Planning and executing a final photographic series
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can plan and begin creating a final photographic series that expresses a clear personal concept.
Key learning points
- Strong photographic series are carefully planned and clearly connected to a concept.
- Visual cohesion is achieved through repeated themes, styles, or techniques.
- Composition and framing choices should reflect the meaning or emotion of the concept.
- Execution involves balancing planning with creative experimentation.
Keywords
Series - a group of related photographs that explore a consistent idea or theme
Cohesion - the visual and conceptual consistency across a body of work
Shot list - a planned list of images or scenes the photographer intends to capture
Composition - the arrangement of visual elements in a photograph
Common misconception
You can just take random photos and pick the best ones later.
Intentional planning makes each photo stronger and ensures the series works as a whole - not just as individual images.
Teacher tip
Encourage pupils to test and revise their ideas mid-shoot. Remind them that flexibility within a plan leads to stronger, more authentic outcomes - just ensure that changes still align with their concept.
Equipment
Digital, phone or tablet cameras. Sketchbooks. Pencils or pens.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the term with its description.
a group of related photographs that explore a consistent idea or theme
the visual and conceptual consistency across a body of work
a planned list of images or scenes the photographer intends to capture
the arrangement of visual elements in a photograph
Q2.Which of the following best supports a strong composition?
Q3.What is the main purpose of creating a shot list before taking photos?
Q4.Which of the following is not part of planning purposeful photography?
Q5.What can help create a sense of unity in a photography series?
Q6.Select ways angles can influence the meaning of a photograph.
To help you plan your 10 art and design lesson on: Planning and executing a final photographic series, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 art and design lesson on: Planning and executing a final photographic series, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 art and design lessons from the Photography unit, dive into the full secondary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.