Product Photography Guide
A printable reference for tabletop product work: lighting setup diagrams, a reference for backgrounds and surfaces, shot lists covering the standard e-commerce angles, and settings charts for common product scenarios.
A downloadable PDF reference guide in US Letter and A4. Reference and planning material for use while you work; not a course, lesson, or critique service.
Contents of the guide
The guide is organized into the sections below. Every section is included in both the US Letter and A4 files.
Tabletop lighting setups
Top-down diagrams of tabletop lighting arrangements, showing light position, modifier type, bounce cards, and background placement relative to the product.
Background and surface reference
Reference pages describing common backgrounds and surfaces, such as seamless sweeps, textured boards, and reflective surfaces, and how each tends to behave under light.
Shot lists for e-commerce angles
Checklists covering standard catalogue angles, including front, three-quarter, side, back, top-down, detail, and scale shots, so each product gets a consistent set.
Settings charts for common scenarios
Charts with starting-point settings for situations such as white backgrounds, reflective items, and flat lays, with space to record your own adjustments.
Representative pages
Illustrations of three representative page layouts from this guide. They show the layout and structure of each page type.
Who it's for, and who it isn't
A good fit for
- Photographers shooting products on a tabletop for online shops, catalogues, or listings
- Small-business owners who photograph their own products and want a consistent shot list for every item
- Anyone who wants a printed lighting and settings reference beside the shooting table
Not the right fit for
- Anyone looking for a course or step-by-step lessons: this guide is reference material, not instruction
- Large-product, vehicle, or architectural photography that doesn't fit on a tabletop
- Anyone who needs editing or retouching instructions: the guide covers setup and capture planning only
- Anyone who needs editable templates: the PDFs are flat and designed for printing
Formats and sizes
- File typePDF, delivered by download
- Page sizesUS Letter (8.5 × 11 in) and A4 (210 × 297 mm), both included
- EditingFlat PDFs, not editable or fillable. Print the pages and write on them.
- PrintingUnlimited printing for your own use, at home or at a print shop
- Gear referencesEquipment is described by type, never by brand
- LicensePersonal and commercial use in your own photography work. See the Terms of Service.
This guide is also part of the Complete Reference Library, which includes all five guides.
Product Photography Guide
$39USD