Photography Glossary

Every photoshoot has its own vocabulary. Whether you are briefing a new model, writing your first creative brief, or onboarding an assistant, the words you use shape how a shoot runs.

This glossary is a working reference. Each entry is short, jargon-free, and includes a real-world example. Use it as a quick lookup, or share it with a collaborator who needs to come up to speed.

All terms

  • Moodboard — A moodboard is a visual collection of images, colours, textures, and notes that defines the creative direction of a project before production begins.
  • Call sheet — A call sheet is a document distributed to everyone working on a photoshoot.
  • Shot list — A shot list is an ordered checklist of every photograph required during a shoot.
  • Creative brief — A creative brief is a short document that summarises the goals, audience, deliverables, mood, and constraints of a project.
  • Model release — A model release is a signed agreement in which a model grants the photographer permission to use their likeness in specific ways.
  • Colour palette — A colour palette is a curated set of colours that defines the look of a shoot or brand.
  • Production schedule — A production schedule is a timeline that breaks a shoot day into blocks: setup, individual scenes, breaks, and wrap.
  • Storyboard — A storyboard is a sequence of sketches or reference frames showing the planned composition of each shot.
  • Tear sheet — A tear sheet is a published reference image used as creative inspiration.
  • Look book — A look book is a curated set of images presenting a season's collection, a brand's aesthetic, or a creative team's portfolio.
  • Editorial photography — Editorial photography is photography produced for magazines, newspapers, and online publications to illustrate a story or theme.
  • TFP (Time for Print) — TFP, or Time for Print, is an arrangement where a photographer and model collaborate without payment in exchange for finished images both can use in their portfolios.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does ShootVision publish a photography glossary?
Because shoots run smoother when everyone uses the same words. We publish definitions for the production terms that actually appear in briefs, call sheets, and on-set conversations.

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