Quick answer

The main things to sort before shoot day are: a locked brief and shot list, confirmed locations and access, any talent or staff availability, wardrobe and branding guidance, and a single point of contact on the day. Getting these right in advance is what keeps a shoot on schedule.

Before the shoot

Lock the brief

Have a clear, agreed brief before shoot day — objectives, key messages, and a rough shot list or script. Changes made on the day cost time and can affect what's achievable.

Confirm locations and access

Check you have permission to film at each location, including any building or venue approvals, and flag anything that needs a permit (public spaces, other businesses' premises, drone shots).

Sort talent and staff

If staff, customers, or hired talent are appearing on camera, confirm their availability, get any release forms sorted, and share wardrobe guidance in advance — solid colours generally read better on camera than busy patterns or logos from other brands.

Prep the space

Tidy the physical space, remove clutter or competitor branding from shot, and make sure signage or key visual elements are clean and camera-ready.

On the day

Have one person on-site who can make quick decisions if something needs approving
Build in some buffer time — shoots almost always take slightly longer than planned
Keep a copy of the shot list or brief on hand in case priorities need to shift

After the shoot

Confirm who's reviewing the footage and by when, and try to keep feedback to a single consolidated round rather than several people commenting separately — it's the fastest way to keep post-production on schedule.