Description
Photograph merchandise and products for e-commerce, catalogs, advertising, and packaging. Plan composition, styling, and controlled lighting to highlight features and maintain brand consistency. Capture and edit high-resolution, color-accurate images and deliver files to web and print specifications.
- • Photograph products on white, seamless, and lifestyle sets in studio or on location.
- • Adjust aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and focus to achieve desired depth of field and sharpness.
- • Use digital cameras and studio gear, including tripods, macro lenses, copy stands, and light tents.
- • Create controlled lighting with strobes or continuous lights, using softboxes, flags, scrims, and reflectors.
- • Determine shot lists, compositions, and angles from briefs and brand guidelines.
- • Test and calibrate cameras, lenses, lighting, and tethered capture prior to shoots.
- • Review and cull images to select best frames per SKU and shot list.
- • Measure light ratios, color temperature, and white balance with light meters and color checkers.
- • Capture tethered for real-time review, focus checks, and client approval.
- • Retouch images for dust removal, color accuracy, background cleanup, clipping paths, and compositing.
- • Perform focus stacking and exposure blending when required.
- • Maintain and clean cameras, lenses, sensors, and studio equipment.
- • Handle scheduling, shot lists, inventory check-in/out, and ordering supplies and props.
- • Plan projects by estimating time, sets, surfaces, props, and equipment needs with clients and stylists.
- • Select and assemble sets, backdrops, surfaces, props, and product supports.
- • Set up, mount, and secure cameras on stands, C-stands, and overhead rigs.
- • Direct assistants, stylists, and digital techs during setup and shooting.
- • Apply specialized techniques such as macro, polarization, UV/IR, and 360-degree spin photography.
- • Research and implement new lighting techniques, lenses, and workflow tools.
- • Create and maintain style guides and lighting diagrams for consistency across products.
- • Prepare images for e-commerce, print, and packaging with correct crops, sizes, and ICC profiles.
- • Name files and embed metadata per DAM standards; upload to servers or CMS.
- • Create simple product videos, motion loops, or GIFs when requested.
- • Manage backups, archiving, and version control of digital assets.
- • Write basic captions, alt text, or product notes when needed.
- • Ensure compliance with usage rights, trademarks, and labeling requirements.
- • Verify scale accuracy or dimensions in images when specified.
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
