Claude Prompts for Photo Briefs, Direction, and Analysis
20 copy-paste Claude prompts that plan shoots, analyze reference images, write creative direction, and turn raw concepts into shot lists. Different from ChatGPT: Claude reasons, doesn't generate.
In short: This page contains 19 copy-paste ready prompts, organized into 4 categories with a description and pro tip for each. The first 5 prompts are free instantly, no signup needed. Hand-curated and tested by the AI Academy team.
Shoot Planning + Briefs
5 promptsPhoto Brief from Concept
1/19✨ What it does
Claude turns [paste rough idea] into a production-ready photo brief with objective, audience, mood, references, shot list, wardrobe, location, props, crew, deliverables, timeline, and budget notes. Paste the idea, then send the brief to your photographer as the working doc.
Write a photo brief from this concept: [paste rough idea]. Output as XML with tags <objective>, <audience>, <mood>, <visual-references>, <shot-list>, <wardrobe>, <location>, <props>, <crew>, <deliverables>, <timeline>, <budget-notes>. Each section 2-4 specific lines. Brief should be production-ready for a photographer to quote.
Pro tip: Claude excels at structured output. Ask for XML or markdown explicitly — easier to paste into Notion, ClickUp, or send to crews than free-form prose.
Shot List Builder
2/19✨ What it does
Claude builds a shot list for a [shoot type: product/portrait/event/lifestyle] on [describe], given [time, locations, talent], as a table of shot number, framing, lens, lighting, action, and variations grouped by location. Print the list, then shoot in location order so you do not keep moving kit.
Build a shot list for [shoot type: product/portrait/event/lifestyle]. Project: [describe]. Constraints: [time, locations, talent]. Output table with columns: shot #, scene, framing (wide/medium/close), lens, lighting setup, talent action, must-capture variations. Group by location to minimize moves.
Pro tip: Group shots by location, not by deliverable. Moving lights/setup wastes day-rate. Sequence for efficiency, not for the final edit.
Mood Board Direction
3/19✨ What it does
Claude writes mood-board direction for [project] from [list 3-5 photographers/films/movements], with tone, five hex colors, lighting, composition rules, grain notes, and five things to avoid. Build your board from those rules, then share it before the scout.
Write mood board direction for [project]. Reference aesthetics: [list 3-5 photographers/films/movements]. Output: tone description (3 sentences), color palette (5 hex codes with descriptors), lighting style (1 paragraph), composition rules (5 bullet points), texture + grain notes, what to AVOID (5 items). Brief enough to fit on 1 page.
Pro tip: "What to avoid" matters as much as "what to do." Photographers interpret references differently — exclusions narrow the gap.
Location Scout Brief
4/19✨ What it does
Claude writes a location scout brief for [describe] with an [describe] aesthetic, covering 5-7 archetypes, light at shoot time, access, backups, deal-breakers, and questions for the scout. Send it to your scout, then reject any site that hits a deal-breaker.
Write a location scout brief. Shoot: [describe]. Aesthetic: [describe]. Output: 5-7 location archetypes with: visual qualities needed, light direction at shoot time, access requirements (permits/private/public), backup options, deal-breakers (no-go conditions). Include questions for the location scout.
Pro tip: Tell the scout WHY each criterion matters. "South-facing windows" alone = miss. "South-facing windows for warm afternoon light through fabric" = scout finds the actual feel you want.
Pre-Production Timeline
5/19✨ What it does
Claude builds a backward pre-production timeline for [shoot] on [date], from concept lock at 6 weeks through talent, wardrobe, tech scout, call sheet, and delivery. Put the dates on your calendar, then treat the 1-week shot-list lock as immovable.
Pre-production timeline for [shoot]. Shoot date: [date]. Output backwards-planned schedule: 6 weeks out (concept lock), 4 weeks (talent + location), 2 weeks (wardrobe + props), 1 week (shot list lock + tech scout), 3 days (gear + crew confirm), shoot day (call sheet), post (selects → retouch → delivery).
Pro tip: Backward-plan from delivery date, not forward from today. Retouching always takes longer than expected; lock the post window first.
Image Analysis (Claude Vision)
5 promptsReference Image Breakdown
6/19✨ What it does
Claude analyzes [Attach image] as a reference to copy, breaking down lighting, estimated lens, composition, grade, post tells, and why it works emotionally. Attach the photo, then brief your team with those lighting notes only.
[Attach image]. Analyze this reference photo for shoot replication. Break down: lighting (key/fill/rim direction + softness + color temp), camera angle + estimated lens, composition rules used, color grading style, post-processing tells (grain, vignette, contrast curves), what makes this image work emotionally. Be specific enough that a photographer could replicate.
Pro tip: Claude vision is strong on describing lighting + composition. Use it before briefing a photographer — pre-decoded references = faster alignment than vague Pinterest boards.
Photo Critique
7/19✨ What it does
Claude critiques [Attach photo] like a creative director on focus, exposure, composition, emotion, and brand fit for [describe brand/use], plus 3 improvements ranked by impact. Attach the frame, then fix the highest-impact note before you show the client.
[Attach photo]. Critique this image as if you were a creative director. Cover: technical execution (focus, exposure, color), composition strength + weakness, emotional impact, brand fit (context: [describe brand/use]), 3 specific improvements ranked by impact. Honest — not encouraging.
Pro tip: Add "honest, not encouraging" — Claude defaults to balanced feedback. Explicit permission to be critical = useful feedback instead of diplomatic mush.
Selects Triage
8/19✨ What it does
Claude triages [Attach contact sheet or 10-30 images] for a [project type] into A, B, and C, groups A picks by deliverable, and flags focus, blown light, or off expressions. Attach your sheet, then only retouch the A picks.
[Attach contact sheet or 10-30 images]. Triage these selects for a [project type]. For each: pick A (hero candidate), B (alt/safe), or C (cut). Group A picks by which deliverable they fit. Flag any technical issues (focus miss, light blown, expression off). Output as table.
Pro tip: Claude can't replace your eye but it surfaces patterns fast. Use for first-pass triage on 100+ image shoots; final A/B always human.
Compare 2 Photos
9/19✨ What it does
Claude compares [Attach 2 photos] for [purpose: campaign hero / website hero / social] on composition, emotion, brand, quality, and crop flexibility, then recommends one and when the other would win. Attach both of your frames, then license the recommended hero.
[Attach 2 photos]. Compare these images for [purpose: campaign hero / website hero / social]. Cover: composition strength, emotional read, brand alignment, technical quality, scalability across formats (square/vertical/wide crops). Recommend one with rationale; mention when the other would win.
Pro tip: Always ask "when would the loser win?" — forces nuance. Pure ranking misses that hero crops differ from social crops, and one photo wins one and loses the other.
Accessibility Alt Text
10/19✨ What it does
Claude writes 3 alt-text versions for [Attach photo]: short under 125 characters, descriptive under 250, and SEO-focused on [keyword], without image-of prefixes. Attach your photo, then paste the short one into the CMS.
[Attach photo]. Write 3 alt text variations: short (under 125 chars, screen-reader-friendly), descriptive (under 250, captures mood + context), SEO-optimized (includes primary keyword: [keyword]). Avoid "image of" / "photo of" prefixes. Describe what matters, not every detail.
Pro tip: Alt text is for screen readers, not SEO bots. Lead with what the image conveys, not what it contains. SEO-keyword version = a separate variant, not the only one.
Editing + Post Direction
4 promptsLightroom Edit Recipe
11/19✨ What it does
Claude writes a replicable Lightroom recipe for [aesthetic: e.g., warm filmic / cool editorial / clean commercial], covering white balance, exposure, tone curve, HSL, texture, and grain. Apply it to a few of your frames, then save it as a preset if the skin still looks right.
Write a Lightroom edit recipe for [aesthetic: e.g., warm filmic / cool editorial / clean commercial]. Output: white balance start point, exposure adjustments, tone curve description, HSL targets per color (orange skin, blue sky, etc.), texture/clarity/dehaze values, grain settings. Recipe should be replicable across a series.
Pro tip: Series consistency > single-image perfection. Recipe approach (not preset) = same look survives mixed lighting. Tweak from recipe per image; don't freestyle.
Retoucher Brief
12/19✨ What it does
Claude briefs a retoucher on [project] for [N] images due [date] at [$X], covering skin level, grade, removals, composites, output specs, and two revision rounds. Send the brief with the files, then do not ask for a third round unless you pay for it.
Brief a retoucher on [project]. Per image, specify: skin retouching level (natural / commercial / beauty), color grade direction, removals (logos, blemishes, sensor dust), composites needed, output specs (color profile, dimensions, format), 2 rounds revision included. Total: [N] images, deadline [date], rate [$X].
Pro tip: Specify retouch LEVEL upfront. "Natural" = pores stay; "commercial" = clean but human; "beauty" = porcelain. Mismatched expectations = endless revisions.
Color Grade Direction
13/19✨ What it does
Claude writes color-grade direction for [series/campaign] from [describe or attach], covering shadow, midtone, and highlight tints, contrast, saturation, skin protection, and where to break the rule. Grade one hero from your set first, then match the rest to that still.
Color grade direction for [series/campaign]. Reference: [describe or attach]. Output: shadow tint, midtone tint, highlight tint (each as warm/cool/neutral + specific tone), contrast level, saturation handling per color, skin tone protection notes, examples of where to break the rule.
Pro tip: Skin tones override grade. Push entire image cool but pull skin back to neutral — the eye locks on faces. Wholesale cool grades make portraits look corpse-y.
Photo-to-Video Direction
14/19✨ What it does
Claude adapts [photo concept] for video, covering camera moves, talent action, what breaks when stills start moving, audio, pace, and 9:16, 1:1, and 16:9 specs. Storyboard the moves on your own, then shoot extra frames for the vertical crop.
Adapt photo direction for video. Source: [photo concept]. Output: how stills translate to motion (camera moves, talent action, length), what works in photo but breaks in video (and how to solve), audio considerations, edit pace, deliverable specs across platforms (vertical 9:16, square 1:1, horizontal 16:9).
Pro tip: Photos freeze a moment; video lives in transitions. The "magic frame" rarely survives motion. Re-direct for what happens 2 seconds before + after the photo moment.
Creative + Workflow
5 promptsPhotographer Pitch Email
15/19✨ What it does
Claude writes an under-200-word pitch email to [photographer name] for [project] as a respectful peer, with why them, a 3-sentence summary, budget range, timeline, and a call ask. Cite one real project of theirs, then send your draft without extra flattery.
Write an email pitching [photographer name] on [project]. Tone: respectful peer, not fan. Include: 1-line context on us, why them specifically (cite their work), project summary (3 sentences), budget range, timeline window, what we need (call to discuss). Under 200 words. No flattery padding.
Pro tip: Reference one specific image of theirs (not "I love your work"). Photographers ignore generic pitches; specific = respected as taste-aware client.
Stock Search Strategy
16/19✨ What it does
Claude builds a stock search strategy for [project] with 8-12 specific queries, ranked platforms, editorial versus commercial licensing, model-release needs, and a fallback. Search the specific queries first on your own, then skip anything that looks like generic stock.
Build a stock photo search strategy for [project]. Output: 8-12 search query variations (specific > generic), platforms ranked for this need (Getty / Stocksy / Unsplash / Adobe), licensing requirements (editorial vs commercial, model release needs), fallback if nothing fits. Avoid the generic-stock look.
Pro tip: Generic queries return generic-stock photos everyone uses. "Diverse team meeting" = used 10K times. Specific queries ("late afternoon kitchen island laptop") = fewer results, less recognizable.
Portfolio Edit
17/19✨ What it does
Claude edits a portfolio of [N] images aimed at [land jobs in X niche / attract X clients], with keep or cut reasons, sequence, opener, closer, gaps, and which strong frames to kill because they are off-niche. Reorder your keepers, then remove the off-niche favorites.
Edit a portfolio from [N] images. Goal: [land jobs in X niche / attract X clients]. Output: keep/cut decisions with reasoning, sequencing for narrative arc, opener choice (hook image), closer choice (memorable last frame), what to add (gaps in body of work), kill-darlings (good but off-niche).
Pro tip: Narrower niche portfolio = more bookings than broad. Cut anything off-target even if it's your best work technically. Casting directors hire for type, not range.
Client Selects Presentation
18/19✨ What it does
Claude frames selects for a [describe] client review, with deck structure, A versus alt labels, talking points, likely objections, and which 5 to license. Hide the C-tier frames from your deck, then ask for those five decisions in the meeting.
Frame photo selects for client review. Shoot: [describe]. Output: presentation deck structure (opener + sequencing logic), how to label A picks vs alternates, talking points per hero shot, anticipated client objections + responses, decision asks (which 5 to license, which crops to deliver). Avoid showing C-tier shots even as comparison.
Pro tip: Never show C-tier shots "for context." Clients sometimes pick the C image for emotional reasons, then you're stuck delivering the worst frame. Show only A and tight B.
Photo Workflow Audit
19/19✨ What it does
Claude audits your [describe shoot → edit → delivery] workflow for time per stage, the biggest leaks, 3 high-return process changes, tools, and what not to speed up. Time one real job, then automate only the leak that does not touch the final grade.
Audit my photography workflow for bottlenecks. Current: [describe shoot → edit → delivery]. Output: time spent per stage, biggest leaks (% of total time), 3 specific automations or process changes ranked by ROI, tools to consider, what NOT to optimize (preserves quality).
Pro tip: Don't optimize the parts clients see. Faster culling = invisible win. Faster final retouch = visible quality drop. Optimize backstage; protect frontstage.
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