# Taking photos with the script

Once you have a script you're ready to go on a photo shoot and capture the images that will tell the visual side your story.

To make sure your shoot goes as well as possible keep the following tips in mind.

- Take more photos than you'll think you need.
  Having extra shots will allow some choices when it comes to laying out the page.
- Think of the dialog needs.
  Imagine the photo you're framing inside a panel and all the additional space that's needed for the speech balloons. If there's no dialog, great. Take the photo the best way you can. But if there is dialog you need to make sure there's room in the frame to place it without covering up faces or generally getting in the way.
- Use dynamic angles.
  Capturing your characters or locations from dynamic angles can really help to make a scene more interesting. Taking a reaction shot? Don't be afraid to get up close so the reader can see the characters eyes.
- Make sure the character's faces are well lit.
  Professional photographers go to great lengths to ensure their subjects are evenly lit to avoid unappealing portraits. While having access to reflectors and other equipment might not be an option, you can still keep in mind where the light is coming from and use it to your advantage as much as possible.
- Use an SLR if you can.
  There's a reason why movie cameras are expensive. It's because they have powerful lenses that allow a cinematographer to adjust the depth-of-field of the shot bringing different elements into and out of focus. An SLR camera will allow you to do something similar, making your photos appear more professional, composed and cinematic.
- Think of opportunities for post-production.
  If the script calls for focus on a single character consider taking the shot against a flat background so that the background can be replaced during layout.
- For big shoots consider taking marker shots.
  Movie crews have long known that having a marker at the beginning of a shot helps post-production teams keep track of all the footage. If you're making a long form comic it might be useful to take a picture of a "clapperboard" of some kind to identify the script page with which the following shots are intended to be used.