Booking a product shoot shouldn’t feel like piecing together a puzzle.

Over the years, we’ve watched how creative teams, founders, and brand managers spend hours explaining what they need, attaching references, and answering the same questions — just to get the first quote. That process was slowing everyone down.

So we rebuilt it.

Introducing the new Squareshot Brief — a guided, interactive form that helps you define your project clearly, share your creative vision, and move from idea to production faster than ever before.

The Brief is now the starting point for every Squareshot project — whether it’s a product photography, model shoot, or AI campaign. It translates your creative intent into precise production data, eliminating friction for both sides.

Why We Built the New Brief

As Alex Davidovich, Squareshot’s co-founder, explains:

“For years, we saw clients and producers lose time clarifying the same details — product angles, lighting preferences, file specs. The new Brief removes that friction. It helps clients turn ideas into structured production data, so we can start scheduling within hours instead of days.”

Behind this rebuild is a simple goal: make starting a project as easy as sending a message, but structured enough to guide a full-scale production.

For context, every Squareshot project used to begin with a mix of emails, attachments, and manually created templates. Each client described their needs differently. One would send Dropbox folders of references, another would paste product SKUs into a spreadsheet, and another would describe everything in a long email thread. Producers spent hours interpreting these details into a workable shot list.

The new Brief was designed to fix that for good.

It’s not just a form — it’s an intelligent framework that:

1. Speeds up onboarding — Clients can now launch shoots in hours, not days.
2. Standardizes information — Producers receive clean, structured data ready for quoting and scheduling.
3. Improves creative alignment — By prompting users to describe mood, background, and styling upfront, it reduces misunderstandings and reshoots.

The result: a smoother start, fewer emails, faster delivery.

How It Works

The Brief walks you through only what’s essential. Each section adapts based on your service type and project format, so you only see what’s relevant.

1. Choose Your Service and Project Type

Select the kind of visuals you need:

• Product Photography, Model Photography, or join a waitlist for AI Services
• Choose between Per-Image or Hourly shoot structure

This initial step defines how your project will be organized — from pricing to deliverables.

2. Build or Upload a Shot List

The shot list is the foundation of every shoot — and now it’s more flexible than ever.

You can build your shot list directly in the Brief and upload an existing file at the same time. Both versions stay visible and editable, giving you a complete overview of your project in one place.

Inside the Brief, you can:

• Add product names, desired angles, and styling notes so our team understands exactly what to capture.
• Choose reference images from our gallery, each with clearly marked prices, or upload your own references for review. Once approved, their prices are automatically reflected in your Brief.
• Upload photos of your actual products to help our team align styling and lighting choices before production begins.

This structured yet flexible setup ensures nothing gets lost in translation — from your creative intent to the final quote.

3. Model Settings

For model shoots, clients can now access the full Squareshot model database — a curated roster of professionals regularly booked for our productions. You can add one or multiple models to your project directly through the Brief, review outfit sourcing options, and instantly see associated rates.

Outfits can be provided either by Squareshot or by your team. If Squareshot handles styling, each outfit is priced and itemized within the Brief, giving you full cost transparency before production starts.

4. Final Steps Before Submission

Once your creative direction and shot list are set, the Brief walks you through the final steps to complete your project setup — from add-ons to confirmation.

You can now add extra services like steaming, assembling, or various levels of retouching directly within the Brief and instantly see how each one affects your total. Every option comes with transparent per-item pricing, allowing you to finalize all production details without additional emails or manual quotes.

If you prefer to align live, you can also book a kickoff call with your producer and lead photographer right from the same interface. This step helps clarify creative direction before production begins and ensures smoother approvals later.

Before submitting, you’ll be guided to a Review & Confirm page summarizing key project terms — including revision, cancellation, and refund policies, as well as shipping requirements. This final check guarantees full transparency so you know exactly how your project will proceed before sending products to the studio.

After You Submit the Brief

Once your Brief is submitted, the platform keeps you informed at every step of the process.

You’ll see an instant confirmation screen showing your project status and estimated review time — our team typically responds within 24 hours. From there, you can track progress directly in your client dashboard, including delivery address details, shipment tracking, and turnaround updates.

We notify you at key milestones: when your package is received, when it’s inspected, and when production begins. Each notification includes helpful links on preparation and shipping to ensure your products are ready for a smooth shoot.

This end-to-end visibility means you’re never left wondering where your project stands — every stage, from submission to delivery, is documented and accessible in one place.

What This Changes for Clients

The new Brief was built to eliminate friction — from onboarding to approvals.

Here’s what that means in practice:

• No more email chains. Every piece of information — from shot lists to creative references — lives in one place.
• No guesswork. Each field is designed to clarify exactly what our producers need to start.
• No delays. Submissions sync directly with our internal production system, so scheduling can start the same day.
• No lost progress. Every Brief is automatically saved as a draft in your client dashboard, so you can return to it anytime without re-entering details.

In short, you’ll spend less time describing your needs and more time watching them come to life.

What This Changes for Our Team

While the Brief was designed for clients, it also transforms how our internal teams work.

For producers and photographers, it brings structure. The data submitted through the Brief automatically populates our quoting and scheduling systems, reducing manual input and the potential for errors.

For account managers, it provides instant context. Each Brief gives a complete picture of what the client expects — from visual style to logistics — making communication faster and more precise.

For our operations team, it builds consistency. Every project now starts with standardized inputs, which means better tracking, easier coordination across studios, and faster turnaround on deliverables.

A Simpler Way to Start Any Shoot

At Squareshot, we’ve always believed that great visuals start with structure.

The new Brief is our way of turning that belief into a process. It’s the bridge between your ideas and our execution, guiding you from concept to delivery with fewer steps and more precision.

Whether you’re launching a product line, refreshing your catalog, or testing our AI services, the Brief helps you get there faster.

Ready to start your next project?