Not everyone is familiar with the roles on a production team. For many clients — especially hotel marketing teams or corporate marketing departments — it might be your first large-scale photoshoot or video production. It’s easy to know what the photographer or makeup artist does, but what about a Digitech, Gaffer, or Prop Stylist? What exactly do they do, and how does it all fit together?
We’ve seen many shoots where a hotel team tries to cut corners and says, “Our staff can help with some of those roles.” Let’s be honest — they can do our jobs about as well as we can do theirs. Sure, an extra set of hands is always welcome, but understanding model contracts, wardrobe continuity, brand guidelines, and equipment workflow takes training and experience. Someone who’s worked on productions before is far more effective than a well-intentioned staff member helping out on set.
As the owner of one of Vietnam’s longest-running and most trusted production companies, I thought it would be helpful to break down these roles for you. Not every shoot needs every one of them, but it’s smart to understand what each position contributes before deciding where to trim the budget.
Producer
The producer is the backbone of any shoot — the one who holds it all together. Think of them as the project manager, problem solver, and parent of the production. They coordinate logistics, handle budgets, build schedules, hire crew, and manage communication between the client and creative team.
While the photographer or director may get most of the credit, the producer is the reason everything runs smoothly. They manage timelines, call sheets, and contingency plans. Even after everyone’s gone home, the producer is reviewing the day, adjusting the next schedule, and keeping the production on track.
Production Coordinator / Assistant
A production coordinator or assistant supports the producer and fills in gaps wherever needed. They might book transportation, manage catering, help with wardrobe prep, run errands, or coordinate hotel room access. They’re the glue that keeps small details from falling through the cracks.
On larger productions, you’ll have both — a Production Coordinator handling logistics and communication, and one or more Production Assistants (PAs) doing hands-on support work.
Director
On video productions, the Director is responsible for the creative vision. They work closely with the client and production team to define the story, tone, pacing, and overall mood. On set, the director communicates with the DP, cast, and crew to bring that vision to life.
In photography, this role sometimes overlaps with the Photographer or Creative Director, depending on the scale of the project.
Director of Photography (DP) / Cinematographer
The DP oversees the technical and artistic aspects of lighting and camera work. They collaborate with the director to shape the visual tone — deciding how scenes are lit, what lenses to use, and how the camera moves.
On smaller video shoots, the DP and camera operator might be the same person. On larger hotel or resort productions, they’ll have separate operators, gaffers, and grips supporting them.
Gaffer
The gaffer is the head of lighting — essentially the “lighting engineer” of the production. When the sun doesn’t cooperate, the gaffer becomes the sun. They work with a team of electricians and grips to control light direction, power distribution, and exposure consistency.
They ensure every shot looks polished, balanced, and cinematic — whether it’s a lifestyle moment at sunrise or a moody evening restaurant scene.
Grip / Lighting Assistant
Grips work under the gaffer and handle all the rigging, mounting, and light modification gear. They set up stands, reflectors, diffusion frames, and more. Without them, nothing stays upright and nothing looks right.
Prop Stylist
The prop stylist is a visual storyteller. They bring personality and realism to spaces by choosing and arranging objects that support the scene’s narrative — books, ceramics, plants, candles, or personal touches.
On hotel shoots, especially pre-openings, spaces can look sterile. A great prop stylist adds life and warmth while staying on brand. They scout with the photographer, gather approved props, and make sure every scene feels authentic to the hotel’s identity.
Wardrobe Stylist
The wardrobe stylist manages all clothing and accessories — sourcing, prepping, and organizing them by scene. For lifestyle or resort campaigns with models, this role is vital.
They coordinate with the creative director and client to make sure every look fits the brand image. They also handle steaming, fitting, and quick changes on set. On smaller corporate shoots using real employees, the producer may handle wardrobe, but for branded lifestyle campaigns, a stylist is indispensable.
Makeup Artist (MUA) / Hair Stylist
The MUA ensures talent looks camera-ready — and stays that way all day. Some MUAs handle both hair and makeup; others specialize. On big campaigns or shoots with multiple models, you’ll often need a small beauty team to handle quick turnarounds.
They also understand how lighting affects makeup, which is crucial when working outdoors in Vietnam’s humidity or under strong lighting setups.
Model / Talent Chaperone
When working with child models or larger casts, having a dedicated chaperone is a must. Their job is to ensure the kids are safe, rested, and supervised. For adult talent, a model manager or agency rep may be on set to coordinate timing, releases, and continuity.
Digitech
For photography productions, the Digitech manages image capture, backups, and client previews. They tether the camera to a laptop or monitor so clients can review images live, handle file organization, color consistency, and backups throughout the day.
It’s a technical but crucial role — and no, the photographer’s assistant can’t always “just do it.” The Digitech allows the photographer to stay focused on composition, lighting, and direction.
Photographer’s Assistant / Camera Assistant
These are the photographer’s or DP’s right hands. They help with lighting setups, lens changes, power management, and equipment organization. On video sets, the 1st AC (Assistant Camera) is responsible for focus pulling and maintaining gear, while the 2nd AC handles slating and data management.
Sound Recordist (For Corporate Documentary Work)
While hotel lifestyle shoots often rely on ambient sound or post-produced music, corporate documentary-style projects that rely on interviews need clean, professional audio.
A sound recordist captures dialogue, ambient sound, and sync audio. They manage microphones, booms, and wireless systems to ensure crisp sound that complements your visual storytelling. For projects built around interviews or real stories — this role is absolutely essential.
Retoucher / Post-Production Supervisor
Once the shoot wraps, post-production takes over. The Retoucher or Editor polishes the visuals — color grading, cleaning up minor imperfections, or stitching together footage to tell the story.
The Post Supervisor ensures all assets meet brand specs, deadlines, and delivery formats.
Final Thoughts
Not every production requires every one of these roles, but understanding them helps you make smarter budgeting and scheduling decisions. Each role exists to ensure the final product looks effortless — because when a production runs well, it feels easy, even though it’s anything but.
When clients cut too many corners or ask their own staff to fill in, things tend to fall apart fast. Professionals bring years of training, specialized equipment, and on-set instincts that can’t be improvised.
About the Author
Justin Mott is the founder of Mott Visuals, a Vietnam-based commercial photography and video production agency specializing in hotel, resort, and corporate storytelling. With over a decade of experience producing campaigns across Asia for brands like Four Seasons, InterContinental, Nike, Leica, and WWF, Justin and his team combine creativity, production expertise, and logistics to deliver high-end photography and video productions across Vietnam and throughout Asia.
