Create A Reusable Pre Production Checklist For Every Shoot

Most painful shoot days start the same way. Something important is missing, a card is full, a battery dies early or a key location is noisy at the wrong time. None of these problems are dramatic by themselves. Together they quietly wreck momentum. A pre production checklist fixes this. Instead of trusting memory, you run every shoot through the same simple set of checks before you leave or hit record.

The goal is not perfection. It is to remove the most common avoidable failures so you can focus on performance, story and framing.

List your recurring pre shoot problems

Start with your own history.

Write down the last ten annoying things that went wrong before or during a shoot.
Group them into categories such as gear readiness, locations, scripts, people and backups.
Highlight the ones that have happened more than once.

These repeated annoyances are exactly what your checklist is meant to catch.

Split the checklist into clear sections

A single long list is hard to use. Sections are easier.

Gear and power.
Media and data.
Script and shot plan.
Location and sound.
People and timing.
Safety and backups.

Each section should fit on a small screen without scrolling too far.

Define the minimum viable checks in each section

The checklist should be short enough that you will actually use it.

For gear and power, check camera bodies, lenses, batteries charged, lights and audio devices.
For media and data, check empty or backed up cards, formatting and spare media packed.
For script and shot plan, confirm outline printed or loaded, key beats and any props listed.
For location and sound, confirm access, potential noise sources and any permissions needed.
For people and timing, confirm times, contact details and any transport considerations.
For safety and backups, check weather, backup locations and basic health or security needs.

Use language that future you will understand in a hurry.

Turn the checklist into a repeatable template

Next, put the checklist somewhere you can clone easily.

Store it as a simple template in your notes app, task manager or project tool.
For each new shoot, duplicate the template and fill in details like dates and locations.
Attach the checklist to the specific project card or folder for that shoot.

This keeps everything for the shoot in one place.

Use the checklist in two passes

You will miss fewer things if you break checks into two moments.

First pass the day before, focused on charging, formatting, printing and confirming.
Second pass just before leaving or recording, focused on physical items in bags and last minute conditions.

Some creators also like a tiny third pass on arrival, focused on sound and framing.

Include quick notes for tired future you

The checklist is especially useful when you are rushed or tired.

Add small reminders such as always bring one more battery than you think, or record thirty seconds of room tone.
Note any specific quirks of your gear that you often forget, such as needing to switch modes for certain shots.
Keep instructions simple and bossy so you do not overthink them.

This reduces the number of decisions required on stressful mornings.

Review and update the checklist after problem shoots

Every bad shoot is feedback for the checklist.

After a rough day, ask which issues could realistically have been prevented by a better pre check.
Add one or two items to the relevant section, but avoid bloating the list.
Remove items that never matter in practice so the checklist stays lean.

Over time, the list becomes tuned to your specific style and environment.

Share the checklist with collaborators

If you work with camera operators, assistants or presenters, let them use the same list.

Walk through the checklist together before important shoots.
Invite collaborators to suggest items from their own experience.
Make one person clearly responsible for confirming each section.

This spreads awareness and reduces blame when something slips.

Keep the pre production checklist channel agnostic

Whether you film in a studio, outdoors or at home, a pre production checklist helps. Teaching, reviews, builds, commentary and narrative all rely on gear that works, locations that cooperate and people who know what they are doing there.

Practical checklist for your pre production checklist

List your recurring pre shoot problems and group them into sections.
Create a short, clear checklist for gear, media, plans, locations, people and safety.
Turn it into a template you duplicate for each shoot.
Run the checklist at least once the day before and once right before you start.
Update the list after problem shoots so it keeps getting sharper.

When you create a reusable pre production checklist for every shoot, you waste fewer days on preventable mistakes. Shoots start calmer, you capture more of what you need the first time and you can spend more attention on the creative choices that actually move the channel.