What to prepare before a product photography session
A practical preparation checklist for product photography: product readiness, shot lists, channel specifications, styling and approvals.
Summary
Before a product photography session, prepare clean, labelled products with spares, a prioritised shot list, the image specifications for each channel, brand and styling references, and a clear approval contact. Good preparation reduces studio time, avoids reshoots and produces a more consistent catalogue.
Prepare the products
- Clean every product and remove dust, fingerprints and unwanted stickers
- Bring spares of small or fragile items
- Label each product with its name or SKU
- Include packaging if it will appear in listings
- Bring any accessories needed to show products in use
Write a prioritised shot list
List every product and the angles required: front, back, side, detail, scale and in-use. Mark priorities so the most important images are captured first if time runs short.
Confirm specifications for each channel
| Channel | Typical requirements to confirm |
|---|---|
| Website or online store | Aspect ratio, minimum width, background colour |
| Marketplaces | Current rules for background, product fill and size |
| Social media | Square, portrait and vertical crops with space for text |
| Print catalogue | High resolution and colour-accurate files |
Marketplace rules change periodically, so confirm current specifications shortly before the shoot.
Share brand and styling references
Provide your brand guidelines, colour references and examples of images you like and dislike. Agree props and backgrounds in advance, especially for styled or lifestyle shots.
Plan approvals and delivery
Nominate one person to approve images on the day or during review. Agree file formats, naming conventions and delivery deadlines. This keeps editing focused and avoids multiple rounds of conflicting feedback.
Key takeaways
- Prepare products and spares
- Prioritise a written shot list
- Confirm sizes and aspect ratios per channel
- Agree who approves images on the day
Related services
This article is general guidance, not advice for a specific situation. Platform features and policies change; details were checked on the review date above.