Someone who is in charge of something or controlling a situation is "calling the shots." There are two possible origins: British ship captains would direct where the cannons were to be aimed in battle, thus calling the shots. In the sport of curling, the captain of the team can say where the next stone (shot) is to be put (or at least where the next player should try to put it. My bet is on the British captain story - even though the British navy isn't quite what it used to be. "Dan is manager now that Susan left, so he's calling the shots now." "John talked about controlling the family's finances, but everybody knew it was his wife who was really calling the shots."

called the programme's producers where the photos would be taken

called the photographic shots= decided what photos would betaken