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Article · 9 June 2026 · 4 min read

How to Prepare and Send Your Samples for a Product Shoot

A simple checklist for getting your products ready for a photography shoot — how to label, pack and send samples so your shoot runs smoothly and your images come back faster.

A smooth shoot starts before anything is photographed. The better prepared your samples are, the faster your images come back and the more consistent they look. Here's a simple checklist to get your products shoot-ready.

1. Choose the right samples

Send the actual product you'll sell, in the colour and size you want represented (a mid-size usually photographs best for apparel). If a style comes in multiple colourways, decide whether you need each one shot or whether one hero colour will do.

2. Label everything clearly

Attach a clear reference — SKU or product name — to each item, and include a simple list of what you're sending. This is the single biggest time-saver: it means your files come back named correctly and ready to upload, with no guesswork.

3. Note any special requirements

Tell us up front if a garment needs to be styled a particular way, if there's a specific shot list (front, back, detail), or if certain features need highlighting — a logo, a lining, a fastening. A quick note per product prevents reshoots.

4. Pack to protect

  • Fold garments neatly or roll to limit creasing (we steam everything, but less creasing is faster).
  • Wrap delicate items — jewellery, eyewear, watches — individually so nothing gets scratched in transit.
  • Keep dust bags, boxes or tags if you want them shown in styled shots.

5. Get them to us

You can drop samples at our Manchester studio (Tube Business Centre, 86 North Street, M8 8RA) or post them in — worldwide customers are welcome. Let us know if you need the samples returned, and we'll send everything back after the shoot.

What happens next

Once your samples arrive we confirm receipt, lock in your shoot date, and get started. Standard turnaround is 2–3 days, with a guaranteed 24-hour priority option if you're on a deadline. Ready to book? Get in touch and we'll take it from there.


Ready to shoot your range? Get a quote or see our full pricing.

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Send a quick brief with your typical volume and we'll come back with a quote and timings — usually within the working day.