CPG Product Photography Shot List

May 28

A good shot list separates a one-day shoot that covers every channel from an unplanned second shoot. Decide where the images will be used, list every shot before the day, and check it off as the product moves through the studio.

[PHOTO: a finished shot list or contact sheet from one of your shoots]

Step 1: Know where the images will live

Write down every place the images will appear: Amazon, retailer sites, a distributor portal, your own website, social media, sell sheets, packaging and ads. Each place has different needs, and it is much easier to shoot for all of them at once.

Step 2: Build the shot list

Required shots (almost every brand)

Front of pack, straight on, pure white background
Back of pack with nutrition and ingredients readable
Left and right sides, and top
Three-quarter angle with a slight tilt, for depth
Each flavor, size, and variant, shot the same way so the set matches

Detail shots

Label close-up and any seals, certifications, or claims
Barcode, if the retailer needs it
Texture, ingredients, or the product out of the package

Selling shots

Product with a prepared serving, such as plated food or a poured drink
Product in a hand, for scale
Lifestyle scene that matches your customer
Group shot of the full line
Infographic base images, with space left for text

Optional extras

Stop-motion or short video clips
360-degree spin
Social media crops in vertical and square formats

Step 3: Plan the logistics

Why it matters

How many products and variants?
Sets the length of the shoot
How many samples of each?
Packs get scuffed, so bring a spare
Is the pack glossy, foil, or clear?
Changes how it is lit (see our packaging guide)
Do you need recipes or prepared food?
Needs a food stylist and ingredients on hand
Who approves the images?
A clear approver keeps the schedule on track
What is the delivery format?
Sizes, file names, and color profile

Step 4: Send what we need before the shoot

Gather the brand guidelines, retailer image specs, GTINs, any competitor or inspiration images, and notes on claims or words that must appear in the shot. If you cannot be on location, you can join the shoot live on Zoom.

[LINK: Article 4, what to ship and how to join live]

Step 5: Review before the day ends

We check the images on a large screen as we shoot, so we confirm labels, spelling, and colors while the product is still set up. That saves a reshoot.

[PHOTO: product on set during a shoot, with the monitor visible]

Ready to plan your shoot?

Tell us about your product, retailers, and timeline, and we will turn that list into a plan for your brand.

Check out our CPG work here.

Judy Doherty

I am a food, beverage, and CPG product photographer specializing in photos, stop motion, and video, with over 250,000 visuals delivered worldwide. Based in Southern California and formerly in the San Francisco Bay Area, I work in my studio, throughout California, and on location nationwide. Clients hire me for my eye, creative direction, and passion for taking their idea to the next level.

My strength lies in a nimble and lean creative process. Clients love getting creative content at a reasonable cost since my studio can art direct, style, and shoot their images quickly and on budget. My studio features an extensive surface library and prop house with a fully equipped kitchen and two shooting studios.

I bring over 20 years of professional culinary experience and more than a decade in commercial photography. My work as a chef, stylist, and photographer has earned many awards, including APA Top 100, ACF Gold Medal, and a juried fine art photo exhibit at Art Basel Miami. I was Executive Pastry Chef for two Hyatt Hotels and Resorts before completing two post-baccalaureate certificates for Visual Art and Graphic Design at U.C. Berkeley Extension in San Francisco.

https://judydohertyphotography.com