Creates e-commerce product photography shot lists with angles, lighting notes, and styling direction. Use this skill when a user needs to prepare for product photos, brief a photographer for e-commerce images, or plan product shots that drive conversions for their online store.
PRODUCT PHOTOS SELL THE PRODUCT WHEN YOU CANNOT — EVERY SHOT MUST ANSWER A QUESTION THE BUYER HAS BEFORE THEY ADD TO CART.
| Shot Type | Purpose | Where It's Used |
|---|---|---|
| Hero/Main | First impression, clean product view | Thumbnail, search results, main listing |
| Angle shots |
| Show shape, depth, dimensions |
| Product gallery images 2-4 |
| Detail/Macro | Texture, material, craftsmanship | Product gallery, zoom view |
| Scale shot | Show real-world size | Product gallery, reduce returns |
| In-use/Lifestyle | Show product being used | Social media, ads, lifestyle gallery |
| Packaging | Unboxing experience | Email, social, product page |
| Group/Collection | Multiple products together | Collection pages, upsell sections |
| Infographic | Features called out with text overlay | Amazon A+ content, product page |
Gather product details:
Check platform requirements:
| Priority | Shot | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hero front | Product centered, straight-on, white or brand background |
| 2 | Hero angle | 3/4 angle showing depth and dimension |
| 3 | Back view | Reverse side, label, or ingredient list visible |
| 4 | Detail close-up | Texture, stitching, material quality, key feature |
| 5 | Scale reference | Product next to common object or held in hand |
| 6 | In-use lifestyle | Product being used in natural environment |
| 7 | Packaging/unboxing | Product in packaging, partially unwrapped |
Specify lighting for each shot type:
Specify styling notes:
Input: "I need product photos for a men's leather bifold wallet I'm selling on Shopify and Amazon. It's hand-stitched, comes in brown and black, retails for $89."
Output:
Product: Hand-stitched leather bifold wallet Variants: Brown, Black Retail: $89 Platforms: Shopify (primary), Amazon (secondary)
| # | Shot Type | Description | Framing | Lighting | Background |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hero front | Wallet closed, front face centered, slight 5-degree tilt for dimension | Straight-on, product fills 85% | Dual softbox, 45-degree sides, white reflector below | Pure white |
| 2 | Hero 3/4 angle | Wallet closed, 3/4 angle from left showing spine and front | 30-degree angle, medium | Dual softbox, slight shadow on right for depth | Pure white |
| 3 | Open interior | Wallet open flat showing card slots, bill compartment, and ID window | Overhead, slight angle | Single softbox overhead, diffused, fill card on right | Pure white |
| 4 | Detail — stitching | Close-up of hand-stitching along wallet edge, showing thread quality | Macro, tight crop on corner | Single directional light at 30 degrees from left to create texture shadows | Pure white |
| 5 | Detail — leather grain | Close-up of leather surface showing natural grain and patina | Macro, 2-inch square area | Raking light at low angle to emphasize grain texture | Pure white |
| 6 | Scale — in hand | Male hand holding closed wallet naturally, casual grip | Medium, hand centered | Natural light or large softbox, soft shadows | Light gray or out-of-focus lifestyle |
| 7 | In-use — cards | Wallet open with 2-3 cards partially inserted, a few bills visible in compartment | Overhead, slight angle | Natural window light from left, reflector on right | Dark wood desk surface |
| 8 | Lifestyle — pocket | Wallet half-inserted in back pocket of dark denim jeans | Medium, waist-down crop | Natural outdoor light, golden hour preferred | Outdoor or indoor with natural light |
| 9 | Flat lay — EDC | Wallet alongside watch, keys, and pen on leather desk mat | Overhead, centered | Even overhead diffused light | Dark leather or slate surface |
| 10 | Packaging | Wallet in branded box, tissue paper folded back, box lid beside it | 45-degree angle, showing box interior |
Props (lifestyle shots only):
Wardrobe (pocket shot):
Color palette for backgrounds: Warm neutrals — dark wood, slate gray, cream linen, matte black
AVOID:
wallet-brown-01-hero-front.jpg, wallet-brown-02-angle.jpg, etc.Input: "I need photos for a handmade ceramic mug I sell on Etsy and my own website. It's 12oz, speckled glaze, $34."
Output:
Product: Handmade 12oz ceramic mug, speckled glaze Variants: Desert Sand, Ocean Blue, Forest Moss Retail: $34 Platforms: Etsy, Squarespace website
| # | Shot Type | Description | Framing | Lighting | Background |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hero front | Mug centered, handle at 3 o'clock position, slight shadow underneath | Straight-on, product fills 70% | Two softboxes, 45-degree, white reflector | Off-white linen or pure white |
| 2 | Hero angle | 3/4 view showing handle shape and interior glaze | 30-degree angle, medium | Single softbox camera-left, reflector right | Off-white linen |
| 3 | Top-down interior | Looking into the mug showing interior glaze and rim thickness | Directly overhead | Ring light or diffused overhead panel | Dark wood surface |
| 4 | Detail — glaze | Macro of speckled glaze texture on mug body | Macro, 1-inch area | Raking light from left at 20-degree angle | Neutral, blurred |
| 5 | Detail — bottom | Mug tipped to show maker's mark/stamp on bottom | Angled, hand holding mug tilted | Natural light, fill from right | Light background |
| 6 | Scale — in hands | Two hands cupping the mug at chest height, cozy sweater sleeves visible | Medium, hands centered | Natural window light, warm tone | Soft, blurred interior |
| 7 | In-use — coffee | Mug filled with black coffee, slight steam, on kitchen counter | Medium, 30-degree angle | Morning natural light from window behind-left | Kitchen counter (butcher block or stone) |
| 8 | Lifestyle — reading | Mug beside open book on side table, blanket draped nearby | Wide, environmental | Warm natural light, golden hour feel | Living room setting |
| 9 | Group — all colors | All three glaze variants in a row, staggered depth | Medium wide, shallow depth of field | Even diffused light | Raw wood shelf or light background |
| 10 | Packaging | Mug wrapped in recycled kraft paper, nestled in box | 45-degree overhead angle | Soft natural light | White or light wood surface |
Props:
Surfaces: Raw wood, butcher block, natural stone, linen cloth
Human elements: Hands only — knit sweater or rolled-up linen sleeves. No faces needed. Hands should look natural, not posed.
AVOID:
mug-desert-sand-01-hero.jpg, mug-ocean-blue-02-angle.jpg| Soft natural light, warm tone |
| Light linen or marble |