Short for reconnaissance. A location visit by the director, DP, and producer before the shoot to plan setups, check lighting conditions, and solve logistical problems.

A recce turns a location from an unknown into a known quantity. It saves significant time on shoot day because key decisions, where to place lights, which angles work, where the artist can safely move, are already made.

Recce in the real world

When Jonas Akerlund was preparing the video for Lady Gaga and Beyonce’s Telephone (2010), the prison location used at the start of the video required a recce to establish what could be practically done within the facility, what would need to be built on a separate soundstage, and where the playback system could be positioned without breaching security protocols. That pre-shoot planning shaped the entire opening section.

Related terms

Location scout, Production schedule, Shot list, Director, Director of Photography (DP)