Hiring a product photographer might seem like a quick checklist item. You find someone with a camera, book a shoot, and wait for the files to roll in. But when your business depends on how your products look online, things aren’t quite that simple. The photos you use affect everything: how professional your brand looks, how well your listings convert, and how much trust shoppers feel. All of that starts with choosing the right photographer.
In a place like Los Angeles, where brands are everywhere and customers are selective, standing out takes more than snapping a clean photo. It takes someone who understands lighting, framing, color accuracy, and how to present detail in a way that makes a shopper pause and click. Before you commit to working with a product photographer, make sure to ask the right questions. Here’s where to begin.
Experience And Portfolio
Always ask how long they’ve been doing product photography. Try not to get too caught up in big titles or follower counts. What really matters is how well their experience lines up with what you need. A photographer who’s shot hundreds of items for a handful of small, agile brands might be a better fit than one who’s only worked on large commercial productions.
Spend time looking at their portfolio. And don’t just skim through a few thumbnails. Click into individual images. Ask yourself:
- Can I clearly see product details like texture and shape?
- Do colors feel accurate, not washed out or overly rich?
- Is there variety in the backgrounds, angles, and lighting styles?
- Do shots feel consistent across a group of products, like part of a larger collection?
If everything looks the same or feels overly edited, that could mean the photographer relies too heavily on a single style. On the flip side, too much variety with no clear signature style may show there’s no solid process in place. You’re looking for someone who brings creativity, but still delivers consistency.
A brand once came in with a new makeup line and needed product photos that felt clean and high-end. Their first pick for a photographer had great reviews, but the portfolio was mostly flat lay food photography and some loose lifestyle shots. The final product photos came out uneven and hard to use because the photographer didn't understand lighting for small, reflective items. That misstep cost the brand time and a lot of effort.
Always ask to see projects that are similar to your own. If you're in the beauty or fashion space, you know these products come with specific lighting needs. A photographer with experience in those areas will better know how to shoot them for screen viewing.
Know If They Understand Your Industry
Some photographers are great at capturing sneakers. Others excel at skincare bottles and fashion fabrics. But skills don’t always transfer across product types. Someone who knows how to shoot leather bags may not know how to light a glossy lipstick tube.
Ask if they’ve worked with your type of product before, whether it’s makeup, apparel, or accessories, industry-specific work matters. A strong portfolio is helpful, but it doesn't automatically mean they're right for your brand. You want to hear thoughtful details about how they bring out the features of products like yours.
Here are a few questions you could ask:
1. Have you shot products like mine before?
2. What were the challenges?
3. How do you style or light items to highlight their best features?
The best photographers will answer clearly and with examples pulled from hands-on experience. They’ll remember the challenge of capturing a reflective label or explain how they used soft, diffused lighting to bring out the detail in fabric stitching. Those real-world examples give you a better sense of what working with them will feel like when your shoot is on the calendar.
Ask them to walk you through a previous shoot that’s close to what you’re planning. Don’t hesitate to dig into the details. What lighting did they select? Why did they position the items in certain ways? How did they handle color matching? The way they describe their process often tells you more than the results.
Let’s say you sell earrings with a mirror polish. That material reflects everything and makes unwanted shadows a nightmare. If they respond with, “Yeah, we can shoot anything,” that’s not very reassuring. But if they say they used side lighting and white cards to balance shine and shadow on a similar project, you know they’re prepared.
Check Their Technical Setup
Take time to ask about the camera and tools they use. You don’t need to talk specs, just get a clear idea of their setup. Even the most creative eye can’t make up for equipment that doesn’t suit your product needs.
Ask which camera and lens combo they prefer, especially for close-up shots or flat lays. The right gear can pull out finer textures and make colors match better. Lighting is just as important. You want someone who knows how to work with softboxes, diffusers, and other tools to shape light in ways that highlight the product without creating glare or dark spots.
Retouching and editing style matter too. Good editing fixes small issues while keeping the photo truthful. Overediting might make a product look better, but it can also lead to unhappy buyers if expectations don’t match. Talk to them about their editing approach. What tools do they use? Do they oversaturate or remove too many shadows? Ask how far they go when retouching images and how they keep edits from drifting too far from reality.
Check if they’re up to date with new methods. Photography trends change regularly. Techniques evolve. A strong photographer will keep learning and trying new ways to improve results. Even if you don’t fully understand every tool they use, just knowing that they explore and update their approach is a good sign. It shows they care about delivering better outcomes over time.
Ask About Workflow And Turnaround Time
Top-tier images don’t mean much if you get them too late or in the wrong format. Talk to photographers about how they manage their timelines, what happens after the shoot, and how they handle unexpected edits.
You want clear answers to questions like:
- What’s the turnaround time from shoot to delivery?
- How are final files shared?
- Are previews or proofs sent before final edits?
- What’s the process if I need changes?
Let’s say it’s late summer and you’re preparing to launch an October line. That timing only works if the photo process doesn’t slow you down. A photographer who’s booked out six weeks or typically takes 15 days to send final edits may throw off your entire schedule. Be clear about your deadlines and ask up front if they can match them.
Revisions are another point that gets overlooked until it’s too late. Some photographers offer a round of edits without an extra charge. Others bill by the edit or revision. Both approaches are fine but you’ll want to know which one applies to you before you start.
Ask if they use a proofing system. A preview gallery can help you catch lighting issues or styling changes before the final files arrive. For bigger shoots, this step is worth it. You can make small fixes now instead of needing an expensive reshoot later.
Make Sure They're The Right Match For You
Hiring the right product photographer should make your life easier, not more complicated. You’re looking for someone who brings experience, listens well, and fits what your brand needs. That doesn’t always mean the flashiest portfolio or the longest list of past clients. It means someone who shows up prepared, takes pride in their process, and works with you to get results.
Every brand is different. Some products are easy to shoot with natural light and a clean backdrop. Others need special setups to capture texture, prevent glare, or manage size and shape challenges. Before booking a photographer, think through what makes your products unique and figure out what kind of support you’ll need.
Ask yourself:
- Does this photographer’s style match my aesthetic?
- Do they understand the materials and surfaces of my products?
- Can they deliver photos in the format and quantity I need?
The right fit will help you get consistent results across your store, keep your production on track, and make life a lot less stressful. And when you find someone who understands your business, it becomes easier to get better photos faster without always starting from scratch.
Hiring the Right Product Photographers
Los Angeles has no shortage of product photographers. But finding one who works well with your team and gets your brand’s look just right? That’s something worth asking the right questions to find.
Ready to elevate your brand's visual appeal? Whether you're showcasing fashion, beauty, or accessories, the right images make all the difference. Discover how a seasoned product photographer in Los Angeles, like Four x Five, can transform your product presentation. Let's make your products stand out and captivate your audience with stunning visuals that truly reflect your brand's essence.
