Product/advertising

[Didds]

I have my little part time business doing portraits, but I'm thinking more and more that I'd rather be doing something more like still life, this was always what I loved when I first took up photography. I love the kind of stuff you see on the beauty pages of magazines - nail varnish, make up, perfume, all that sort of thing, usually on a clean white background.

I don't yet have the lighting skills to do all that, but have dabbled a bit.

Does anyone know how to break into this kind of work?

[lonni]

Equipment and practice and build up a good portfolio,

Product photography is quite different to portraits, you need to have the technigque down pat, have the right eqiuipment, a light box will not do, but your customers are different too and have different requirements.

I got into it by accident, i am a graphic designer by trade so i was always asked by the customers to either take photos of their products or if i knew smeone who could. I had a photography background so i did them my self.

I would suggest working on a portfolio and introducing yourself to designers, let them know that you are available for catalogue work, etc.

You will also find that you will need to approach businesses and let them know you are available too.

Small businesses will be your main custimers as big companies and magazines have their own people employed.

You could also try approaching the local print or television media, news papers etc see if they need your services.

I use a light table, with three adjustable strobes for the top and two for underneath. I usually shoot through an umbrells but find that soft boxes are handy too. I dont use all of them all the time it depends on the product. A light meter is essential as is a tripod. I use primes and my 85mm 1.4 ands 105mm 2.8 are my most often used for the table with a 50mm 1.4 and 35mm 1.4 being used for editorial stuff.

To start you might be more comfortable with continuous lighting you can see how the light falls adn it takes soem of the guessing out of the set up.

You need to remember that you wont just need to be taking the isolated product shoot ( product on white bg) you will probably need to be shooting images to show how a product is used and images to sell the product.

EG for a hand bag i start by taking front back and sides on the table, then a few at angles. I then do insides and details, like zippers, any beading that are selling points. I usually add bits and pieces to the bag, like a phone, purse book etc to show how big the bag is and show the suggetsed use, they also help to highlight features like phone pockets etc.

Then i take some similar photos is a different setting eg a modern urban style bag is set on a pedestal in front of soem grafitti for a back ground or a country style bag is photographed in the grass.

I also get some shots with models in the area above.

From that you can guess at the equipment list.

I find that i get more work offering the above then the people who just offer the isolated shoot. But then i sell the customer on why they need the above images.

My biggest customers sell stuff that i dont put in my portfolio - bongs, pipes, sex toys, fetish things i how to ask how to display, so be prepared for the odd stuff. Those customers chose me beceause i was the only photographer that kept a straight face. They keep me cause i do good work.

hth

[Didds]

Thanks, that's really helpful. I will probably be back later with more questions!

[Biomech]

Great info Lonni. Can I ask why you choose a light table over a light box? Is it the under-lighting?

[lonni]

It was partly the under lighting, I have more control over the light with a table, I can set up the strobes in any formation and change the light modifiers, some products like glass are harder to light, especially if hey have a lot of ridges and i found a light tent was a bit glary(sp?).

I found a light tent also has funny light, not sure what it was but i just didnt like it.

Also i dont have to worry about the size of the product and it is easier when setting up props for backgrounds or moving objects furter apart for better depth of field.

Plus when i got into years ago light tents were not on offer, and i used film.