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.