After investing in the design and manufacture of an item, your next step is to put it in front of potential buyers. This step is the make-or-break moment. Unless you present it in an appealing way that catches the eyes a purchaser, they won’t appreciate its value. They will scroll past your item and buy one from your competitor instead. To stop someone in their tracks and have them choose the items you have for sale, they must be photographed in a way that makes them irresistible. This is the aim of a product photo shoot. Shooting product photography may appear easy, but making items look their best takes planning, appropriate equipment, and specific skills behind the camera.
Who Needs a Product Photo Shoot?
It’s almost impossible to sell something that a buyer can’t see. A buyer needs to look at the dimensions, the shape, and the color of the object you are promoting so they can visualize it in their life. And the better the photography of that item, the more they can evaluate how well it fits their needs. But it goes way beyond that! When your product is photographed in high resolution, and with clarity and style, it drives the desire for your product to a whole new level. This alluring image can then be used in a catalog, a brochure, or on your website. Very few people click on photo shoot images that are blurred, too dark, or pixelated, so make sure you hire a professional photographer who has the experience to provide the best results for you. E-commerce platforms such as e-Bay and Etsy are full of items that people want to sell quickly, and the nicer the photos, the faster they sell.
Two Types of Product Photography
Two Types of Product PhotographyThe type of product you have, combined with how you intend to advertise it, determines the type of product photography you need. If you have an item that you are selling online or in a basic catalog, a simple e-commerce shoot with good lighting and a plain, white background is suitable. In this situation, you only need to clearly show the product from a few different angles.
Lifestyle photos are the opposite. This style of product photo shoot places the item amongst other objects to suggest how it can be used. Lifestyle product photography looks natural and inviting; it sells the lifestyle behind the product. A photo of this nature activates the imagination of the viewer so they see the item in the context of their life and home.
Not all photographers know how to shoot product photography. Jure Ursic is one of Dubai’s most talented photographers and he can produce engaging images for any style of product shoot. The process is made quicker and easier for you when you have a clear idea of the style of images you need, so here are a few suggestions to become ready for a product photo shoot…
What the Photographer Needs from You
Do you have a style guide for your products? Photographers aim to exceed your expectations, but to do that they need to know more about your brand and the way you want them to portray your products. A mood board of example photos you’ve collected from websites, magazines, and Instagram is a great way to clarify what you want to achieve from the photoshoot, and it becomes a visual source of inspiration for the photographer, so they know what your intentions are for the end result. Making sure you are consistent with the content of this mood board helps them see the direction of your marketing. It provides ideas about the style of photo shoot images you need and where you are going to use them.
You also need to discuss your target audience to make sure there is consistency within your marketing campaigns. When all this information is combined, a shot list can be created to make sure all the types of photos you want are fully covered. The shot list is a checklist of the photos you want taken on the day. It includes the number of items being photographed, the amount of photos required of each object, requests for camera angles, and your choice of color for the backgrounds. For lifestyle shots it’s necessary to describe the props required, and the feelings you want to generate through the photos. Sketches are a handy reference guide in a shot list. And filling in a product photography questionnaire helps you finalize arrangements for the shoot.
What to do Before a Product Shoot
What to do Before a Product ShootIn the days leading up to a product photography shoot, go through the items being photographed and make sure they are in perfect condition. Look for scratches, fingerprints, and smudges. Wipe them down to remove dust and imperfections that may show in a photo.
Collect and prepare any props required. Set up a production line of subjects and props in the order they’ll be used for the shoot. If models are booked, make contact and confirm the day, time, location, and type of clothing they should wear.
If the photographer is working at your premises, make sure the photo shoot room is clean and ready for use. Light stands and other forms of photography equipment take up a lot of space, so clear away any unnecessary items from the photo shoot location.
Hiring a Professional Product Photographer
A highly trained product photographer brings your vision to life smoothly and surely. Hiring a professional photographer like Jure Ursic means you receive product photography that is superb. It is captured at the highest resolution and the images are fully edited and optimized for use in the medium of your choice. When you hire a gifted photographer like Jure, you are guaranteed to receive high-quality product photos you’ll be proud to share on your website and e-commerce platforms. Good product photography comes from a good photographer; perfect product photography comes from Jure Ursic!