12 questions I ask every brand before a product shoot

A good shoot starts long before anyone touches a camera. Most of the problems I've seen on set could have been avoided with a better conversation at the start. So these are the questions I ask every brand. If you're a brand, it helps to have answers ready. If you're a photographer, steal them.

About the brand

1. What's the story behind your brand? I want to know why you exist and who you're for. The images should feel like they belong to that story.

2. Are there brand colours or visual rules I should follow? Fonts, colours, things you never want to see. Better to know now than after the set is built.

About the shoot

3. What's this shoot for? A new launch, a rebrand, a campaign, or a stock of content for the next few months? The answer changes everything.

4. How many products are we shooting? This decides how many sets, how much time, and how many props.

5. Do you have a look in mind? Moodboards, screenshots, brands you love. Even "not like this" is useful.

6. Minimal or maximal? Some brands want one perfect object on a clean surface. Others want a whole little world. Both are great. They're just very different days.

About the images

7. Where will the images and videos live? Website, Instagram, TikTok, ads, print, packaging? Each has its own shape and size.

8. Do you need specific formats or sizes? Vertical for reels, square for the grid, extra space for text on a banner. I plan the framing around this.

About time and money

9. When do you need the final files? I work backwards from your launch date.

10. Is there a preferred shoot date? Especially if you want to join the shoot or need samples to arrive first.

11. What's your budget? I know it's awkward. But it's the question that lets me suggest what's actually possible, instead of guessing.

About logistics

12. Who's providing the products? Will you send samples, or do I need to buy them? How many of each? (Always send spares. Something always gets smudged.)

Why bother?

Because a clear start means a calm shoot. When we both know what we're making, why, and for when, the creative part gets to be the fun part. If you'd like to go through these with me, say hej.