One Tuesday in November, you wake up: Black Friday is three days away and you have neither photo nor video ready. Nothing could be more common, and nothing more avoidable. Here are twelve moments, one per month, to prepare for before they’re upon you.
The calendar, month by month
| Month | Moment | Photo or video idea |
|---|---|---|
| January | New Year greetings | Message from the CEO and faces of the team |
| February | Trade shows | Teaser before the event |
| March | Spring | Know-how in natural light |
| April | In-depth shoot | Corporate film or testimonial |
| May | Mother’s Day | Styled products |
| June | Father’s Day | Short, funny format |
| July | Summer | A day with… |
| August | Preparation | Atmosphere footage for the new season |
| September | Back to work | Portraits of new arrivals |
| October | Pink October | Genuine commitment, filmed candidly |
| November | Movember, Black Friday | Offers and products in simple video |
| December | Holidays and year in review | Retrospective of the year |
January: New Year greetings
The greeting card gives way to the short film or the team photo. Idea: a speech from the CEO mixed with the faces of the team. Plan ahead: shoot in November or early December, otherwise you’ll be stuck between the holidays and the return to work.
February: trade show season
Depending on your sector, trade shows follow one another in spring and autumn. Idea: a teaser before the event, then behind-the-scenes on site. Plan ahead: plan the content at the same time as the stand, not the night before. See our article on trade shows.
March: spring
The light returns, outdoor locations become shootable. Idea: a know-how film or photos of your premises in natural light. International Women’s Day, on 8 March, can also inspire portraits, if it matches a real commitment in your company. Plan ahead: book early, because the fine days are in demand.
April: content that stands out
A quiet month, ideal for an in-depth shoot: corporate film, client testimonial, packshots of a new range. Plan ahead: this is the right time to prepare for summer and the new season.
May: Mother’s Day
In France, it falls on the last Sunday of May, unless that day coincides with Pentecost, in which case it is moved to the first Sunday of June. In 2026, it was 31 May; in 2027, it will be 30 May. Idea: styled product photos, or a short atmosphere film for shops. Plan ahead: gift photos are prepared a month in advance.
June: Father’s Day
Third Sunday of June: 21 June in 2026, 20 June in 2027. Idea: a short, funny format centred on the object or the service. Plan ahead: shoot at the same time as your May content, and you’ll save a day.
July: summer
Rhythms slow down, the behind-the-scenes are revealed. Idea: a light “a day with…” series or outdoor shots, even drone footage. Plan ahead: summer content is shot in June, before the holidays.
August: time to prepare
Little publishing, a lot of preparation. Idea: shoot while the offices are quiet, for atmosphere footage for the new season. Plan ahead: approve the brief and the September schedules before the holidays.
September: back to work
New projects, new recruits, new season. Idea: portraits of new arrivals, presentation of a range or a project. Plan ahead: shoot in late August, or in the first week, before the diary explodes.
October: Pink October
The breast cancer screening awareness campaign takes place every October. If your company is genuinely involved, through a donation, an action, a mobilisation, film what is really being done. Otherwise, abstain: the public quickly spots opportunism. Plan ahead: film the action as it happens, not after the fact.
November: Movember and Black Friday
Movember, which focuses on men’s health, takes place in November, with the same caveats about genuine commitment. Black Friday falls the day after American Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday of November): 27 November in 2026, 26 November in 2027. Idea: products and offers filmed in a simple way. Plan ahead: shoot in October.
December: holidays and year in review
Greetings, gifts, thank-yous. It is also time for the review: a short video of the year gone by, with the highlights. Plan ahead: keep the year’s raw footage, a year-end edit is built throughout the year.
Tip Pick five or six moments that really matter to you, rather than twelve done halfway. A realistic editorial calendar beats an ambitious one. See our guide to planning 12 months of content.
Remember the golden rule: you don’t film an event the week it happens. You prepare it one to two months ahead, shoot in advance, and schedule.
At that dog, we’re happy to organise combined shoots to cover several key dates at once, and year-round support lets you set all this up once and for all. If you’d like to see how, take a look at our year-round support.
A calendar shot in advance
Tell us your key moments of the year: together we’ll build a realistic shooting plan.