Honest question: How long do you think a product photography shoot takes from start to finish?
Unless you’ve had a brand photoshoot done before, you might say 2-3 weeks, right? Maybe 4 weeks?
Close, but not quite.
I like to under promise and over deliver, so I usually tell my clients it will take about 8 weeks to get their images.
Here’s a quick bird’s-eye view of the timeline for a standard product photoshoot. As you can see, the timeline’s flexible and dates may move around if feedback or delivery dates get delayed. But overall, the steps stay the same, so you can bank on an 8 week turnaround.
Let’s break it down.
How Long Does a Product Photography Shoot Take?
Week 1: Onboarding
Before we kick things off officially, you’ll need to pay a deposit, sign the project contract and begin gathering inspiration (images, websites, social media accounts, etc.) as well as any branding assets that might help direct the shoot.
As soon as the deposit has been paid and contract signed, I’ll schedule your project and put a tentative shoot date in my calendar. I’ll send you a Welcome Guide to walk you through the process and answer common questions that you might have.
Weeks 2-3: Pre Production
This is the planning phase of the project.
We’ll schedule a kickoff call so we can discuss your ideas, share inspiration, and set a direction for the shoot.
I’ll also put together a mood board and shot list (on a Pre Production Board) complete with inspiration images and props required. This is a collaborative process, so I’ll have you weigh in on the ideas and sign-off on everything before moving forward.
Because there’s so much back and forth during this phase, it may take longer than 2 weeks to get everything finalized.
Weeks 4-5: Sourcing
Once the direction is signed off on, I’ll start sourcing ingredients and props. Most props arrive in less than a week. But some items, like backdrops, make take 2-3 weeks to arrive, so I allow plenty of time.
You’ll also need to mail the products you’d like photographed so that they arrive at least 7 days before the photoshoot. This will give me enough time to clean them up, test out lighting setups, and experiment with layouts and color combinations.
Week 6: Photoshoot
Finally—shoot day!
Some photoshoots take one day, but I usually like to set aside two just in case I need more time.
To make sure we’re on the same page, I ask that you be available to approve the images remotely on the day of the shoot.
After the shoot, I’ll upload proof images to an online proofing gallery and send you a link for review.
Weeks 7-8: Post Production and Off Boarding
You’ll select your favorite photos directly in the gallery and make final payment.
Once you’ve selected your favorite images, I’ll edit them in the style we discussed during Pre Production.
Lastly, I’ll send over final images via the online gallery. I’ll also send you an off boarding guide after your product photography shoot explaining how to store your images, what to do if you would like to purchase extras, etc.
Want a photographer who can make your products stand out online?
Contact me to learn more about how I do this for my own clients.
