofa if they're moving it. Most crews will be very, happy to - they don't want the damage to happen any more than you do. If damage does occur, document it, let the production team know on the day and follow up in writing afterwards. That may be with the production team, it may be with the agency, but make sure that you do that really quickly and that you've got your before and after photographs as well. It's always better to flag these things early so that they can be resolved fairly, quickly and with no awkwardness.

Suzie (01:41)

Yeah, absolutely. And actually something many new hosts don't realise is that most production companies will carry their own public liability insurance. And it's perfectly normal, Sara, to ask to see a copy in advance. And in fact, it's a good sign when they're happy to provide it.

Louise (02:12)
It really is. And you'll find, Sara, if you're using an agency, most agencies will not take on a crew or a shoot if they haven't got the public liability in place. So always a good question to ask and absolutely an important one to ask. There is, of course, a section in the course that will walk you through how to prepare your home for a shoot. And this includes a downloadable risk assessment that we've put together to help you think practically about the areas that might need extra care or attention.

It's there to help you plan ahead, but of course it's up to each individual host to adapt it to their situation.

Suzie (02:47)
Yeah, so Sara, thanks again for the question. So a bit of planning along with setting expectations early on can make the whole day feel more manageable and less stressful.

Louise (02:56)
Sara, good luck, stay in touch.

Lou (00:00)
Hi and welcome back to the Shoot Academy Bitesize - One question, one clear answer to help you get set up as a profitable and confident shoot location. This week's question comes from Nadia in Sheffield. Nadia says, "Hi, I'm Nadia and I live in Sheffield. I've got two small kids and a part-time job at the local library. I love the idea of turning our home into a shoot location, but I keep thinking, how on earth would I manage this around family life?It sounds amazing, but is it actually realistic for someone like me?" Suze, over to you.

Suzie (00:35)
Nadia, thank you for asking the question that so many people are thinking, because opening up your house as a shoot location can feel big. But in reality, this is something lots of people do alongside their busy lives and not instead of them. So many of our members would see this as the ultimate side hustle. You're not managing clients every day. You're not running a schedule nine to five. You're simply opening up your house as and when it suits you.

And that flexibility is the whole point. So this is how it works. First of all, you're in charge. You decide when your house is available and when you want to host. So that might mean you want to host one shoot a month, maybe one shoot every few months. It all adds up and it all counts. Secondly, let's remember shoots vary in scale. They're not all big film sets. So it could be as simple as one photographer with one model. For a couple of hours in your living room, it could be that light touch. And thirdly, let's get the prep front-loaded. So most of the effort happens before the booking. That means getting great photos, having a clear listing, and managing your expectations and setting your boundaries. Once that's all ready, you're sorted to be able to accept enquiries as and when they come in.

Lou (01:51)
Yeah, and Nadia, we actually had an email over the last couple of weeks from one of our Shoot Academy members who was in a really similar situation to you. She had three young kids, she worked part time and she got a call up for her first listing which was a brand photography shoot. She was a bit panicked, slightly overwhelmed. Was it gonna be manageable for her? We held her hand, we talked her through it. All she really needed to do was book an extra slot for her children in the nursery that they regularly attended anyway. The shoot was five hours long. It went really, really well. She thoroughly enjoyed it and she's looking forward to the next one. So it is doable.

Suzie (02:33)
Yeah, and we touch on this throughout the course, especially in the bits where we help you set your boundaries and manage your availability and in the bits that help show you which type of shoots you could best host for your particular home. So this isn't about being available all the time. It's just about letting people know when you are available.

Lou (02:52)
Yeah, absolutely. I think, Nadia, you need to remember this is a new and brilliant income stream. It's not a 24-7 role that you need to be committed to around the clock. It's something that's thoroughly enjoyable and that can really work on your terms.