Creating a Simple Photo Shot List
May 19, 2025
One of the fastest ways to make product photography more consistent — and to get new team members up to speed quickly — is by establishing a reusable photo shot list. A shot list is essentially a checklist of every image type (angle, close‑up, or detail) that should be captured before you move on to the next item. When applied to reselling and catalog building, this reduces errors, keeps listings uniform, and helps helpers shoot the right images the first time.
Why a Photo Shot List Matters
If you’ve ever had to reject low‑quality photos from a helper, or found yourself constantly adding a missing detail shot, you already know how costly inconsistency can be. A repeatable photo workflow saves time, boosts buyer confidence, and ensures all important details are documented. Good photos aren’t just attractive — they protect you from disputes by showing condition, details, and scale accurately.
Structuring a Reusable Shot List
When building your list, think of it as a sequence to repeat for every item. This way, whether you are photographing clothing, tools, electronics, or collectibles, the rhythm stays the same, minimizing skipped angles. Here’s a template you can adapt:
Front Overview: Full shot centered, well lit, straight on.
Back Overview: Mirror image from behind.
Sides Profile: Left and right angles to show depth and contour.
Top and Bottom: Especially important for shoes, appliances, small tools, and boxes.
Close‑up of Tags or Labels: Serial numbers, maker’s marks, material tags, or authenticity stamps.
Condition Detail: Scuffs, tears, chips, or repairs — document flaws honestly.
Feature Highlights: Buttons, zippers, logos, unique designs, or included accessories.
Scale Image: Item next to a ruler, coin, or hand for size reference.
In‑the‑Box or Full Set: Show packaging, manuals, or bundled parts.
Training Helpers With Your Shot List
A shared shot list doubles as a training manual. Print the list and tape it near the photo setup, or better yet, store it digitally on a shared hub like Google Drive, Notion, or team‑friendly auction hubs such as Gavelbase, where you can centralize shooting checklists alongside catalog data. This ensures that even helpers with no product knowledge know which angles to follow every time.
Practical Tips for Implementation
Use Visual Examples: Add sample photos to your shot list so helpers see each angle rather than just reading words.
Standardize Backgrounds: White or neutral backgrounds simplify editing and look professional across listings.
Number the Steps: When helpers can count through 1–10, they rarely miss a shot.
Automate File Naming: Encourage helpers to follow a naming convention that matches the shot order, e.g., SKU‑1‑front, SKU‑2‑back, etc.
Review Regularly: Look through recent uploaded sets to spot trends in missed angles and refine the list when necessary.
Making the List Work for Different Item Categories
Though the basic framework remains the same, certain categories often need extra shots:
Clothing: Add close‑ups of seams, care tags, inside lining, and buttons.
Electronics: Include power cords, ports, screens powered on, and accessories.
Collectibles: Macro shots of maker’s marks, edition numbers, patina, or unique finishes.
Furniture: Corner joints, hardware, legs, underneath surfaces.
Shoes: Tread wear, insoles, heel close‑ups, size labels.
Leveraging a Shared Hub
Centralizing your shot list in a shared hub prevents version confusion. Tools such as Dropbox or Google Drive work fine, but purpose‑aligned platforms like Gavelbase make it easy to link your photo process directly with your product catalog. This saves helpers from bouncing between separate references, and ensures every item in the pipeline is photographed correctly before it flows into listings.
Conclusion
By committing to a repeatable photo shot list, you move photography from an art into a process. Not only does this improve item presentation, it drastically reduces time spent fixing errors or asking for reshoots. Train helpers on the list, keep it centralized, and adjust as new categories or needs emerge. Over time, your product photos will gain a uniform look that builds buyer trust and keeps your reselling workflow friction‑free.