Monday, March 30, 2026

MORNING ACTION BLOCK

Time: ~8:00am → 10:00am

Goal: Lock action shot locations that will start immediately after sunrise until the light is too harsh: (Warm, soft golden hour light)

What we will do:

• Find 3–5 action locations

  • Main street run

  • Alley / tight space

  • Tombstone walking to OK Corral

  • The road to the west of Wyatt’s house

  • Panning in desert or town (Bring NDF)

  • The road far west of town past remote house

  • Fill out the location form completely & mark it on the map

Focus on:

• Safety

• Repeatability for a group

• Clean shooting lanes

• Client positioning

Roles:

• Lisa: Leads action decisions

• Mason: Reference + marketing clips

• Lori, Garry: Still photography

• Dawn: B-roll (cell phone footage)

• Riders: What’s realistically doable

By 10am we should know:

“These are our go-to action spots”

MIDDAY TRANSITION

Time: ~10:00am → 12:00pm

Goal: Shift out of harsh light

What we will do:

• Find 12 portrait locations we can use from 10am-12 over 3 days indoors or outdoors

• Hydrate and regroup

• Lock in interior shooting options

• Fill out the location form completely & mark it on the map

LUNCH BREAK

Time: ~12:00pm → 1:00pm

• Full break

• Cool everyone down

• Reset energy

Dawn will be the point person for a lunch run if needed 

MIDDAY

Time: ~1:00pm → 3:30pm

Goal: Marketing + afternoon portraits

What we will do: Mason & Garry

• Hero marketing images

• Detail shots

• Additional marketing concepts (leave room for ideas like short story sequences)

• Fill out the location form completely & mark it on the map

What we will do: Lisa & Lori

• Find 12 portrait locations that work in afternoon light (or indoors): Lisa & Lori

  • Write down what kind of portrait

  • # of models

  • How many lights

  • Fill out the location form completely & mark it on the map

Idea of What we will shoot: Lisa & Lori

• Saloon / doorway light

• Porch portraits

• Low Key Horses outside

• Low Key (Dressing rooms?)

• Framed shots (windows, doors)

• Barn door

• Shots in the yellow hotel bar

• Virgil’s house

• Poker game shots

• Shots on boardwalk

• Stairs in Saloon

• OK Corral

• Sheriff Office/Jail

Roles:

• Mason: Leads marketing shots

• Lori: Leads portraits

• Lisa: Final approval

• Garry: Still photography

• Dawn: B-roll

Approach:

• Stay in shade

• Use interiors

• Keep setups controlled 

AFTERNOON ACTION BLOCK

Time: ~3:30pm → 5:30pm

Goal: Refine action with better light

What we will do:

• Determine pre-sunset action locations

• Test as many action options as possible

• Lock in:

  • Final locations

  • Best light direction

  • Shooting angles

Priority:

• Riders moving toward photographers

• Dust and backlight

• Horse Drive location

• Cattle Drive Location

• Wagons?

• Maybe OK Corral Alley for Tombstone walk

• Horses coming up the alley to OK Corral

• (money shot — similar to Shelley’s setup)

SUNSET BLOCK

Time: Golden hour → Sunset

Goal: Lock sunset + hero shots

What we need to accomplish: Lisa, Lori & Garry

• Identify 3 sunset setups

  • Down by the lone house on that road?

  • In front of the saloon shooting down the town road

• Prioritize:

  • Silhouettes

  • Clean horizons

  • Simple compositions

  • Dust in the air

What we need to accomplish: Mason

• Rider riding thru town at sunset

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What we will shoot:

• Hero rider silhouette

• Action shots

KEY RULES FOR THE DAY

1. Prioritize locking locations over perfect shots

2. Protect energy

• Hydrate constantly

• Use shade whenever possible

• Keep riders and team fresh

1. Keep it moving

Don’t get stuck perfecting one setup
→ We need coverage, not perfection
→ Need to feel confident in each setup

Simple Mental Checklist

By the end of the day, we should have:

5–7 sunrise spots

3–5 morning action locations

3–5 late-day (magic hour) action locations

2–3 sunset spots

12 morning portrait locations
12 afternoon portrait locations

5–10 marketing clips we can actually use