Product photography picks up everything: a fingerprint on glass, a crease in a label, a scuff on a box corner. A bit of prep before the shoot saves retouching time and makes your products look their very best.
I shoot product photography in my Liverpool studio for ecommerce brands of all sizes. This is the checklist I send before every shoot.
The short version
- Send your best samples. Perfect packaging, no dents or scuffs.
- Send a product list. Names or SKUs, and which shots each needs.
- Share references. Images you love, and your brand guidelines.
- Tell me where they are going. Amazon, Shopify, social or print.
- Get them to me in time. Drop off, courier or bring them on the day.
1. Choose your best samples
Pick the cleanest, most perfect examples you have. Check boxes for dents, labels for creases and bottles for scratches. For anything that sells in variants, send one of each colour or size you want shown. If you can spare a second of your hero products, that is a lovely backup.
2. Make a product list
A simple spreadsheet with product names or SKUs, the shots you need for each (white background, detail, lifestyle, scale) and any must haves. I name the final files to match, so uploading is quick and nothing gets mixed up.
3. Share your references and brand guidelines
Send a few images you love, from your own brand or anyone else, plus your colours, fonts and tone. It helps me understand the look you are after before we start, so the first shot is already close.
4. Tell me where the photos will be used
Amazon needs pure white main images. Shopify likes consistent square crops. Instagram likes 4:5 and Reels need 9:16. If I know where the images are going, I shoot and crop for all of them in one session.
5. Getting the products to me
You can drop products at the Liverpool studio, courier them ahead of the shoot, or bring them on the day and art direct with me. For larger ranges, it really helps to have everything here in advance so the day runs smoothly.
6. Food, cosmetics and fashion
For food and drink, tell me which items need to be fresh and plated, as they are shot quickly or on location. For cosmetics, send spare testers if you want texture swatches. For clothing, send items steamed or pressed and tell me if you need ghost mannequin, flat lay or model shots.
Your product shoot checklist
Before the shoot
- Best samples chosen and checked
- Product list with names or SKUs
- Shots needed for each product
- Reference images and brand guidelines
- Where the images will be used
Getting them here
- Drop off, courier or bring on the day
- Variants and colours included
- Spares of hero products if possible
- Any props you want used
Questions brands ask
Do I need to be at the shoot?
No, but you are very welcome. Many clients send products and review a gallery afterwards, while others like to come along and art direct.
What file formats will I get?
High resolution JPEGs in sRGB, web optimised versions ready to upload, transparent PNGs for cut outs, and platform crops at 1:1, 4:5 and 9:16, named by product or SKU.
Do you offer monthly product content?
Yes. Recurring shoots on a set schedule are a great way to keep new stock and social content flowing.
More guides for product sellers: Amazon and Shopify product photo requirements and Packshot, flat lay or lifestyle photos?.
Got products to shoot?
Send me your product list and let’s make them shine
Tell me what you sell, how many products and where the images will be used, and I will come back with a plan and a clear quote.