How to Choose a Product Photographer: 17 Questions to Ask Before You Book

Choosing a product photographer for your brand is a little bit like choosing a contractor for your house. The photos might look pretty on the outside, but the process determines whether you end up with something solid, consistent, and built to convert.

If you’re investing in photos for a rebrand, your website, or social media, this guide will help you book with confidence and avoid the most common “wait… I didn’t know that” surprises.

Below are 17 questions to ask before you hire, plus what to listen for in the answers.

1) Have you photographed products like mine before?

Listen for: examples in a similar category (beauty, wellness, food, supplements, etc.) and similar materials (glossy bottles, metallic labels, amber glass, powders, liquids).
Green flag: they can explain why certain lighting/styling choices work for your product type.

2) Can you show a full gallery, not just highlights?

Instagram is a highlight reel. A full gallery shows consistency.
Listen for: even color, cohesive angles, sharp labels, clean retouching across multiple images.

3) What’s your process from brief to final delivery?

Listen for: a clear workflow: discovery, shot list, styling plan, shoot day, selects, retouching, delivery.
Green flag: they lead the process instead of winging it.

4) How do you handle art direction and shot planning?

Some photographers want you to bring all direction. Others will build the plan with you.
Listen for: how they use moodboards, brand guides, competitor research, and shot lists.

5) Do you help with props and backgrounds?

Props can make or break lifestyle and styled studio work.
Listen for: whether they source props, use your existing props, or charge a prop budget.

6) Can you match my brand style consistently?

Listen for: how they approach consistency across lighting, contrast, color palette, angles, and cropping.
Green flag: they talk about building a “visual system,” not random pretty shots.

7) How do you approach lighting for shiny or reflective packaging?

Skincare and wellness packaging can often be glossy, metallic, or reflective.
Listen for: they mention glare control, diffusion, flags/negative fill, and label readability.

8) Do you photograph on white background, and do you meet platform requirements?

If you’re using images for e-commerce, this matters.
Listen for: experience with true white (#FFFFFF) background expectations, clean edges, and avoiding common rejection issues.

9) What retouching is included?

Retouching can mean anything from “basic cleanup” to “every pixel polished.”
Ask about: dust removal, label smoothing, glare reduction, color matching, reflections, liquify/shape fixes, and how far they go on skin/hands if models are used.

10) Who selects the final images?

Options: photographer selects, you select, or a mix.
Green flag: they offer a proofing gallery and a smooth selection process.

11) What’s your turnaround time and delivery method?

Listen for: a realistic timeline and a professional delivery system (gallery/download, organized folders, naming conventions).

12) How do you price: per image, per day, or by project?

There’s no one “right” model, but there should be clarity.
Listen for: what’s included, what’s optional, and how additional images are priced.

13) What usage/licensing is included in the quote?

This is huge. Many brands assume they’re buying unlimited usage forever. Many photographers are licensing usage for specific terms and placements.
Ask: web, social, paid ads, Amazon listings, email, print, out-of-home (billboards), international usage, and duration.

14) Can you provide model sourcing and usage paperwork if needed?

If there are models (even hands), you need releases and usage rights.
Listen for: how they cast, rates, licensing terms, and whether they handle contracts/releases.

15) What does your contract cover (and can I review it before paying)?

Listen for: cancellation/reschedule policy, revision limits, licensing terms, late fees, weather backup plans (for lifestyle), and what happens if a product arrives damaged.

16) How do you handle revisions or reshoots?

You want a clear boundary here.
Ask: how many rounds of revisions are included and what counts as a reshoot vs a retouch request.

17) What do you need from me to make this shoot successful?

This question tells you whether they’re proactive.
Green flag answers include: brand guide, goals (conversion vs awareness), key differentiators, must-have angles, competitor examples, product quantities, packaging finality, and deadlines.