Above are a few images from a shoot I have recently taken at home, using a reflector to bounce back the light coming in through the window, so that it would produce more light on the area's of the food I wanted it to in camera. I think that these images are successful by highlighting what ingredients were used when making the product and have lit up in showing the colours of the bread and vegetables in the sandwich, which I feel makes it look more appetising. I wanted to focus on only certain parts of the food but also including some of the ingredients used because it form's a very homely feel, as if the audience could of made it themselves and it in front of them ready to eat. If I was to shoot this again, I would style the food more as I think inside the sandwich looks slightly messy, and so if styled more appropriately would of looked tidier. However I do believe it was a successfully shoot and I have achieved in portraying what the food is meant to be and appears appetising to the audience.
Having a CV is very important to securing future jobs and partnerships and also making a good first impression on the employer. Without a CV you may lose a chance at a job you have always wanted and worked hard for. A quality CV will boost the chance of maybe getting an interview and eventually the job, so highlighting key skills and qualifications that are linked with the potential job. The presentation is also very important because you are not going to appear organised and skilled if the layout of the CV is not tidy and spacious. In the photography industry it is important to have different sections that focus on experience and awards that you may have acquired during your photography career. Employers will be interesting in any awards or commissions because it shows that you have experience in different ways whether it is connected to the use of software, studio environments or specialising in difference camera formats and also specific genres. Below are some key points I feel are important when writing a CV.
Personal Details such as full name, address, phone number and email address are a must. Date of Birth is optional, but depending on the job it may be useful to include it.
Summarising a personal profile of areas of interest and enthusiasms of the job you are applying for is useful, as it shows your eagerness and motivation.
Key skills such as knowing how to use a computer or any other softwares or knowing how to work a till, show that you learned things from precious jobs and could be relevant.
Education and Qualifications ar very important because it shows what you have achieved in previous years that are relevant.
Make sure it is clear and concise, a good structured layout and a professional font.
Many beauty companies such as Clinique and The Body Shop have special lighting techniques to make the product look more professional and appealing to its viewer, whatever advertising campaign it may be in. I have included a few images below both from Clinique and The Body Shop to show some examples of how their products are shot. Both of the companies products are shot very differently, but works for them and their customers as they are both very successful and popular within the beauty industry. The photographer's aim is to present these images in a way so that they will sell and make them easy on the eye of the viewer, so that it is easy to understand what they look like, what they are called and what they do, so that it will result in the viewer being able to purchase it easy and know what they are looking for online or in store. The semiotics of product/advertising photography is apparent in the images I have used, which is very popular among this industry. It creates a message to the viewer of what the product has been made out of or something that connects to it, often appealing to the eye.
Clinque
The product above is Clinique's 'Smart Custom Serum' that is supposed to understand the skin and make it appear more radiant, reduce wrinkles ect. The product has been shot in a very clean cut and sharp way and the colour being silver/white makes the product appear strong and powerful. The image includes DNA/anatomy strands indicating how the serum understands the appearance.
This Clinique product is a cream for the eyes, to diminish dark circles ect. The product is shot very clean cut and sharp such as the one I have included above, like all Clinique products are. They are shot like this because it is indicates information and appearance about the product, so that it is very to the point. The black and white light reflections are also clear to see here.
Below I have included a video from a photographer on youtube, that explains how to get the lighting techniques Clinique create to get the white and black reflections, so that there are no reflections of camera's or equipment that is used. I found it very useful and will definitely be using some of the hints and tips presented in this video for product shoots in the future.
The Body Shop
Above is The Body Shops image of a new product that is a over night serum oil that is meant to give a fresh glow for skin so that it appears you have had eight hours sleep. The photographer has successfully shown what the product is and what it is called. Where the object is placed is also very important because it needs to be easy to understand. The way the top of the serum bottle has been placed has been cleverly done because of how it is balancing and leaning down towards the right, creating a large droplet of what colour and texture the oil should be, including a piece of large text saying it has a high content of a certain ingredient, linking with the size of the droplet. The studio lights used have created a glow on the product, complimenting the colour and making it appear bright and fresh which is what the product is meant to achieve.
These Body Shop products are part of their Green Tea range. As many people already have knowledge that Green Tea is meant to be very good and healthy, the viewer of the ad can not only drink it, but now they can treat their skin in many ways as well. The combination of the tea leaves and green smoke like effect create a sense of freshness and detoxing for the skin. The photography has included these because it is more appealing for the customer because of the reputation the company rather than the single product, such as what Clinique use.
This image was just a tiny part of one huge image. I have just screenshot a small part of it because I did not feel is was necessary to include all of it when it is clear to see some of the products and other objects. This product shot is part of The Body Shops "Honeymania" range. The colours of the products and background work very well for what the product includes, which is honey. The photographer has placed one of the products so that you can see inside it, so that the viewer can see the texture is like honey. The lighting the photographer has used lights up the very edges of the products just giving it enough glow.
David Parfitt is a product and advertising photography I have previously heard of and looked at before our session with Richard on product shooting photographers. He has a wide range of images in his portfolio on his website of fragrances, fashion and accessories such as the sunglasses below and also beauty products. He has worked with numerous companies and business, for instance Mark's & Spencer's, Estee Lauder and the Body Shop to name a few. His images appear very clean cutting and fresh, presenting the products well so the viewer can see exactly what they are. The second image of his I have included of The Body Shop vitamin C range includes actually oranges, their leaves and splashes and droplets of water. This creates a real natural appearance because of the use of oranges, shows the semiotics David Parfitt has used to make the product appeal to its audience as oranges are fresh, healthy and fresh, giving the message the product is as well. I found his portfolio to have a very large range of different examples of product photography, showing how much experience he has with this genre.
Award Winning still life photographer Richard Maxted shows his style within his specialism with the two images I have included below. His images on his website contained in his portfolio are very vibrant and colourful, making them stand out to the viewer. Many of his images in have movement such as the second one, an ad for an almond company representing how they can easily fit inside a handbag. The fact they are also in a container rather than a packet symbolises that they won't spill inside the bag and can easily be found inside without having to rummage round. The first image of Heinz tomato ketchup and baked beans is very simple, but highlights the images well. They are well lit so the viewer can see exactly what they are. As they are a national favourite and almost every single household in the United Kingdom will have these objects, it seems that the photographer has not included anything else in the framing to distract anything from the object it is focusing on. But it also does not need anything else because of the popularity of the food products.
Product Photographer Eugenio Franchi often includes back drops in his still life product work, different to the other two photographers I have included above. For the two images below, the backgrounds of each image works well with the product being photographed. For example, the first product of the bottle of Gin is called "Portobello Road" that is in London and has the United Kingdom's flag behind it, connecting well because of London being the Capital of Britain showing its origin. The Magners Cider's ad shows a tree as the background and includes a barrel of apples, which is what the cider is made out of. The apples represent how the cider is made from fresh, healthy ingredients, which would appeal more to its audience rather than a photograph of just the bottle. Both images are lit well, clearly shot in a studio as they are lit very well in showing the information such as branding and what the products actually are.
Product photography is everywhere and is often perceived as a area of still life photography. Magazines, billboards and website's feature product shots whether they may be beauty, fashion, drinks and even food. Product photography can often be confused with being either commercial or editorial. Depending on if it is the company where the product comes from pays for the image then it would be commercial, or if a magazine commissions the image then it would be editorial, so technically it can be both. The aim of the photographer is always to present the product so that it describe's it in a way that is easy to understand, resulting in sales of the product.
Product photography often includes semiotics that communicates different messages through the images. The image may include other products or objects that are connected to what the product in the advert is focusing on, so that it show's the ingredients or symbols to make it appear more appealing to the viewer. For example the image below, of a vitamin C range from The Body Shop includes the product, oranges, leaves and water droplet/splashes. The other objects other than the product, indicates the freshness of what the product can do and what it is made out of. Semiotics are important in advertising images as it can be more tempting to the viewer to go out and buy whatever the product is.
Lighting is also a huge part in product photography and is very much all of the time shot in a studio. Being shot in a studio means the products can look the best they can be, resulting in more consumption and being bought in shops. In the studio lots of different lighting techniques can be created so that it the product can look how the client or company would like it, so it would look great in an advertisement. Many product shots appear to have a glow and are lighter than any other objects in the image, this is so the viewer's eye will go straight to the product.
Product photography is a large area of modern still life photography and a career in this field can result in working with major beauty, fashion and food brands. It is a huge area of photography that is needed for a lot of commerce companies as well as small ones. I hope to develop my skills in this area, and working in the studio more to achieve this.
Networking is one of the most important roles to result in a successful photography career and business. Whether working as an assistant or an independent photography, it is important to contact photographer that you want to work with or anyone that is needs for the work that is going to be completed in the future such as make up artists, food stylists ect. Anyone that is needed in shoots or for advice, it is critical to have a polite, professional and positive attitude so that people will want to work with you on other shoots and projects again. Below is a list of reasons that I consider to important when networking in the photography industry:
Have a good relationship with clients, they will want to work with you again.
Networking does not cost a lot and with social media it is very easier and fast to present your work. A lot more people will then see your work as other may share it or comment on it.
Conduct yourself in a way you would like others to present themselves to you, the more professional you are the better it will be.
Meet and Greets are available for networking and events in most countries are available for others in the same industry to chat and create contacts. The photography show is an example.
Never use other photographers work to market yourself, it is illegal and not acceptable and basically a slap on the face for the original photography. Also it could become knowledge that it could be not your own work and damage relationships in the future.
Always carry business cards, but do not flaunt them. Only produce if necessary and appropriate opportunity.
If you are collaborating or working with another photographer e.g. at a wedding, it is important to work together and not against each other trying to get the best shot. It will overall result in failure all together.
It is an important aspect of business and social life, that can create relationships with people that have to same passion of photography as you do. If you value these relationships with clients and individuals, it should result in a career long contact.
Overall after doing some research, it is extremely important to network throughout your career. Whether it be business cards or social media, it is crucial to always be professional and aware of what could benefit your career
Photography festivals happen all over the world. They are events that generally celebrate photography in all of its forms and technicalities. People travel all over the world to experience photography festivals, showing how interesting and useful they are. Many events offer portfolio reviews for the public at a price, which can be an extremely effective way of gaining feedback from photographers with many years of success and experience. It can also be a way of networking and achieving the interest of others and resulting in a few contacts that may be useful in the future. Discovering photographers and their work is also a positive of these events, it could lead to a new interest in their work and maybe even meeting them. Overall it is a great way of seeing different parts of the country, or even the world if you explore that far of these photography events, but mainly because of the knowledge that is gained from talking and listening to people in the photography industry. Below are three forthcoming events in the UK.
Format Festival
Format International Photography Festival is one of the UK's leading festivals of photography and media held in Derby, which occurs every two years and this year is held from the 13th of March to the 12th Of April. Every category of photography is included here, from every field you could possibly think of. It is known for bringing forward new work of the best practitioners in the photography world and focuses on the opportunities that can be developed for the people who are involved themselves, but also for the audience. Each of its festivals adopts a theme every year it happens and this year concentrates on "Evidence". The way in which the festival is structured around included its exhibitions, commissions, international open call, events, talks and performance, but also master classes and portfolio reviews. I would definitely be interested in visiting this event as it seems to be organised by people who are passionate about photography and media, but also offers a range of photographers work and an insight into other important factors of photography.
The Photography Show
The Photography Show is one of the most well known events in photography that is held in Birmingham NEC in the UK and is from the 21st-24th of March. It holds possibly everything that is linked photography over its four days at the NEC. A few of its popular events are its photographer speakers on its "Live Stage", who are always big names in the industry, a few from this year includes Don McCullin, Martin Parr, Tom Stoddart and Tim Flach, giving an insight into their careers and what has made them so successful. Other events that go on, is kit demonstrations that offer the chance to see the latest equipment used and also how to use them of a range of camera's. Software demonstrations such as lightroom, adobe and photoshop, the best skills shown from the experts that will talk you through the best tips and tricks of retouching images. Also many different genre's of photography such as Street and Garden photography master classes. These are just a few to name of what goes on at the Photography Show and there are many more to list. The show's website was very useful of what is happening and what are the best things to go to. I would definitely like to visit this event as it offers a range of useful photographic skills to be learned and also an interesting insight in to different area's of photography and equipment.
Photo London
Photo London is held at Somerset House in London from the 21st-24th of May and as it describes its self as a "Unique" new photography event. It is its first time as an event and will feature a international photography fair that will hold 70 exhibitors including many major photography galleries and publishers from around the world. It will had a range of photography from every genre and will hope to engage new audiences for photography and show new talent and promote the concept of photography as a whole that will draw different crowds from all over the world and from the UK to this new and exciting event in our countries capital. The website does not really give away that much information, but shows the exhibitors being included and where it will be held. I think this event has the potential to be successful, but maybe in a few years could be a lot better.
