Start with what the campaign must deliver. A production team can help develop the creative idea, but it needs to know the intended outputs, timing and responsibilities before it can prepare a useful proposal.
Start with the deliverables
Describe the photographs and films you need, where they will be used and the delivery deadline. Include film lengths, aspect ratios, cutdowns, image formats and markets where known. Identify the priority output if one shoot must produce several kinds of content. Mark anything still undecided so it can be scoped rather than assumed.
Separate the idea from the production requirements
Share the product, audience, message, visual references and any approved concept. Say which creative decisions are fixed and which you want the production team to develop. Creative direction and set design can be part of a full production, or commissioned separately within an existing brand or agency team. The proposal should make that distinction clear.
Agree who handles each part
Confirm who is responsible for the concept, photographer or director, casting, styling, crew, location, equipment, physical set, shoot management and post-production. An international team visiting Dubai may need local support for only part of the work. A responsibility list helps prevent tasks from falling between partners.
Share dates and a realistic budget boundary
Include the shoot window and delivery deadline, not just a proposed shoot date. If you have a budget range, share it. The concept, team, casting, location, set, shoot duration, post-production and intended usage can all affect the quote. Ask the proposal to state its assumptions, deliverables, fees, approval stages and process for scope changes. There is no universal price or lead time that fits every campaign.
Flag access, permissions and usage early
Tell the team about location access, any permissions that may be required, talent usage, confidentiality, launch dates, embargoes and restrictions on the final assets. These need project-specific confirmation with the relevant parties and specialists. A completed shoot does not automatically establish every future use. This is a briefing checklist, not legal or permit advice.
Define post-production and delivery
Agree the process for image selection, retouching, editing, review stages and final formats. Confirm which tasks are included and who approves the result. If the number of outputs or intended usage changes, review the scope rather than assuming the change is already included.
A first-message checklist
- Brand or product, audience and campaign objective
- Required photographs, films, lengths, crops and formats
- Planned channels, markets and intended usage
- Shoot location, dates or delivery deadline
- Visual references and decisions already approved
- Existing team, responsibilities and decision-makers
- Budget range, if available
- Access, confidentiality or launch restrictions
Send what you have
An early brief is enough to start the conversation. Identify what is confirmed, what is flexible and what needs a proposal. The remaining decisions can then be scoped with the people who will make the work.
See Kitavin Studio’s production scope orsend us your campaign brief.