What To Prepare Before Your Apparel Photoshoot: A Brand's Checklist

Contrary to what might be your initial thought process, the success of an apparel photoshoot doesn’t start when the camera turns on, but rather days, if not weeks, in advance.

Brands that are capable of putting aside the time and attention into manifesting a successful campaign are guaranteed to come away with stronger visuals to increase awareness and drive sales, as well as fewer unwelcome surprises that might hinder you along the way.

If you’re in the process of working with an out-of-house creative for the first time and feeling a little overwhelmed, or if you have experience with hiring other photographers for apparel drops and want to make sure that the process is more “ironed out” from beginning to end, pun intended, then this upcoming checklist is for you!

Brand Prep

Although I always offer to curate moodboards and project concepts for the brands I work with, in case they feel lost in building a narrative for their marketing campaigns, sometimes brands already have a loose idea in mind.

They need to devote more curated attention to making it as cohesive and intentional as possible.

Once you’ve identified your target platform, whether that’s for your website, social media, or paid advertisements on Google, it’s essential to make sure that your photographer has a strong understanding of your target demographics and to utilize models that can appropriately style your apparel pieces and reach and speak to them directly.

Take some time to schedule a specific delivery/pick-up date for your products, and ensure the creative is up-to-date on the process so that everyone involved can align on a realistic and compatible project date in advance.

Wardrobe & Styling

In most cases, I don’t expect too much from the packaging and shipping process.

As long as clothes are obviously in fresh/new condition and packaged in an orderly way before being sent my way, I fully expect to take time in advance of the photoshoot to steam/iron, lint roll, and otherwise dewrinkle and clean every product utilized to make sure that it’s showcased in its most optimal form.

That being said, taking a little extra time in advance to ensure everything is packaged optimally, including relevant hangers and garment bags to help the photographer maintain their unkempt form, can do wonders in presenting your products in the best lighting possible.

Logistics/On-Set Essentials

While I typically work with brands remotely, taking charge of the creative direction and content in a very hands-on fashion, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be present during the shooting process when working with local creatives.

It can be beneficial for both you and the photographer to show up prepared to handle and respond to any potential interruptions or hazards you may encounter throughout the day.

After ensuring everyone has an agreed-upon call time and location, communicating details like parking, load-in instructions, and checking the weather and permit permissions for outdoor shoots helps immensely in smoothing out potential issues before they arise.

When it comes to knowing what to bring with you, most photographers, myself included, make sure to get everything from food, water, and chargers/power banks to a portable steamer/iron.

This ensures that everything and everyone is kept in optimal form throughout the day.

Still, if this isn’t something you communicated with the creatives in advance, it can be very beneficial to bring along some of these yourself.

If anything, you would be doing this more so for your own benefit than the creatives, as, aside from ensuring optimal project results, you’re also communicating to your contracted creatives that you do a great job at taking charge and care of every project that you involve yourself in.

After The Shoot

Once the shoot wraps up and you’re in the process of viewing the photo/video assets for selection, it’s important to convey any additional revisions or notes you had in mind for the photographer that they might not otherwise automatically assume to retouch on their own.

Ensure that any feedback you have, both positive and negative, is conveyed promptly and coherently in one document to prevent miscommunication and receive your final assets quickly.

Preparing properly for an apparel photoshoot can turn an otherwise mediocre campaign into a great one.

If you’d like help planning your next apparel or lifestyle shoot, don’t hesitate to reach out!

I’ll make sure the process runs seamlessly from prep to delivery.