Posted under Commercial
HOW TO SHOOT COMMERCIAL QUALITY IMAGES
by
Heather Shimmin
In order to achieve high quality, commercially viable imagery, you must have high production value. A photographer not accustomed to shooting stock may think that showing up at the family BBQ with their camera is good enough to submit to stock photography agencies. If your cousin looks like Heidi Klum and the table was decorated by Martha Stewart, then yes, that would be just fine. If your family is like the rest of the world’s, then you need to put some time and effort into your pre-production efforts. Seventy-five percent of your time should be spent in preparing for your shoot.
There are many things running through your mind as you plan a photo shoot. As a former Producer for a stock photography company, I can tell you that many hours are spent in the pre-production stage of a photo shoot which are vital if you want to produce commercial quality images which will be accepted, and, more importantly, sold by your stock agency.
concept
casting
location
styling (hair and make up, wardrobe, props)
composition
CONCEPT
Concept is at the top of my list because without it, you don’t have a shoot. Every shoot begins with an idea, a concept, a goal. Once you have a general idea of what you want to shoot, you need to look at other stock libraries to see what imagery already exists which is similar to what you want to do. There’s no point in shooting what’s already out there. You also want to pay attention to what’s not in the stock library, because this is the void you are trying to fill.
CASTING
One of the most important decisions you will make when planning out your photo shoot is the selection of models. This is rather obvious to point out but I’m going to say it anyway; you need to cast models which suit the role you want them to play. Don’t plan your Girl-Next-Door shoot and hire a short, overweight asian. It just doesn’t fit.
LOCATION
Location scouting is a must. Finding the right location takes a lot of time and thought. Here are some basics to consider:
GOOD LIGHT is a key element in deciding where and when to shoot. Visit the location during different times of the day to see how the light varies and changes the mood of the scene.
Give yourself ROOM TO SHOOT and move around. Don’t try to squeeze into a box. This is too limiting and cramped to function in.
GET A PERMIT if you are shooting in public. Most places require a filming permit, even if you are on public property. Plan ahead, as permits can take up to a month to get. You may or may not have to pay a fee. You may or may not need to pay if you shooting on private property, depending on where you are. Property owners in small towns probably won’t charge you. The minute you show up with a crew, lights, and your tripod, security guards are on you in seconds and the only way to fight them off is with that little piece of paper.
STYLING
Styling primarily means wardrobe, hair and make up. You can brave this alone or hire someone to help you. (I strongly recommend to hire someone.) To give you an idea of how important these elements are, there are people who only do wardrobe, hair, or make up. Having your model properly styled is key component in producing quality images.
KNOW YOUR CHARACTERS
It is important to know and understand who your characters are and roles they will play during the shoot so you can style them appropriately. What’s the story line? Who is this person? Are they going to the movies or a night club? These types of questions will define how you’re going to style them.
GET A TIMELESS LOOK
Clothing is trendy and goes in and out of style faster than ice cream melts on hot summer day in Vegas. The rule of thumb is to pick clothing that will not become outdated for five years. Keep it clean and classic, such as something you’d find at Banana Republic or the Gap. Stay away from patterns and loud colors. Neutrals are best.
ACCESSORIES
Take Nancy Reagan’s advice and just say no. Unless your look calls for it (such as a gangster or pimp), no jewelry for men and very simple jewelry for women, such as hoop earrings or a wedding ring.
PEDICURES AND MANICURES
Make sure the hands and feet of your models are clean, moisturized, and trimmed. No nail polish except for clear and no french manicures.
PROP STYLING
Again, keep it simple and timeless. The best advice I can give you to approach props as if you were staging a house; clean, uncluttered, and designed to sell. If it looks cluttered or unnecessary, take it out. Remove all personal items (like photos and and souvenirs).
COMPOSITION
Slow down and take the time to compose each shot. Remember the rule of thirds, depth of field, the elements and principles of art (shape, line, color, texture, rhythm, repetition, etc.) and other basic concepts when you’re shooting. Move around, try different angles, stand on a chair, lay on your stomach. One of the biggest mistakes photographers make is they don’t move around when they shoot. T
Something which I like to do before each shoot is create a shot list. This has ideas and concepts I want to cover, specific shots I want to create, a unique camera angle, a prop, an emotion, a pose, or an interesting way of cropping the image. Shot lists are tremendously important in helping you remember what you wanted to shoot and in making your photo shoots more productive.
