Photography reference guides · PDF

Printed references for the shoot in front of you.

Novaris Photo Guides are downloadable PDFs of shot lists, lighting setup diagrams, posing references, settings charts, and planning worksheets, each organized around one kind of photography. They are reference and planning pages to use while you work, not courses or lessons.

  • 6guides
  • 2page sizes
  • PDFprint-ready
  • 14day refunds
Illustration of a lens aperture slowly opening and closing, with warm light behind it
  • 01AShot lists
  • 02ALighting setup diagrams
  • 03APosing references
  • 04ASettings charts
  • 05APlanning worksheets
  • 06ATimeline templates
  • 07AScouting worksheets
  • 08AGear checklists
  • 09AClient questionnaires
  • 10ARun-of-show sheets
01The guides

Six guides, one for each kind of work

Each guide collects the reference pages for one kind of photography in a single PDF. Open any guide to see its full contents, preview illustrations of representative pages, and who it suits before you buy.

Portrait Session Guide

Shot lists by session type, posing reference diagrams, natural-light and one- or two-light setups, and client session planning sheets.

$34 US dollars

Wedding Day Guide

Full-day timeline templates, shot lists by phase, a family formals grouping planner, a venue scouting worksheet, a gear checklist, and a client questionnaire.

$52 US dollars

Product Photography Guide

Tabletop lighting setups, background and surface reference, shot lists for standard e-commerce angles, and settings charts for common scenarios.

$39 US dollars

Landscape & Travel Field Guide

Location scouting worksheets, sunrise and sunset planning sheets, composition reference, field settings charts, and a gear checklist, plus a pocket format for a camera bag.

$29 US dollars

Event Coverage Guide

Shot lists for corporate events, parties, and conferences, low-light settings reference, flash setups, and run-of-show planning sheets.

$44 US dollars
02Inside a guide

The pages you'll print

Every guide is built from a small set of page types. Choose one to see an illustration of its layout, and select a page to enlarge it.

Two-light portrait: key and fillTop-down diagram with a backdrop at the top, the subject in the center, a softbox key light at 45 degrees to camera left, a reflector for fill on the right, and the camera at the bottom, followed by placement notes. LIGHTING SETUPS Two-light portrait: key and fill BackdropSubjectKey — softboxFill — reflectorCameraNOTESKey: 45° camera left, slightly above eye lineFill: opposite side, close enough to soften shadowBackdrop: leave space to avoid spill Novaris Photo Guides
Lighting diagrams · from the Portrait Session Guide
Shot list: ceremonyA ceremony shot list with a position column and checkboxes, listing shots from the empty venue through the processional, vows, rings, kiss, and recessional. SHOT LISTS BY PHASE Shot list: ceremony SHOTPOSITIONDONEVenue before guests arriveBackGuests arrivingEntrancePartner waiting at the frontAisleProcessionalAisleReactions at first sightFront sideVows, wide and tightSideRing exchangeSideFirst kissAisleRecessionalAisleADDED ON THE DAY Novaris Photo Guides
Shot lists · from the Wedding Day Guide
Sunrise and sunset planning sheetA planning sheet with fields for location, date, sunrise, sunset, golden hour and blue hour times, a compass diagram with sunrise and sunset directions marked, fields for bearings, weather and arrival time, and lines for composition ideas. SUNRISE AND SUNSET PLANNING Sunrise and sunset planning sheet LOCATIONDATESUNRISESUNSETGOLDEN HOUR (AM)GOLDEN HOUR (PM)BLUE HOUR (AM)BLUE HOUR (PM)SUN DIRECTIONNESWSunrise bearingSunset bearingCloud and weatherArrive byCOMPOSITION IDEAS Novaris Photo Guides
Planning worksheets · from the Landscape & Travel Field Guide
Settings: common scenariosA chart listing tabletop scenarios with starting aperture, shutter speed, and ISO for each, a reminder that values are starting points, and lines for your own adjustments. SETTINGS REFERENCE Settings: common scenarios SCENARIOAPERTURESHUTTERISOWhite sweepf/8–f/111/125100Reflective itemf/81/125100Flat layf/5.6–f/81/125100Small detailf/11–f/161/125100–200Continuous lightf/81/60200–400Dark productf/81/125100Starting points with a tripod and controlled light.Adjust for your light output, distance, and lens.MY ADJUSTMENTS Novaris Photo Guides
Settings charts · from the Product Photography Guide
03Included in every guide

What you get with each guide

Every guide follows the same format, so the pages work the same way whichever guide you open.

Two page sizes

Each guide comes as a US Letter PDF and an A4 PDF, so it prints at full size on standard paper in North America and elsewhere.

Flat, print-ready PDFs

The files are flat PDFs laid out for printing. They aren't editable or fillable; print the pages you need and write on them.

Reference pages, not lessons

Shot lists, diagrams, charts, and worksheets to consult during planning and on the job. No video, no course modules, no critique.

Brand-neutral throughout

Gear checklists and setups describe equipment by type, such as a softbox or a reflector, never by manufacturer or model.

Use in your own work

Use the guides in personal and commercial photography, print them as often as you need for your own use, and share client-facing worksheets with your clients.

Simple refunds

Ask for a full refund within 14 days of purchase, with no reason required and nothing to return.

Page types in each guide
GuideShot listsLighting setupsPosing referencesSettings chartsPlanning worksheetsGear checklist
Portrait SessionIncludedIncludedIncludedNot includedIncludedNot included
Wedding DayIncludedNot includedNot includedNot includedIncludedIncluded
Product PhotographyIncludedIncludedNot includedIncludedNot includedNot included
Landscape & Travel FieldNot includedNot includedNot includedIncludedIncludedIncluded
Event CoverageIncludedIncludedNot includedIncludedIncludedNot included
Complete Reference LibraryAll of the above, in all five guides
04Purchase and delivery

How buying a guide works

Everything is digital. There is no account to create and nothing is shipped.

  1. Review the guide

    Each guide's page lists its full contents, formats, price, and who it is and isn't for.

  2. Pay at checkout

    Payment is handled by a third-party payment provider. Applicable taxes are calculated at checkout.

  3. Download right away

    A download link is emailed immediately after payment and shown on the order confirmation screen.

  4. Print what you need

    Choose the US Letter or A4 file and print the pages for the job in front of you.

Read the Delivery Policy and Refund Policy for the details.

05Questions

Common questions

How do I get my guide after buying?

A download link is emailed to you immediately after payment and is also shown on the order confirmation screen. There is nothing shipped. See the Delivery Policy for details.

Are the guides editable or fillable?

No. The guides are flat PDFs designed to be printed and written on. They can't be edited or filled in on screen.

Can I use the client questionnaires and worksheets with my clients?

Yes. Your license covers use in your own photography work, including sharing worksheets designed for clients, such as questionnaires, with your own clients. The Terms of Service set out the full license.

What if I change my mind?

You can request a full refund within 14 days of purchase, with no reason required. Email novarissupportmails@gmail.com with your order number. See the Refund Policy.

Read all questions

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