What does a product photographer need?

[Jimm]

So I'm looking to find someone to help me revamp my company's product images. I've done it myself so far with a DIY set up and plain white background, but lighting consistency and space has always made things time consuming and hard work and now I want to get some more 'lifestyle shots' which takes more skill than I have.
I want to keep costs low by not going with a proper product imagery company and find a 'real' person who I can work closely with.

What I'd like to know is what questions should I be asking a prospective product photographer? I imagine anyone with a DSLR can offer themselves up but what are the tell tail signs of a person with the right set up. Should they have a specific lighting rig, studio?

I know its a bit of a broad sweeping question but I thought it was a good place to start...
Any advice or suggestions would be helpful.
thanks

[bambleweeney]

First thing I'd ask is to look at their portfolio ...

[Polar01]

Talk is one thing, seeing that's person work is another.

Cheers: Allan

[chauncey]

I would peruse local industry magazines and look at their images to find a photog of you liking.

[Loose Canon]

Hi James,

While I am a “real” person I don’t really consider myself a “real” product photographer. However that hasn’t stopped me from shooting a fair bit of product for some glassmakers in the past year!

Definitely look at their portfolio. When I started with the glass blowers I didn’t have a product portfolio but they couldn’t find anyone else who would shoot their glass. Or so they said! However I did show them some of my other stuff.

After that I really wouldn’t know what kind of product you are looking to shoot or what you mean by “lifestyle” shots and what that might involve (i.e. human or other models/props, locations/studio, action, etc.) Or if you’re looking for strictly tabletop studio work. These requirements will determine what a photographer will need to satisfy them.

So without knowing anything about what you want I would say that there would be no specific lighting rig. But they need to have something adequate and know how to use it. I wouldn’t necessarily trust someone who tells you they are strictly “natural light” shooters. Nothing wrong with that but for your purposes it might not be right. Not only that but it probably means that they have no lighting rig to begin with. It would differ, but your prospective shooter should be able to adequately handle whatever situation you ask for. Meaning studio access if required and willingness to do location work if required. I speak to my Clients and let them know what I have in mind. Try to bounce ideas off them, explain my lighting setups, and what it will take in post. I might as well be speaking a foreign language to them for the most part but I think it lets them know that I am taking their work seriously if nothing else.

They need to be able to present your product accurately and compellingly. Accenting labels, logos, (your name) important aspects of your product (your name) and get across all relevant information (your name). Accurate color and white balance. Sometimes this needs special lighting scenarios. No honking hot spots, washed out areas, hard clogged shadows. Pleasing highlights and gentle shadows thoughtfully placed in a pleasing and balanced composition.

They should be able to handle your end use requirements (i.e. print- brochures, catalogue, etc.), web, whatever, and output any file format, resolution and size requirements. Can they shoot such that you can add copy should it be required? Can they provide copy if needed? Could they composite your logo on a shot in a nice balanced way if you provided them a copy? And could they work with your provided file formats (.tif, .png, whatever).

And it might not hurt if they could provide a little video should you desire, say, a .gif for your website for example.

Anyway James, just a couple of general ideas for consideration!

[William W]

. . . So I'm looking to find someone to help me revamp my company's product images.

What I'd like to know is what questions should I be asking a prospective product photographer?

I know its a bit of a broad sweeping question but I thought it was a good place to start. . .

Any advice or suggestions would be helpful.

Seeing a Portfolio is an obvious start but you then need to know what to look for in the portfolio and to do that you'd firstly need to know what products that you have to be photographed and to define them in groups, for example by:

physical size; (a bookcase or a book?)
weight; (underwear or concrete barriers?)
studio lifetime; (ice sculptures or gold watches?)
support requirements; clothing NOT on models or clothing on models?

Then you need to ask for indication that the Photographer is experienced in SIMILAR TYPES of Product work - OR - that s/he can show you that it can be done by them.

For example, my company has owned or managed several Wedding and Portrait Studios and over a long period we’ve taken on a reasonable amount of Product Work, to be shot in our studios, but never Furniture, nor anything physically larger than about a large laptop computer, because we did not have enough space inside the studio to ALLOCATE that area for a lighting rig and keep going with our main line of work (portraiture).

So you can see, if, for example your products are: bookcases; office furniture and computers, I would suggest you go somewhere else and not use me.

On the other hand, if you products were just computers and associated items and I showed you a good portfolio full of Jewellery; Books; and small kitchen white goods like Microwave ovens . . . then you could be reasonable assured that I could make a good set of catalogue photos of Computers and Computer peripherals.

Apropos gear (and likely cost to you): good lighting is the key ingredient – and the knowledge and experience to use it.

Usually (if using DSLR) one or two Tilt Shift Lenses would be necessary for anyone who really is experienced in this field and does this work often; though focus stacking is not to be dismissed, but will arguably add to the turn-around time. (But it seems with the advent of digital and how “quick” it is, gone are the days when the proofs were handed to the Advertising Director within three hours of shoot? Go Figure?)

If not a DSLR then a View or Rail Camera can be used – but using these cameras for Product Work would cost a bit now I would expect.

Also:
You should clearly KNOW what your exact requirements are and you should define those requirements CLEARLY and EXACTLY.

For example: if you want only an on-line brochure for small to medium items, then a good quality Point and Shoot Camera (with very small sensor) and a good knowledge of lighting; two flash Heads; a DIY Light Tent and skill in Photoshop or Lightroom can produce very good results.

WW

[Jimm]

William and LooseCanon those are really helpful pointers - thanks. Our products are maps and gifts with maps on so often around table top size and quite detailed. The idea of 'lifestyle' is to put them into context, so the environment they'd be used in by the customer, child's room, on a coffee table etc.

I'll start checking out portfolio's I can find online and then make some calls to chat and see if they can tick off the points you've all mentioned.
Thanks

[Manfred M]

I would be on the same page as Bil on this one; the portfolio is a good start, but only if it includes examples of the types on materials the photographer shoots is just as important. You would no more hire a photographer to shoot portraits, based on the fact that you like his or her landscape work. Same issue here; someone who does cars may not be the best choice for objects the size and shape you are looking for. For the lifestyle shots, you are almost looking at a slightly different genre; not just a product photographer, who works in a controlled studio environment, but someone who is shooting rooms and home furnishings.

[William W]

. . . For the lifestyle shots, you are almost looking at a slightly different genre; not just a product photographer, who works in a controlled studio environment, but someone who is shooting rooms and home furnishings.

I agree.
So, for example, if I looked at a some good quality real estate work of high end properties, in a Portfolio, that would prick up my eyes.

For technical quality of environmental / location work - portable flash gear to set up in situ, is a must.

WW