How to Prepare for a Product Photography Session

Get the most out of your product photography shoot with this preparation guide — covering product prep, props, style references, and communication with your photographer.

Why Preparation Is the Key to Great Product Photos

Product photography is one of the most preparation-intensive types of commercial photography. Unlike portrait sessions where the photographer's skill can compensate for limited prep, product shots live or die by the condition of the product, the quality of props, and the clarity of creative direction. A few hours of preparation before your shoot day can mean the difference between photos that drive conversions and photos that end up unused.

Step 1: Prepare the Products Themselves

Every flaw visible in person will be magnified under studio lights and in post-production close-ups. Before the shoot:

• Clean every product thoroughly — fingerprints, dust, and smudges are always visible
• Remove price tags, stickers, and any shipping labels
• Steam or iron fabric products to remove wrinkles
• For packaged goods, ensure packaging is pristine — replace any dented or creased boxes
• Bring extras of each product in case of damage during handling

Step 2: Define Your Shot Types

Product photography falls into two broad categories: white background shots (essential for e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Shopify, and Etsy) and lifestyle/context shots (showing the product in use or a styled environment). Decide which types you need and how many angles per product. Providing this information upfront helps your photographer plan the shoot efficiently and give you an accurate quote.

Step 3: Create a Mood Board and Shot List

Collect 10–20 reference images showing the aesthetic you want. Include examples of lighting style, background colors, prop styling, and composition approaches. Share this mood board with your photographer before the shoot — it communicates more clearly than written descriptions and aligns your creative vision with their execution plan.

Step 4: Source Props and Backgrounds

Lifestyle product photography often requires props that tell a story or create a mood — a linen napkin, a ceramic mug, fresh herbs, or architectural tiles as a surface. Decide early whether you or your photographer is responsible for props. Many product photographers can source props for an additional fee, or offer a prop kit from previous shoots. Marble vinyl sheets, wood slats, and fabric textures can be purchased inexpensively and reused across multiple shoots.

Step 5: Confirm Technical Requirements

Different platforms have specific photo requirements. Amazon requires white background images at a minimum of 1000px on the longest side. Shopify works best with square 1:1 or 4:5 images. Instagram Stories requires vertical 9:16 format. Share your platform requirements with your photographer so they can frame and deliver photos in the correct dimensions. Getting this wrong means expensive reshoots.

Step 6: Plan for Efficient Shoot Day Flow

Organize your products in shoot order. Group similar items together to minimize lighting and background changes. Label each product or group so you and the photographer can quickly confirm what's been shot and what remains. Bring a printed shot list and check off each item as it's completed. Efficient organization can double the number of products you photograph in a given session.