creative performancelightingphotographyretouchingshoot production
Complete evaluation framework
What to assess and how to score it
Review the evidence signals before interviewing. Then use the anchored descriptions—not instinct alone—to choose the score that best matches each answer.
01
Evaluation factor
Body of work
35% weight
Review the portfolio for range: editorial, product, event or portrait work, published credits, client names, and whether the images shown match the genre this role shoots daily.
Evidence to listen for
Has work that exists publicly and can be checked
States what they made versus what they contributed to
Can talk about range as well as their signature style
Knows how the work was received and by whom
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Nothing finished or public; describes intentions rather than output.
2
Needs Improvement
Small or unverifiable body of work; unclear personal contribution.
3
Satisfactory
Real output with adequate range; reception described vaguely.
4
Very Good
Substantial verifiable work with clear ownership and range.
5
Excellent
Shows a coherent body of shot work with named clients, published placements, and images that match the genre this role requires.
02
Evaluation factor
Craft and technique
25% weight
Probe lighting and capture technique: strobe versus continuous, modifiers, metering, tethered capture in Capture One, raw workflow in Lightroom, colour profiling, and retouching depth.
Evidence to listen for
Can discuss technique concretely rather than in terms of feel or vibe
Names influences and what they took from each
Explains a deliberate choice and the effect it was for
Knows their own weak areas and what they do about them
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
No technical vocabulary; cannot discuss choices behind the work.
2
Needs Improvement
Talks in generalities; choices sound accidental.
3
Satisfactory
Solid craft with some ability to explain decisions.
4
Very Good
Articulate about technique and deliberate about effect.
5
Excellent
Explains lighting setups and exposure decisions shot by shot, and owns a defensible raw to delivery colour and retouching workflow.
03
Evaluation factor
Reliability and process
25% weight
Check shoot logistics: call sheets, shot lists, permits, backup and card handling protocol, gear redundancy, turnaround times promised, and how many deliverables per shoot day.
Evidence to listen for
Meets deadlines and briefs, with evidence
Handles revisions and direction without ego
Describes how they work when the brief is vague or changes late
Has repeat clients, bookings, or collaborators
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Misses commitments; cannot take direction.
2
Needs Improvement
Inconsistent delivery; defensive about revisions.
3
Satisfactory
Reliable on clear briefs; struggles when direction shifts.
4
Very Good
Consistently delivers and adapts; repeat collaborators.
5
Excellent
Runs shoots to a shot list, dual-card backs up on site, and cites consistent delivery turnaround with no missed client deadlines.
04
Evaluation factor
Presence with an audience
15% weight
Assess direction of subjects and clients: posing non-models, handling art directors on set, managing talent releases, and keeping a nervous or restless subject relaxed.
Evidence to listen for
Comfortable performing or presenting on demand, including cold
Reads a room and adjusts
Handles a bad night, a difficult client, or a hostile crowd without unravelling
Represents the employer well in front of others
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Cannot perform or present on request; unravels under pressure.
2
Needs Improvement
Rigid delivery; no read of the room.
3
Satisfactory
Competent in familiar settings; less adaptable in new ones.
4
Very Good
Strong presence and adapts to the room.
5
Excellent
Directs subjects with clear, calm cues, reads the room on set, and handles client feedback live without losing the shoot's pace.
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