1. Decide what you want the image to convey.  Is there a specific emotion you want the image to produce?  Do you want a specific memory to be the focus?  This will help you to decide what the overall theme of your image will be.
2. Who will take the picture?  This may seem trivial, but it is very important to get this figured out.  If you are going to be in the image, you will need someone else to take it.  Schedule this ahead of time to make it easy for the both of you to fit it into your schedules.  Also, if you are planning on an outdoor shoot I would recommend picking a couple of possible dates.  That way, if the weather is bad, you can easily fall back to the next scheduled date.
3. How much will it encompass?  This will help you to determine the scale of your image.  Will it just be you?  Are you going to include your father?   Is there a specific setting for your image that you need to reserve or call ahead to schedule?
4. What will you wear?  Don’t wait until the day of the shoot to decide what to wear.  There is nothing worse than trying to make a last minute stop at a convenience store for pantyhose.  Decide from head to toe what you will wear at least several days ahead.  If you are creating a specific shot that requires costumes, have them collected and fitted a couple of days in advance to relieve last minute stress.
5. When will you shoot?  By this, I mean what time of day will the picture be taken.  Do you need any special or additional lighting for a nighttime shot?  How much extra traffic will be at the site?  For example, if you are shooting on the steps of the capital, lunchtime or between three and six o’clock in the evening might not be the best times.

These questions, and any others you can come up with, will help to create the best, most dramatic effects for your staged image.