Product photographers are experts at showcasing the things that brands sell and that people and businesses buy, share, and even promote. First impressions are everything, so the right photos can make all the difference in how a potential customer sees a product, and that impression often extends to the brand itself.
What is product photography?
Product photography is a diverse genre of photography, and the process of finding and hiring the right photographer for your product may not be as straightforward as you first thought. Don’t worry – we’ll walk you through the basics of choosing a product photographer, along with some important things you’ll want to consider along the way.
Why you need a product photographer?
Before you start a search, think about why you need a product photographer in the first place. Today, brands speak visually just as much as they do with words. The right photographer can help create a strong and unified visual presence to both complement your brand’s voice across all of your channels and showcase your products in a way that produces real business results.
Photographs are how customers and clients see your brand. Brands need photos that not only show what a product is, but also how it works and why someone may need it – and it should all align with the brand as a whole. This makes choosing the right photographer that much more important, because it really isn’t just about one product or photoshoot – it’s a much bigger picture of the brand itself.
Types of product photography
There are many different approaches a photographer may take when photographing or showcasing a product, and different photographers will carry different sets of skills and experience levels in these approaches. You may even want to combine different kinds of product photography for a more complete final package.
Studio product photography
The studio is the first place most people think about taking product shots. From large, seamless backdrops to intricate table top set ups, the studio gives the photographer the ability to control every aspect of the shot. Studio photography tends to be highly technical, so having a photographer with lots of experience is often a must. Studios tend to be lit with artificial lights and flashes, and there may also be higher expectations for post-processing and touch ups.
If you have a lot of products you need to photograph for an online store, catalog, or e-commerce venue, a studio can help streamline the process by keeping the same set across different product shoots. This consistent look can help your store look its best, reinforce your brand, and give viewers an easy way to see what’s on offer.
Commercial studio shoots may also require extra hands in the form of assistants, set designers, and stylists. With lots of moving parts, coordination and organization becomes very important. We’ll touch more on this later, but this is where a well-prepared brief can come in handy.
Lifestyle product photography
Sometimes the best way to showcase a product is in the same environment and context in which it is actually used. Rather than a completely staged studio, you may want a photographer that can show the product in action. Depending on what the product is, these photos may have a more casual look and feel that helps viewers picture themselves using the product.
With this more contextual approach, you may want a photographer with an even more specific niche. For example, if you sell camping equipment, you may want a photographer that specializes in documenting outdoor activities in the places people love to camp.
Although the photos with this approach may look natural and casual, they are still highly coordinated and require a great deal of planning, sometimes even more than their studio counterparts. If you’re working outside, you’ll have to plan for light and weather conditions, in addition to securing all the right permissions to shoot on any given location.
Find a product photographer on VSCO Hub
With so many different different genres and niches, searching for and hiring the right photographer may seem like finding a needle in a haystack – but it doesn’t have to be. VSCO Hub makes finding and hiring the right product photographer easy, with intuitive tools and an AI-assisted search.
With search by reference image, you can use your own inspiration to find photographers with a similar style or aesthetic. You can also filter your results to find specific kinds of photographers in specific locations, like Commercial and Product photographers in Chicago, for example.
As you review portfolios on VSCO Hub, starting a conversation is as easy as clicking ‘Request to Connect.’ We’ll get you in touch with your top choice photographers so you can ask them questions, get to know their process, and iron out the details of your shoot. Get your search started on VSCO Hub for free.
How to choose a product photographer
Choosing the right photographer isn’t just about the pictures in a portfolio. You’ll need to consider each aspect of your brand’s needs – things like budget, timeline, and creative considerations. The best way to ensure you choose the right photographer is to first understand your specific needs.
Define your needs
The best way to take full inventory of your product photography needs is with a creative brief. Simply put, a good brief bridges the gap between a client's vision and the photographer's execution – giving everyone the information they need to get the job done right.
A creative brief should include things like an overview of the brand or campaign, specific goals, the audience, creative direction, and all the logistical details like budgets and timelines. A great way to get started on a brief is with our guide, which you can check out here. You’ll be able to use your brief to guide conversations with potential photographers and ensure they’re a good match for your next shoot.
Ask the right questions
Getting to know a photographer’s process can help give you confidence in their work. An interview is an opportunity to ask specific questions about their experience, projects in their portfolio, and how they would approach your photoshoot. If you’re not sure what questions to ask, check out our article with ten questions to ask a photographer before a photoshoot.
For product photography, you’ll want to know what kind of products they have experience photographing, the techniques and settings they’re most familiar with, and how they approach things like post-processing and image selection.
Budget and cost
Budget is a big part of any photoshoot. Cost can have a material impact and consideration on how you approach your photographer search and what you can realistically expect. If you’re not sure about what to expect when it comes to pricing, our pricing guide can help you understand how a photographer may price their work.
Transparency in pricing is important and it often helps to have clarity early on in any conversation. You want to make sure both you and the photographer are on the same page before things progress too far. Once you're confident in a photographer, everything should be put into writing with a signed contract before any formal work on the shoot begins.
Stick to the process
Choosing a product photographer and getting amazing photographs can be an exciting opportunity to elevate your brand, boost sales, and make your campaign stand out in the crowd. Though there are steps to follow, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Always be mindful of your brand’s voice and do your research – bring inspiration, notes, and moodboards along for the ride.
Hire a Product Photographer with VSCO Hub
If you’re ready to search for a product photographer, you can start with VSCO Hub for free today. Search visually, get connected, and hire on terms both you and your photographer can feel good about.
Want to learn more? Schedule a live demo and we’ll get all your questions answered.
