What Professional Product Photography Means to You

From small internet ads to major billboards, product photography is all around us. You can find it with virtually any business that sells items in retail shops to local customers or on the internet to consumers around the world. Professional product photography has grown over the past several decades to become a high-art form that is even celebrated with some works being put on display.
For businesses, having their products presented in the right manner can be make or break. This means that the impact of this form of photography is underappreciated even though it is found almost everywhere.

Effective Marketing
The use of product photographs began well over a century ago to a time when hand-drawn art was used to present all types of goods. When advances in both photography and the reproduction of photos in publications reached a level of quality that could be appreciated by marketers and consumers, it began to take over the industry.
By the mid-20th century, photographs were the primary source of product advertisement, having taken over from old-fashioned hand-drawn representations. The influence that the photograph had on all types of product-oriented businesses was immeasurable. The introduction of color photography helped advance the presentation of products into what we see today.


Art
In the mid-1960s, Andy Warhol collected various cans of Campbell’s soup and created unforgettable works of art that still permeate the culture today. His inspiration came from the photography of products at the time and influenced a generation in how they see products in photographs. For the photographer who takes photos of products, when done correctly it is a form of art in terms of the overall presentation.

The use of light, color, and composition combined with the setting creates a presentation that catches the eye and moves the viewer in some form. It may be a simple reminder about the product itself up to seeing the product in a new light. This is why the photographing of products is a specialty within the photography industry.


Evolution of Photography
Today, the creation of the internet and digital photography has brought about many changes in how products are photographed, but the basic elements are still the same. With digital photography, the photographs can be seen and evaluated instantly instead of having to wait for development. This has increased the speed and efficiency of photography in general.

When combined with the various filters, effects, and presented on the internet, this form of photography has taken on a whole new life. Now, a new generation can see and experience the presentation of products like never before. Plus, the lowering of the cost makes this type of photography easily within the grasp of the smallest businesses.

Professional product photography is an essential element in the marketing process of items sold to the public. From the large-scale displays, down to tiny thumbnails on web pages, proper product photography has an impact that is felt just as often as it is seen. For any company that sells products, having them properly presented in photographs is a necessity for their business.

How You Can Start a Career in Professional Product Photography

The world of photography offers many different career choices, but one of the most profitable is taking pictures of products. Professional product photography is a lucrative field for several reasons, but mostly because your services will always be in demand. As long as businesses sell products, there will be a need for product shots for their marketing efforts.

Many product photographers earn a considerable amount of money and enjoy plenty of freedom that their work provides. Getting started takes effort, commitment, and the right equipment, but anyone who dedicates themselves to this line of work may reap large rewards if they approach it in the proper manner.

Get the Space

Most product photographers have their own studios which makes it far easier for them to land assignments. Keep in mind that a studio is really just a room that you can use to set up the lights, equipment, and products so you can get the proper photographs taken. Many will use their garage, a shed in their backyard, or an extra room in their home so they can take photos of small products.

Buy or Make the Equipment

Like all photographers, you’ll need a professional camera, lights, tripods, and backdrops. You’ll also need an infinity screen which is a background that has no corners or lines so that the product stands out in the photographs. Creating an infinity screen is easy and cheap, so you can have it at the ready when needed.

Create a Portfolio

Your portfolio sells your services, so create one that uses small and large products. You’ll want to show off your ability to take excellent photographs of products from small items up to automobiles. A good sample of different size photos that represent everyday household items, furnishing, and up to cars or trucks should provide you with enough material to help sell your services. Be sure it is easily available online so that prospective buyers can see it.

Get Experience

This is arguably the toughest area that you will need to acquire in terms of becoming a respected professional at product photography. This will mean a combination of volunteer work where you take photographs of products from those you know and working with other photographers when they need another camera to take additional photographs for their projects.

You’ll need to do a little networking and maybe delve into other areas of the photography to get the experience necessary so that you will have the testimonials and references that help establish your services. As with any professional photographer, you will need to cultivate a reputation of providing high quality work in a reasonable amount of time. Plus, you’ll need to be punctual and pace yourself deliberately so that you can get the work accomplished to your customer’s satisfaction.

For those who are considering getting involved in professional product photography, it pays to attend a few product shots so you can see how the business operates first-hand. By taking a few assignments where you can observe what is happening, you’ll know whether this type of photography is right for you. 

Tips for Product Photographers

For those who aspire to be product photographers, it is an art form that is not quite like many other common forms of photography such as portraits, weddings and the like. The essence of photographing products is to put them in the best light while using methods that do not involve any distraction from the item being photographed. 

What follows are tips to help you create the best product photographs. The good news about photographing most products is that you do not need expensive equipment beyond your camera and a small studio to make your work really stand out. 

Use a Tripod or Support

Proper photographing of products requires pictures that are absolutely clear with no blur lines. You can only achieve this with the use of a tripod or supporting device that takes away all the motion that you would otherwise impose on the camera. Solid and steady provides you with maximum photographic quality. 

Create an Infinity Curve

This simple, yet effective background is easy to make. You’ll need a long, rectangular sheet of white paper or fabric that bends upward behind the item in question. The product itself will sit on the flat part providing you with a clean background that has no lines. You can photograph a number of different items using this particular background. 

Keep it Clean 

Filters are certainly tempting, but the effects that they create actually do not serve the product well. Customers want to see the product as cleanly as possible so that they can make the decision to buy. Filters, lighting effects and other tricks only create the impression that the item is being augmented which serves as an unnecessary distractions. Keep your photographs as clean and simple as possible. 

Use Soft Lighting

This is a basic rule for most products that are of small to moderate size. Soft lighting removes the hard edges from the products so that you do not get hard shadows that either cover part of the item itself or extend outwards that can be distracting. You can create soft lighting through the use of a flash diffuser or simply taping a white plastic bag around the flash unit itself. Plus, you can also shoot some products outdoors if they fit the theme or just photograph them with sunlight coming in through large, clear windows.

Let the Product Tell the Story

The product you shoot should not only be the centerpiece of the photograph, it should normally be the only thing that is in the picture. There are exceptions to this rule, but generally speaking the product should speak for itself and not be accompanied by anything else unless there is a very good reason. One exception is that if you have a product that comes in different colors. You can take individual photos of each and then combine some in a group photograph. 

Becoming a product photographer can be quite profitable once you have established your reputation as there is a high demand for this type of service. By following these tips, you can create the best product photographs using the equipment you have.