skyyrose-social-product-photography-brief

name	skyyrose-social-product-photography-brief
description	Produces a photographer-ready product shoot brief for SkyyRose e-commerce — garment-specific shot list, angle specs, lighting and background direction per collection, WooCommerce/social platform image requirements, and file naming — for assets that feed skyyrose.co PDPs and the Elite Studio pipeline.
allowed-tools	Read Write Edit Glob

SkyyRose Social — Product Photography Brief

When to Use This Skill

• Briefing a photographer for WooCommerce product detail page (PDP) images
• Planning garment-specific shots for a new drop (flat lay, on-body, detail macros)
• Preparing product images for IG Feed, Pinterest, and social ad use
• Defining background, lighting, and styling direction per collection for a tabletop or studio session
• Producing catalog-compliant imagery that feeds skyyrose/elite_studio and the WooCommerce media library
• Building a repeatable shot template across multiple products in the same collection

DO NOT use this for lifestyle/editorial/campaign brand shoots — use skyyrose-social-brand-photography-brief for sessions featuring talent, Oakland locations, and brand storytelling. This skill is for garment-centric product photography: the shots that live on the PDP and convert the buyer.

---

Brand Canon (non-negotiable)

• The Five visual references — pull from these exclusively: Kith (editorial product storytelling, elevated retail polish), Oaklandish (authentic town pride visible even in product styling), Culture Kings (bold streetwear merchandising, hype-energy presentation), Fear of God (quiet luxury — let the garment speak through restraint), Palm Angels (street-luxe graphic confidence, garment as statement). Never Bottega Veneta, Hedi Slimane, Rick Owens, 032c, Acne, Givenchy-by-Tisci, or any European luxury-house aesthetic in product photography. Wrong brand DNA.
• Lockup images, never live type: The collection name must never appear as typed text in any product photo. If a hero crop will receive a collection-name overlay, leave clean negative space at the top of frame — the lockup asset from assets/images/hero-overlays/ (BR/LH/SIG) or assets/images/logos/ (Kids) is composited at the Elite Studio stage.
• Per-collection background and lighting: Black Rose = dark/concrete, cool-dramatic. Love Hurts = deep red-brick or dark surfaces, crimson-warm. Signature = warm wood, natural stone, golden tone. Kids Capsule = clean, bright, warm-neutral.
• Color tokens: Rose Gold #B76E79, Dark #0A0A0A, Silver #C0C0C0, Crimson #DC143C, Gold #D4AF37.
• Products referenced by NAME, not SKU. "Black Rose Crewneck" in the brief — not "br-001." Photographers don't know the internal catalog.
• Product facts from catalog only. Never invent colorways, materials, or features. Resolve against wordpress-theme/skyyrose-flagship/data/skyyrose-catalog.csv before briefing.
• Full canon: ../skyyrose-content-engine/brand-guardrails.md

---

Shot Types Reference

Shot Type	Purpose	Primary Destination
Hero front	First impression, PDP main image	WooCommerce thumbnail, IG square
Hero angle	Depth, shape, garment dimension	PDP gallery slot 2
Back view	Full garment — rear construction, brand mark	PDP gallery slot 3
Detail / macro	Fabric texture, print, embroidery, hardware	PDP gallery, social close-up
Flat lay	Clean editorial, collection grouping	Pinterest 2:3, editorial
On-body	Fit, drape, proportion — hands/partial model	PDP gallery, IG 4:5, social ads
Scale / fit reference	Shows real garment size on a person	PDP, reduces returns
Lifestyle in-use	Garment worn in context	IG Feed, social ads
Packaging / unboxing	Brand experience, delivery moment	IG Stories, email
Collection group	Multiple pieces from same collection	Collection page header

---

Phase 1: Product and Platform Intake

Gather these before producing a brief. If the user has already provided them, proceed to Phase 2.

Input	Question	Notes
Product name	What is the product? (by NAME)	e.g. "Black Rose Crewneck" — resolve against catalog CSV
Collection	Which collection?	Sets background/lighting direction
Variants	Colors, sizes featured?	Repeat shot list per variant that differs visually
Key selling points	What must the photos prove?	Fabric quality, fit, print detail, hardware
Buyer questions	What do customers ask before buying?	Size/fit, material, how it looks worn — inform shot selection
Platform destinations	WooCommerce PDP, IG Feed, Pinterest, ads?	Determines crop ratios required
Talent	Flat lay only, hands/partial, or full model?	Affects category coverage
Session scope	How many products? Single product deep-dive or catalog sweep?	Single: 10-14 shots. Catalog: build repeatable 7-shot template

GATE: Do not proceed without product name and collection confirmed.

---

Phase 2: Per-Collection Background and Lighting Direction

Apply the correct collection direction to every shot in the brief. Do not blend or improvise.

Black Rose — Dark Precision

• Hero background: Dark concrete (#0A0A0A), dark slate, or matte black seamless
• Lifestyle background: Concrete wall, raw industrial surface, dark wood
• Lighting (hero/flat lay): Dual softbox at 45 degrees, slight edge light from above to separate dark garment from dark ground; fill card below for shadow detail
• Lighting (detail): Single key from left at 30 degrees, raking across texture; no fill — let shadow define the weave or print
• Lighting (lifestyle/on-body): Low-key; one softbox camera-left, no rim light unless needed to define silhouette
• Styling notes: Silver hardware and accessories only. No gold. No warm props.
• AVOID: White backgrounds, warm color grading, soft-light evenly-lit look

Love Hurts — Crimson Heat

• Hero background: Deep red brick (if prop available), dark maroon seamless, or black
• Lifestyle background: Cracked sidewalk, red-brick alley wall, dark wood with crimson accent prop
• Lighting (hero/flat lay): Dual softbox; acceptable to use a subtle red-gel fill on one side to add warmth to shadow areas on dark garments
• Lighting (detail): Directional from left, warm color temp — let crimson elements glow slightly
• Lighting (lifestyle): Warm dramatic — dusk light or warm strobe with slight red cast
• Styling notes: Crimson accessories, red-toned props acceptable (not Valentine's florals — think raw, urban red)
• AVOID: Pink or pastel props, Valentine's Day clichés, soft-focus romance aesthetics

Signature — West Coast Gold

• Hero background: Warm cream, natural stone, warm white seamless, light-toned wood
• Lifestyle background: Warm wood desk, cream linen, golden-hour outdoor
• Lighting (hero/flat lay): Natural window light or softbox with warm gel; even and bright; slight shadow on right for dimension
• Lighting (detail): Warm directional — morning window light from left reveals texture without harshness
• Lighting (lifestyle): Natural golden hour outdoor, or warm studio approximation
• Styling notes: Gold jewelry, warm leather goods as props. Neutral wood and linen surfaces.
• AVOID: Cool or blue-toned lighting, industrial or dark backgrounds, anything that reads Black Rose

Kids Capsule — Bright Royalty

• Hero background: White seamless, warm white, or soft cream
• Lifestyle background: Clean park setting, Oakland mural wall (if color-consistent), warm-neutral studio
• Lighting (hero/flat lay): Bright and even — dual softbox, white reflectors, no dramatic shadow; kids' pieces need clarity
• Lighting (detail): Soft directional, minimal shadow, high brightness
• Lifestyle: Natural outdoor light, morning or overcast — never direct harsh sun
• Styling notes: Rose gold and neutral accessories. Clean, bright surfaces. Props: minimal — a ball, a book, a simple toy (nothing branded outside SkyyRose)
• AVOID: Dark backgrounds, dramatic/moody lighting, adult editorial aesthetics

---

Phase 3: Build the Shot List

Standard 7-Shot Catalog Template (use for catalog sweeps)

All seven are required for every product added to the WooCommerce catalog. This is the minimum viable set.

Priority	Shot	Description	Framing	Lighting	Background
1	Hero front	Garment centered, straight-on, main face visible	Product fills 75% of frame, centered	[Per-collection, see Phase 2]	[Per-collection]
2	Hero angle	3/4 view from left showing depth and shape	30-degree angle, medium	Dual softbox, slight shadow right	[Per-collection]
3	Back view	Full reverse side — rear construction, brand label if exterior	Straight-on, same framing as hero front	Match hero front lighting	Same as hero
4	Detail — primary	Fabric texture, print, embroidery, or hardware — whichever is the key selling point	Macro, tight crop	Raking directional at 30 degrees	Neutral/blurred
5	Flat lay	Garment laid flat, folded or spread — clean editorial	Overhead, centered	Even overhead, diffused	[Per-collection surface — see Phase 2]
6	On-body scale	Garment worn — hands/partial model to show fit and drape	Medium, waist-up or full body depending on garment	[Per-collection lifestyle lighting]	[Per-collection location/bg]
7	Lifestyle in-use	Garment worn in a real SkyyRose context	Medium-wide, environmental	[Per-collection]	[Per-collection location]

Extended Shot List (single-product deep-dive — add to the 7-shot base)

#	Shot	Description	Notes
8	Detail — secondary	Second construction detail (e.g. tag, zipper, collar rib)	Always specify framing + lighting
9	Folded / packaged	Garment folded as shipped, with tissue or packaging visible	For email/unboxing content
10	Variant comparison	Two colorways side by side	If product has variants — shows difference clearly
11	Collection group	Product alongside 1-2 other pieces from same collection	Collection page use
12	Close-up on-body detail	Zoom on a feature while garment is being worn (collar on neck, cuff at wrist)	PDP gallery, social detail content

---

Phase 4: Platform Image Requirements

Specify which crops are needed per session. SkyyRose WooCommerce and social destinations:

Destination	Format	Dimensions	Notes
WooCommerce PDP main	Square	2048×2048px minimum	Product fills 75%+ of frame; consistent background across all PDP mains
WooCommerce PDP gallery	Square	2048×2048px	Gallery slots 2-5; consistent background preferred
Instagram Feed	4:5	1080×1350px	Lifestyle/on-body shots; dominant format for product social
Instagram Feed square	1:1	1080×1080px	Hero front product shots; carousel slide use
Instagram Story / Reel cover	9:16	1080×1920px	Lifestyle crops; leave safe zone top/bottom for UI
Pinterest	2:3	1000×1500px	Flat lay and editorial crops; keyword-rich link to WC product page
Email header	3:1	1200×400px	Crop from hero or lifestyle for email campaigns

Deliver all crops for hero and lifestyle shots. Detail and macro shots: square crop only.

---

Phase 5: Format the Brief

Compile into a single photographer-ready document with these sections:

1. Product overview (name, collection, variant count, key selling points)
2. Session scope (shot list type: 7-shot catalog or extended)
3. Visual direction (background, lighting, styling — per-collection from Phase 2)
4. Shot list (table with all shots: description, framing, lighting, background)
5. Platform image requirements (dimension table, file specs)
6. Styling notes (props, surfaces, human elements, AVOID list)
7. File naming convention
8. Elite Studio pipeline notes

---

Artifact specification

The skill produces a single photographer-ready product brief document. Structure:

# SkyyRose Product Photography Brief — [Product Name]
## Product Overview (name, collection, variants, key selling points)
## Session Scope (7-shot catalog / extended deep-dive)
## Visual Direction (background, lighting, styling, AVOID list — per-collection)
## Shot List (priority table: shot, description, framing, lighting, background)
## Platform Image Requirements (WooCommerce PDP, IG, Pinterest — dimensions)
## Styling Notes (props, surfaces, human elements, AVOID list)
## File Naming Convention
## Elite Studio Pipeline Notes

---

Example

Request: "Product photography brief for the Black Rose Crewneck. WooCommerce PDP + IG Feed. No model — flat lay and detail shots only for this session."

---

SkyyRose Product Photography Brief — Black Rose Crewneck

Product: Black Rose Crewneck Collection: Black Rose Variants: [resolve against catalog CSV before shoot] Key selling points: Brand mark/embroidery on chest, premium cotton construction, Black Rose script detailing Session scope: 7-shot catalog template, flat lay and detail focus (no model) Platforms: WooCommerce PDP, Instagram Feed (4:5), Pinterest (2:3)

---

Image Requirements

Destination	Dimensions	Format	Notes
WooCommerce PDP main	2048×2048 minimum	JPEG, sRGB	Product centered, consistent background
WooCommerce PDP gallery	2048×2048	JPEG, sRGB	Slots 2-5; match main background
Instagram Feed 4:5	1080×1350	JPEG	Detail and flat lay crops
Pinterest 2:3	1000×1500	JPEG	Flat lay, linked to WC product page

---

Visual Direction — Black Rose

Background (hero/flat lay): Matte black seamless or dark concrete surface Background (detail): Neutral dark surface — let the garment fill the frame Lighting (hero/flat lay): Dual softbox at 45 degrees each side; edge light from above or behind to separate black crewneck from black ground; white fill card below to add shadow detail without hot spots Lighting (detail macros): Single directional key at 30 degrees from left — raking across embroidery or fabric weave. No fill. Shadow is texture. Color temperature: Cool-neutral throughout. No warm grade. Styling: No props. The crewneck is the protagonist. Dark slate or concrete surface only. No linen, no wood, no warm textures. AVOID: White backgrounds (not this collection — use for Kids or Signature only), warm-toned surfaces, any prop that reads "lifestyle" or soft

---

Shot List

#	Shot Type	Description	Framing	Lighting	Background
1	Hero front	Crewneck centered, crew neck visible, chest embroidery/print centered	Straight-on, product fills 75%, overhead slightly above	Dual softbox 45-degree, edge light above, fill card below	Matte black seamless
2	Hero angle	3/4 view from left showing sleeve seam, shoulder shape, and body width	30-degree angle, medium	Dual softbox, slight shadow on right for depth	Matte black seamless
3	Back view	Full reverse side — rear construction, back hem, any back brand mark	Straight-on, match hero front framing	Match hero front	Matte black seamless
4	Detail — embroidery/print	Chest embroidery or screen-print close-up — thread quality and placement	Macro, tight crop — 4-6 inch area	Single key from left at 30 degrees, raking; no fill	Neutral dark, blurred
5	Detail — fabric texture	Fabric weave or knit texture on torso area	Macro, 2-3 inch area	Raking light at low angle from left — shadow defines texture	Neutral dark, blurred
6	Flat lay — full garment	Crewneck laid flat, folded collar up slightly to show neck opening, sleeves extended	Overhead, centered, garment fills 70% of frame	Even overhead diffused; dual softbox overhead with diffusion panel	Dark concrete surface or matte black
7	Detail — label/tag	Interior label or brand tag — visible and legible	Macro, fabric pulled slightly to expose label at angle	Single soft key from above; natural if possible	Dark fabric as background

---

Styling Notes

Props: None for this session. Black Rose product photography uses the garment as the sole subject. Surfaces: Matte black seamless (hero shots). Dark concrete or slate (flat lay and detail). Human elements: None for this session. If hands are added in a follow-up session: matte dark fabric sleeve or bare hand — no warm-toned knit. AVOID:

• Shiny or reflective surfaces that create hot spots on dark matte fabric
• Warm or golden color grading — this is Black Rose, not Signature
• Props that soften the aesthetic (candles, foliage, coffee mugs)
• Overhead flash that flattens the embroidery texture — raking light is required for detail shots
• Stock-photo flat-lay arrangements with scattered accessories

---

File Naming Convention

{collection-slug}-{product-slug}-{shot-type}-{sequence}-{crop}.jpg

Examples:

• black-rose-crewneck-hero-front-01-square.jpg
• black-rose-crewneck-detail-embroidery-04-square.jpg
• black-rose-crewneck-flat-lay-06-2x3.jpg

All lowercase. Hyphens only. No spaces.

---

Deliverables

• RAW + edited JPEG (minimum 2048px on shortest side for all catalog shots)
• Color grading: cool-neutral, consistent across all Black Rose shots in this session. No warm shift.
• Retouching: remove lint, sensor dust, and fiber artifacts. No background cleanup beyond what's already clean. Preserve fabric texture — no heavy smoothing.
• Crops per shot: square (1:1), 4:5, 2:3 from all flat lay and hero shots
• Delivery: Drive folder organized as black-rose / crewneck / hero, black-rose / crewneck / detail, black-rose / crewneck / flat-lay
• Timeline: confirm with photographer at brief handoff

Elite Studio Pipeline Notes

All delivered assets flow into skyyrose/elite_studio for WooCommerce media upload and social pipeline compositing. Deliver to the designated Elite Studio intake folder.

Do NOT burn the "Black Rose" collection name text into any product photo — the brand-script lockup from assets/images/hero-overlays/ is composited at the Elite Studio stage for hero frames that need a title treatment.

---

Anti-Patterns

• Never use a white background for Black Rose or Love Hurts product shots. White background = Kids Capsule or Signature (light variants only). Applying white to Black Rose destroys the collection's visual identity in the catalog.
• Never type-render the collection name in the product photo. The lockup image from assets/images/hero-overlays/ is composited by Elite Studio — burning it into photography makes it uncorrectable.
• Never pull European luxury-house product photography aesthetics. No Bottega-style hand-draped fabric in soft Venetian light, no Rick Owens negative space minimalism, no Acne Studio sterile Scandinavian white. Pull from the Five: Kith, Oaklandish, Culture Kings, Fear of God, Palm Angels.
• Never reference the product by SKU in the brief. "Black Rose Crewneck" — not "br-001." The brief goes to photographers; SKU-first causes set confusion and has caused product conflations before.
• Never invent product details. If a selling point or feature isn't confirmed in the catalog CSV or a dossier, don't include it in the brief. Don't describe embroidery that doesn't exist.
• Never apply warm color grading to Black Rose or Love Hurts shots. Collection identity lives in the color tone. A warm grade accidentally applied to Black Rose makes it read Signature.
• Never skip the scale/fit shot (on-body) for apparel, even if this session is flat-lay focused. Schedule it for a follow-up if model isn't available — but note the gap in the brief so the PDP isn't launched with only flat lay.
• Never submit a brief without an AVOID list. Photographers unfamiliar with SkyyRose will default to their own aesthetic vocabulary. The AVOID list is what prevents a Fashion Nova or Zara product-photo aesthetic from entering the catalog.
• Never cross background/lighting direction between collections. If running a mixed-collection session, shoot all Black Rose shots consecutively before changing the set to Signature. Never mix backgrounds on the same shoot day without a deliberate set change.
• Never deliver product images with visible pricing tags or non-SkyyRose branding. Check for hangtags, external labels, and other-brand props in every frame before delivery.

---

Recovery

• Photographer defaults to white background for all shots: Catch this at the brief review, not on shoot day. Include the collection background direction prominently in the brief header, not buried in a table. Send a reference image for the exact background type before the session.
• Dark fabric disappears into dark background (Black Rose): Add edge lighting — a strobe or LED strip from directly above or slightly behind the garment to create a thin separation rim. Adjust, don't switch backgrounds.
• Macro detail shots look flat (no texture): The key light angle is wrong. Move it lower and more to the side — raking light must be at 20-30 degrees, not 45 or above. If natural light, move the product to catch a sharper angle from the window.
• Garment has multiple colorways and time is short: Shoot the hero front for all colorways first (same setup, swap the garment, don't move lights). Then add angle/back/detail shots for the hero colorway in depth. Catalog requires a hero for each variant — everything else is additive.
• Brief handed to a photographer who has never shot streetwear: Add five reference images from the Five (one from each brand) to the physical brief packet. Visual references override a paragraph of description every time.
• Delivered shots have wrong color grading: Return to photographer with collection color direction from this brief before requesting a reshoot. Most grading errors are fixable in post — full reshoot is last resort.