diff --git a/CUSTOM-PROMPT-FOR-SESSIONS.md b/CUSTOM-PROMPT-FOR-SESSIONS.md
index fe3c0cc..a5cf995 100644
--- a/CUSTOM-PROMPT-FOR-SESSIONS.md
+++ b/CUSTOM-PROMPT-FOR-SESSIONS.md
@@ -14,7 +14,11 @@ Michael will provide a Gitea API token. When you receive it:
 
 1. **Clone the repository** (use bash_tool, not code blocks):
    ```
-   cd /home/claude && git clone https://[TOKEN]@git.firefrostgaming.com/firefrost-gaming/firefrost-operations-manual.git
+   cd /home/claude && git clone --no-checkout --filter=blob:none https://[TOKEN]@git.firefrostgaming.com/firefrost-gaming/firefrost-operations-manual.git
+   cd firefrost-operations-manual
+   git sparse-checkout init --cone
+   git sparse-checkout set docs automation deployments branding management nodes web
+   git checkout master
    ```
 
 2. **Configure Git**:
diff --git a/NEXT-SESSION-PROMPT.md b/NEXT-SESSION-PROMPT.md
index 8c6d210..d14fe88 100644
--- a/NEXT-SESSION-PROMPT.md
+++ b/NEXT-SESSION-PROMPT.md
@@ -17,7 +17,11 @@ I'm continuing work on Firefrost Gaming with Michael. This is a multi-session pr
    ```
    Michael will provide a Gitea API token. Use it to:
    cd /home/claude
-   git clone https://[TOKEN]@git.firefrostgaming.com/firefrost-gaming/firefrost-operations-manual.git
+   git clone --no-checkout --filter=blob:none https://[TOKEN]@git.firefrostgaming.com/firefrost-gaming/firefrost-operations-manual.git
+   cd firefrost-operations-manual
+   git sparse-checkout init --cone
+   git sparse-checkout set docs automation deployments branding management nodes web
+   git checkout master
    cd firefrost-operations-manual
    git config user.email "claude@firefrostgaming.com"
    git config user.name "Claude"
diff --git a/SESSION-HANDOFF-PROTOCOL.md b/SESSION-HANDOFF-PROTOCOL.md
index f77e32c..dfb3f05 100644
--- a/SESSION-HANDOFF-PROTOCOL.md
+++ b/SESSION-HANDOFF-PROTOCOL.md
@@ -21,6 +21,27 @@ Read these files IN ORDER:
 
 ---
 
+## ⚡ GIT PERFORMANCE NOTE (March 4, 2026)
+
+**Use sparse checkout — NOT full clone.** The repo contains 956MB of consultant photos that are irrelevant to operations work. Full clone = ~1.9GB. Sparse clone = ~39MB.
+
+**Correct clone command:**
+```bash
+cd /home/claude
+git clone --no-checkout --filter=blob:none \
+  https://[TOKEN]@git.firefrostgaming.com/firefrost-gaming/firefrost-operations-manual.git
+cd firefrost-operations-manual
+git sparse-checkout init --cone
+git sparse-checkout set docs automation deployments branding management nodes web
+git checkout master
+git config user.email "claude@firefrostgaming.com"
+git config user.name "Claude"
+```
+
+**Why:** Photos live in `photos/` (956MB). Sparse checkout excludes them while keeping everything needed for operations work.
+
+---
+
 ## Current State
 
 ### ✅ What's Working
diff --git a/SESSION-START-PROMPT-TEMPLATE.md b/SESSION-START-PROMPT-TEMPLATE.md
index bbcfa35..5bff050 100644
--- a/SESSION-START-PROMPT-TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/SESSION-START-PROMPT-TEMPLATE.md
@@ -12,7 +12,11 @@
 **Clone the repository:**
 ```bash
 cd /home/claude
-git clone https://[TOKEN]@git.firefrostgaming.com/firefrost-gaming/firefrost-operations-manual.git
+git clone --no-checkout --filter=blob:none https://[TOKEN]@git.firefrostgaming.com/firefrost-gaming/firefrost-operations-manual.git
+cd firefrost-operations-manual
+git sparse-checkout init --cone
+git sparse-checkout set docs automation deployments branding management nodes web
+git checkout master
 cd firefrost-operations-manual
 git config user.email "claude@firefrostgaming.com"
 git config user.name "Claude"
diff --git a/docs/reference/PROJECT-INSTRUCTIONS.md b/docs/reference/PROJECT-INSTRUCTIONS.md
index f0ac420..fb9a821 100644
--- a/docs/reference/PROJECT-INSTRUCTIONS.md
+++ b/docs/reference/PROJECT-INSTRUCTIONS.md
@@ -20,7 +20,11 @@ You are **The Chronicler** — a named partner in the Firefrost Gaming realm, of
 
 ```bash
 cd /home/claude
-git clone https://[TOKEN]@git.firefrostgaming.com/firefrost-gaming/firefrost-operations-manual.git
+git clone --no-checkout --filter=blob:none https://[TOKEN]@git.firefrostgaming.com/firefrost-gaming/firefrost-operations-manual.git
+cd firefrost-operations-manual
+git sparse-checkout init --cone
+git sparse-checkout set docs automation deployments branding management nodes web
+git checkout master
 cd firefrost-operations-manual
 git config user.email "claude@firefrostgaming.com"
 git config user.name "Claude"