What do I need to know about hiring a company to do product photography?
November 8, 2005 1:01 PM Subscribe
What do I need to know about hiring a company to do product photography?
I started a job as an internet sales rep; which was supposed to be light image editing and some occasional web monkeying (but no sales, how ironic), and just over a month later, somehow they think I can help out with advertising. Which I generally know nothing about. Enough backstory, our product line needs to be re-photographed, because the images we have now, the product is badly photoshopped into a background. Badly. I have no idea how to find a company that does this. An advertising agency? A professional photographer? I'm not looking for an outside firm to do our advertising, but just a new line of photographs with the products actually installed in a show room. And that is part of the question to; how do you do that; do you find a company that has said environment already; or do you pay for the room fixtures, decor, etc . . .?
Any advice on how to go about this would be appreciated. Or, to be honest, anything even related to this field since saying I'm in over my head is probably a gigantic understatement.
I started a job as an internet sales rep; which was supposed to be light image editing and some occasional web monkeying (but no sales, how ironic), and just over a month later, somehow they think I can help out with advertising. Which I generally know nothing about. Enough backstory, our product line needs to be re-photographed, because the images we have now, the product is badly photoshopped into a background. Badly. I have no idea how to find a company that does this. An advertising agency? A professional photographer? I'm not looking for an outside firm to do our advertising, but just a new line of photographs with the products actually installed in a show room. And that is part of the question to; how do you do that; do you find a company that has said environment already; or do you pay for the room fixtures, decor, etc . . .?
Any advice on how to go about this would be appreciated. Or, to be honest, anything even related to this field since saying I'm in over my head is probably a gigantic understatement.
Most regions have a chapter of something called the APA (advertising photographers of america). They have a directory- anyone of their members should be able to help you photograph your products. They will also know set designers and or location scouts to help you determine whether photographing your stuff in situ is feasible or if it makes more sense to build a set for this purpose. These photos will likely be very good and also somewhat expensive. These people will charge you not just for the shots - but many will charge a license fee depending on how you intend to use the photos. There are also the equivilent of sweat shops for product photography shots if you need just basic pictures of your widgets. Usually studios with a digital setup and lots of lighting who will charge you a relatively cheap per product fee. Google "product photography" "your city name or name of nearest big city" and you should find plenty of options.
posted by Wolfie at 1:37 PM on November 8, 2005
posted by Wolfie at 1:37 PM on November 8, 2005
Best answer: It would help if you'd tell us what these products are, but it sounds as if a professional photographer could come to your showroom and shoot it there. Call around and ask them if they've done this before, which will whittle the list. Then ask to see their portfolio and get some references.
Don't be swayed by cool or arty shots if that's not what you need. If you need plain, straight-ahead, well-lit shots for your products, tell them that. Also be very clear about how these will be used and the formats you'll need (do you need negatives, photos on a disc, etc). Ask about rights and make sure you've got something in writing stating that you own the photos.
Plan on being there for some, if not all, of the shoot. They'll set up, take a few photos and then show them to you to see if it's what you're looking for. Don't be shy about giving them direction if they're doing it wrong -- if you beat around the bush you're just wasting everyone's time and your company's money. Be direct. Have them take more photos than you think you'll need so you have a lot to pick from.
Don't get talked into weird lighting, strange props or any of that if it's not necessary. Go with your gut and you'll be fine.
posted by Atom12 at 1:54 PM on November 8, 2005
Don't be swayed by cool or arty shots if that's not what you need. If you need plain, straight-ahead, well-lit shots for your products, tell them that. Also be very clear about how these will be used and the formats you'll need (do you need negatives, photos on a disc, etc). Ask about rights and make sure you've got something in writing stating that you own the photos.
Plan on being there for some, if not all, of the shoot. They'll set up, take a few photos and then show them to you to see if it's what you're looking for. Don't be shy about giving them direction if they're doing it wrong -- if you beat around the bush you're just wasting everyone's time and your company's money. Be direct. Have them take more photos than you think you'll need so you have a lot to pick from.
Don't get talked into weird lighting, strange props or any of that if it's not necessary. Go with your gut and you'll be fine.
posted by Atom12 at 1:54 PM on November 8, 2005
Well that points me in the right direction. The product is faucets and other bathroom accessories, so the problem I keep coming back to is the need to set up different bathroom and kitchen settings so it doesn't look like we installed them all in the same place. The cost of setting something like that up seems like it would be prohibitively high, but maybe I just don't know how these things are done.
At this point, I'm trying to research what I would need to to do to get new product photos, like costs, etc. . . and see if I can get it approved. The idea at the moment is that they think I can just touch up the photos they have now; but no one seems to know where the originals are, and most don't even have the perspective right, let alone the correct reflections, different lighting angles on the faucets and what is in the room, etc . . . And then they what to use them in brochures and magazine ads, and while I may not know anything about advertising, I do know that something that looks as bad as these should never ever be seen by the public (even though they're in our catalog now!)
posted by [insert clever name here] at 1:58 PM on November 8, 2005
At this point, I'm trying to research what I would need to to do to get new product photos, like costs, etc. . . and see if I can get it approved. The idea at the moment is that they think I can just touch up the photos they have now; but no one seems to know where the originals are, and most don't even have the perspective right, let alone the correct reflections, different lighting angles on the faucets and what is in the room, etc . . . And then they what to use them in brochures and magazine ads, and while I may not know anything about advertising, I do know that something that looks as bad as these should never ever be seen by the public (even though they're in our catalog now!)
posted by [insert clever name here] at 1:58 PM on November 8, 2005
I would contact an advertising agency. They do a lot more than strictly "advertising" and will be able to coordinate a decent photo shoot for you. Depending on how complicated you invision this photography, you probably do not want to have to deal with hiring the photographer and putting it all together yourself, trust me.
posted by peppermint22 at 1:58 PM on November 8, 2005
posted by peppermint22 at 1:58 PM on November 8, 2005
I might point out that the company may not even have the "rights" to the originals any more. It's a complex and arcane world we live in; that much is certain. [insert clever name here] is absolutely correct in the assertion that new shots are needed, going by the conditions s/he specified a couple of posts up. I think an advertising agency might be overkill; if the need is simply for product shots for a catalog. The company budget will probably be the overriding factor in any case.
The fact that the images they are currently using are bad photoshops might well open a whole can of legal worms: did the company have reproduction rights for each and every image used as part of the composites? That was often not that case in more naive times.
posted by pjern at 5:27 PM on November 8, 2005
The fact that the images they are currently using are bad photoshops might well open a whole can of legal worms: did the company have reproduction rights for each and every image used as part of the composites? That was often not that case in more naive times.
posted by pjern at 5:27 PM on November 8, 2005
If you aren't the manufacturer, would the manufacturers have these original images that were badly photoshopped? Could you get them and have them more professionally photoshopped?
I'm a commercial photographer and what you are describing sounds VERY expensive. I used to do this kind of work (creating sets and photographing objects for catalogues) and it involved lots and lots of people and sometimes days to create a set to photograph all in a huge studio. If the images are just shot against a plain background, then that's not quite so bad, but any decent photographer gets paid thousands a day for shoots like this, whether on location or in their studio.
posted by johngumbo at 6:08 PM on November 8, 2005
I'm a commercial photographer and what you are describing sounds VERY expensive. I used to do this kind of work (creating sets and photographing objects for catalogues) and it involved lots and lots of people and sometimes days to create a set to photograph all in a huge studio. If the images are just shot against a plain background, then that's not quite so bad, but any decent photographer gets paid thousands a day for shoots like this, whether on location or in their studio.
posted by johngumbo at 6:08 PM on November 8, 2005
We're the manufacturer too. Everythings manufactured overseas, and sold worldwide. I'm at the US division, where we are the distributor as well.
Could anyone guestimate how much a project like this would cost? I haven't the foggiest idea. I know it will be expensive, but I can't imagine how much. I've also been talking with a cowork about perhaps setting up the sets here and hiring a photographer to come in and do it (though I don't know if that would actually save us money since we'd need to purchase the sets.)
For everyone that emailed me about seeing the images, I would LOVE to share them as they are laughably bad, but I'd be afraid someone would recognize them and somehow it would get back to me.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 8:42 AM on November 9, 2005
Could anyone guestimate how much a project like this would cost? I haven't the foggiest idea. I know it will be expensive, but I can't imagine how much. I've also been talking with a cowork about perhaps setting up the sets here and hiring a photographer to come in and do it (though I don't know if that would actually save us money since we'd need to purchase the sets.)
For everyone that emailed me about seeing the images, I would LOVE to share them as they are laughably bad, but I'd be afraid someone would recognize them and somehow it would get back to me.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 8:42 AM on November 9, 2005
Best answer: Here's what I'd need for a quick guesstimate:
1. What will be the final/projected use for the images? Small print, 2-page spreads, magazine ads, billboards? Each of these will require possibly a different technique/materiel.
2. How many separate line items need to be photographed.
3. How many sets will you need? Set changes cost time and money.
Using a bathroom set as an example, all you might really need is a white wall that's unobstructed for a distance of ten to fifteen feet, with ample room to work around it. Set up faux cabinetry, get a few appropriate plumbing fixtures and some linoleum for the "floor", and let the photographer do his/her magic. Think Hollywood set- nothing is as it appears to be.
If you want 'action' shots, water flowing, etcetera, that adds another layer of complexity, of course.
posted by pjern at 10:14 AM on November 9, 2005
1. What will be the final/projected use for the images? Small print, 2-page spreads, magazine ads, billboards? Each of these will require possibly a different technique/materiel.
2. How many separate line items need to be photographed.
3. How many sets will you need? Set changes cost time and money.
Using a bathroom set as an example, all you might really need is a white wall that's unobstructed for a distance of ten to fifteen feet, with ample room to work around it. Set up faux cabinetry, get a few appropriate plumbing fixtures and some linoleum for the "floor", and let the photographer do his/her magic. Think Hollywood set- nothing is as it appears to be.
If you want 'action' shots, water flowing, etcetera, that adds another layer of complexity, of course.
posted by pjern at 10:14 AM on November 9, 2005
1) Everything. :) I kid, but I would strongly suspect we would try to use them for everything from magazine ads to catalogs. Right now, I see it being used in a catalog, and some are full 8.5 x 10 images; brochures (think trifold with 2, 3 faucets a section), and web.
2) Most likely around 100. Though I have the mind to do just a dozen and use the rest on black or white backgrounds, which look better than the badly photoshopped images.
3) Well, right now they're all on different backgrounds, so I suspect we'd try and do the same. Which is why the scope of the project just scares me.
We wouldn't use shots of water running, etc . . .
A good example of the type of set up I'm refering to is this. not ours Tightly cropped, but different settings. I suppose a lot of that can be a board with wallpaper on it and a few different thrift store accessories. (trying to think hollywood set)
posted by [insert clever name here] at 10:52 AM on November 9, 2005
2) Most likely around 100. Though I have the mind to do just a dozen and use the rest on black or white backgrounds, which look better than the badly photoshopped images.
3) Well, right now they're all on different backgrounds, so I suspect we'd try and do the same. Which is why the scope of the project just scares me.
We wouldn't use shots of water running, etc . . .
A good example of the type of set up I'm refering to is this. not ours Tightly cropped, but different settings. I suppose a lot of that can be a board with wallpaper on it and a few different thrift store accessories. (trying to think hollywood set)
posted by [insert clever name here] at 10:52 AM on November 9, 2005
Best answer: Magazine ads and catalog usage say at least medium format film to me- it can be scanned professionally to resolutions adequate for high-quality publication, and easily downsampled for all the other usages. Your average digital camera won't do for really good results. Email me for excruciatingly specific information :)
The shot you reference is a good example of standard studio lighting- I'd guess two daylight flourescent softboxes, with the key light masked to add shadows simulating a large outside window. Not many of those in real-world bathrooms. I also noticed that the setting was fairly elaborate- note the grouted tile and neat strip of caulking along the wall/sink junction. The soft contrast lighting lends it a "beautiful morning" feeling. This was a fairly expensive shot to set up, I'd guess a couple thou for this setup alone, plus processing, photographer's time, etc.
posted by pjern at 12:23 PM on November 9, 2005
The shot you reference is a good example of standard studio lighting- I'd guess two daylight flourescent softboxes, with the key light masked to add shadows simulating a large outside window. Not many of those in real-world bathrooms. I also noticed that the setting was fairly elaborate- note the grouted tile and neat strip of caulking along the wall/sink junction. The soft contrast lighting lends it a "beautiful morning" feeling. This was a fairly expensive shot to set up, I'd guess a couple thou for this setup alone, plus processing, photographer's time, etc.
posted by pjern at 12:23 PM on November 9, 2005
This was a fairly expensive shot to set up, I'd guess a couple thou for this setup alone, plus processing, photographer's time, etc.
Oh christ, you made me want to cry. I mean in the grand scheme of things, counting that price per faucet model as advertising isn't that expensive, but proposing the whole line be done? I think I'm going to crawl under my desk for the rest of the day and sulk. At least now I won't embarass myself when I start calling around because I'll know sort of what to expect.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 12:48 PM on November 9, 2005
Oh christ, you made me want to cry. I mean in the grand scheme of things, counting that price per faucet model as advertising isn't that expensive, but proposing the whole line be done? I think I'm going to crawl under my desk for the rest of the day and sulk. At least now I won't embarass myself when I start calling around because I'll know sort of what to expect.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 12:48 PM on November 9, 2005
Another comment seems called for- don't let the scope of the project frighten you. You can break it down into manageable tasks. Look at the trees, and then admire the beauty of the forest.
You've already mostly accomplished the first task- requirements.
You've already, subconsciously, at least, begun breaking down some of the intermediate tasks- "I really only need beauty shots or a dozen or so", which leads to "I need reference shots of everything, for coverage and to select the products that will look good in the beauty shots."
Each logical step will lead to something else. Pretty soon you'll find yourself having everything you need organized. Write it down. Edit. Rewrite. Sleep on it. Reread. Rearrange.
Whoa, you have a doable plan!
posted by pjern at 1:37 PM on November 9, 2005
You've already mostly accomplished the first task- requirements.
You've already, subconsciously, at least, begun breaking down some of the intermediate tasks- "I really only need beauty shots or a dozen or so", which leads to "I need reference shots of everything, for coverage and to select the products that will look good in the beauty shots."
Each logical step will lead to something else. Pretty soon you'll find yourself having everything you need organized. Write it down. Edit. Rewrite. Sleep on it. Reread. Rearrange.
Whoa, you have a doable plan!
posted by pjern at 1:37 PM on November 9, 2005
solopsist's estimate of "a couple thou" seems pretty reasonable to me if you are shooting at your location. If you are shooting at the photographer's studio (ie, using up his time and space exclusively) then it will probably be 3-5 thou per.
Most people are moving digital these days, but that unfortunately won't save you any money on the shooting end, only on the printing end, and not much there. Instead of polaroid and processing charges, you pay for post-processing corrections. Same difference.
posted by johngumbo at 5:51 PM on November 9, 2005
Most people are moving digital these days, but that unfortunately won't save you any money on the shooting end, only on the printing end, and not much there. Instead of polaroid and processing charges, you pay for post-processing corrections. Same difference.
posted by johngumbo at 5:51 PM on November 9, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by pjern at 1:09 PM on November 8, 2005