How it works
The call sheet is prepared by the producer or the client and sent to the whole team the day before. It gives the location and how to get there, the phone number of the person in charge, your call time, the order of shots or looks, the lunch break and the expected wrap.
For the model three lines matter most: where to be, when to be there and whom to call if something is wrong. For outdoor shoots a weather forecast and a backup plan are added.
On small jobs there is no separate sheet: the booker sends the same information in a message. The substance is the same, and it belongs on your phone, not in your head.
In practice
The evening before an outdoor shoot the producer sends the call sheet: a beach address and where to park, each person's call time, the order of six looks, lunch at 1 pm, a weather forecast and a backup studio in case of rain. In the morning the forecast changes, the producer sends an updated sheet with the studio address, and everyone goes to the new location.
What to watch for
- Save the sheet on your phone and check the address on a map.
- Save the number of the person in charge.
- If you have no call sheet by the evening, ask your booker.
Related terms
Frequently asked
01Who writes the call sheet?
The producer, the photographer's team or the client. The agency forwards it to the model.
02How is a call sheet different from call time?
Call time is one line of the sheet: when you must be there. The sheet covers the whole day and the whole team.