5 Load-In Questions for a Product Shoot at a Photo Studio

A portrait shoot walks in with a camera bag. A product shoot walks in with the product: sample cartons, a box of props, packaging you need to keep intact,. That changes what "load-in" means, and it changes the questions worth asking a photo and video production studio before you book.

Parking and the walk from the car are covered in our Downtown vs. North County load-in guide. These five are about the inventory.

1. Where do the boxes go once they're inside?

Twenty SKUs in their shipping cartons can take up more floor than the set. Ask whether there's a corner, a side room or a table away from the shooting area where unopened stock can wait its turn.

2. Will a cart or a garment rack fit the whole route?

Door widths, a step at the entrance, a tight turn into the room. A rack that clears the trunk can still stall at the last doorway. If you're bringing anything on wheels, ask about steps and narrow points between the car and the set, or send the host your rack's width.

3. What happens to the cardboard?

Unboxing for a shoot produces a surprising pile of cartons, tissue and bubble wrap. Some hosts have a recycling bin you can use. Many expect you to take it all back out. Find out which, and bring a few large bags either way.

4. Can you keep the original packaging clean?

If the packaging is part of the shot, or the product goes back to a client afterward, you need somewhere flat and clean to open things carefully. Check that a work surface exists that isn't also the set.

5. Is there time in the block to count everything back out?

Small items go missing on product days: a cap, a sample, the one earring from a pair. Leave ten minutes at the end to check stock against your shot list before the cartons are sealed. That time comes out of the booking, so plan it in rather than doing it on the curb.

Common questions

Should product be shipped to the studio ahead of the shoot?

Only if the host says yes in writing. Many studios won't receive deliveries for renters, and a box that arrives on the wrong day has nowhere to go.

Does unpacking count against my booking time?

Usually. Bookings generally start at the booked time, so unboxing and repacking are part of the block.

When Poway Studio opens for bookings, the listing will spell out its load-in details so you can plan the carry before you pack the boxes.