Product photography should only be done once.
Yet many of my eCommerce clients come to me after multiple DIY attempts. Or amateur product photographers were (regrettably) engaged.
I’m here to help you achieve your eCommerce business dream. Fast.
I’ve refined the craft as a Product Photographer to do precisely this, since 2004.
Let’s do this once, do it right and get your time back for business development!
this product photographer’s efficient process:
How I enable eCommerce sellers to achieve their business dream
1. Pre-production
The most important aspect of a shoot! Where we ascertain your product image needs – and consider your marketing strategy.
This ensures that your product photography is future-proofed, ROI maximised and expectations managed.
Below are some helpful photo shoot tips to help you plan for successful marketing.
2. Production
Execution of the actual product photography – handled by an expert Photographer with over two decades of experience, using state-of-the-art studio equipment.
3. Post-production
Where we handle all the tasks that drive DIY eCommerce imagers bonkers! Processing levels, colour accuracy calibration, imperfection and background removal where required.
Learn about the product photography process below, as well as what I include (which many other product photographers don’t).
Frequently asked questions
Ensuring the best ROI from your product photography project:
How does your ‘Ship & shoot’ service work?
1-Ship Products
If you can’t make it here to the studio, send me your products from anywhere in Australia to shoot. This is a very convenient time-saver for busy business owners.
2-Shoot Products
Your products are then photographed as per your requests to look amazing with state-of-the-art studio equipment.
3-Return Products
Should you want your products back afterwards, no problem. Enjoy no stock-loss by including return postage when you send your products, or opt to have them donated to charity.
Where is your studio located?
Just 25 minutes from Gold Coast airport!
Roller-door access for large product deliveries + off-street client parking
How do you deliver the images to me?
Your images are uploaded to you digitally. You’ll receive an email with a link to click on. The download then begins automatically to your downloads folder. Simple!
Can I afford to invest in pro product photography?
Certainly. In fact, you can’t afford to NOT invest in this. Because if one of your competitor’s does so by investing just a fraction of the revenue that they will generate from pro images, THEY consequently are the ones who win market share.
Studies show that you have just 2 SECONDS to catch the attention of a shopper.
My prices start at just $22 per photo. So let’s do this!
What do I need to prepare for the shoot?
A great place to start, is the ‘Freebies’ page of this site.
You’ll find a FREE downloadable eGuide there, which includes a check-list for you to be shoot-ready.
It will also guide you how to properly brief a Photographer for your shoot. It’s filled with tips to expedite the shoot process – therefore minimising your costs. Grab the other freebies to help market your eCommerce business while you’re there! 😉
Do I need to use a Product Stylist?
Not when your products need to be shot on their own against pure white (e.g. for an Amazon listing).
If you would like STYLED shots, then it depends on the art direction of the project – and your own styling skills. Be realistic about your abilities, as styling can be very subjective!
I’m able to style simpler art direction competently, as I believe ‘less is more’. It’s important that YOUR PRODUCT always remains the ‘hero’ and props etc don’t distract from it.
Gather some inspirational images of similar products that you like the styling of. I’ll then be able to advise if a Stylist is needed to make your vision come to life.
My product is a food. Do I need to use a Food Stylist?
Firstly, this is a team member that client’s are often tempted to exclude, to keep their costs down. While understandable, unless a very talented and studio-experienced chef will be on site to style the food, opting to not contract a Food Stylist for your shoot can be a big mistake. Stylist’s not only know how to make the food look fantastic, but how to do so for the camera.
Secondly, the table styling is often what reiterates the essence of the food. It’s where the story-telling is done. Stylist’s have the experience, props, taste and trade tricks to create the ‘wow’ that you need to move product.
Finally, if your proposed styling is less complex, I have a good eye, so am happy to work with you to avoid the cost of contracting a Food Stylist.
Do you have props that I can use for the shoot?
I have a pretty good range of props to style your products with. From slate stone to wooden tones, That perfect prop or tabletop can also be sourced to help tell the story of your product’s benefits.
I need talent (model/s) for my shoot. Can you help with this?
Product shots that include models, have the power to evoke aspiration, demonstrate use and communicate in a way that appeals to your specific target market.
Start here:
Share with me what demographic these models would be (same as your target market), how many you need, physical characteristics and if you need help sourcing these models. Your options are generally three-fold:
1) Engage with a model agency to cast the right people for you. These tend to be VERY costly – and complex in terms of usage rights.
2) Do a ‘Street casting’ yourself. Search on Instagram for #GoldCoastModel (for e.g.) and see who comes up. Choose the right look for your brand and direct message them with a proposal to shoot, plus the payment that you’re offering.
3) Ask family or friends who have the right look if they’re happy to help with your project.
Do you charge a fee to prep my products?
No. This can include MINOR assembly, as well as polishing smudges and fingerprints off products. This is included at no extra cost. All Photographers, will however need to charge for more time-consuming assembly tasks (furniture, for example), or to clean products that arrive marked with blemishes that will make the product’s attractiveness suffer. Send ONLY your best stock! 😉
How do you cost STYLED shots?
Due to very different requirements for each client, the cost of producing styled images is based on each brief. This is governed by technicality (set and lighting setup time), the number of lighting setup changes needed, cost of props (if applicable) and how much image retouching is required.
Products that are shot ‘on-white’ are priced per product, though styled shots are priced upon briefing. See the ‘Freebies’ page of this site for your free eGuide which includes a section on how to brief me for your shoot. 🙂
Why shouldn’t I take my own shots with my phone?
Firstly, if you need an answer to this question, then you’re probably not ready to wade into the world of eCommerce! This is the common pitfall that has seen countless marketing campaigns and businesses fail. Accurate colour and premium lighting handled by a professional photographer using studio gear is vital.
For interesting real-world stats and studies that irrefutably prove this (fairly obvious) fact, check out the free eGuide on my ‘Freebies’ page!
Is it really so important to keep up with eCommerce trends?
Yes – arguably moreso than any other industry. The algorithms that drive traffic to your listings and social media posts are constantly changing. You can follow any of my social feeds for this purpose, and/or subscribe to the helpful YouTube channel. The channel shares e-Commerce trends, tips and case studies to help you learn how to grow more and position yourself in this exciting space. Subscribe today (it’s free)!
My social media is being taken care of. How will you add value or impact to this?
Investing in social media marketing without first investing in image content and content strategy is a guaranteed waste of your money. Image content for social media must be two things – of high relevance and constantly refreshed.
Brands that understand this and engage with their industry not only sell more – they generate followers that will promote their business, unprompted. Users will do so for as long as your social media feed is feeding their appetite for relevant updates and fresh imagery. This is why I position myself as more than a bi-annual photographer to my clients. Effective brands build ongoing, close relationships with marketing support partners to maximise their ROI.
Why are you my best choice of Photographer?
Hopefully by now you get a sense that I know a little bit about marketing strategy.
Prior to becoming a Photographer, I was an award-winning Graphic Designer, specialising in branding. So I understand successful strategy that establishes and builds brands.
Being available to clients for advice on brand and marketing strategy keeps me engaged in both fields, which maximises my offering to my clients. I know of no other Product Photographer in Australia who can offer this background or insight.
In 2020 I was named in the ‘Top 10 Food Photographers of the World’ at the Foodelia International Food Photography Awards in London. This is one of the world’s most highly-regarded food photography awards.
In 2019 and 2021 I was named ‘Commercial Photographer of the Year’ for Queensland. But most importantly, I love what I do and am more than a tad obsessed with light!
What is ‘Pre-production’ and why is it important?
A vital consideration for you will be planning the art direction. If you don’t have an Art Director or Graphic Designer working with you, I’ll help you settle on a clear idea of how you’d like the photographs to look. Lighting style, background, props, image proportions and how much excess image area needs to be shot to place text against (for example), will all be ascertained prior to the shoot.
Do you charge for this pre-production time?
Products shot on-white are super-quick to plan and often have zero fees involved. But in the case of styled images, it’s time-consuming to conceptualise the look of a client’s image suite, as it can be done in endless ways.
PRO TIP: Minimise this time by sharing some inspirational images of similar products that you like the styling of. The better refined your brief, the quicker we know what we’re shooting and how.
The fee for pre-production shoot planning is $95 p/hr.
What is ‘Post-production’?
This is where we handle all of the tasks that drive DIY eCommerce imagers bonkers! Processing of levels, colour accuracy calibration, removal of imperfections and background removal where required – to name just a few aspects.
I need a good Designer / Web Developer / Social Media Strategist / SEO specialist! Do you know of any?
Yes – I’m happy to connect you with the people in my network who I’ve come to trust over many projects. These are the people who I trust enough to connect my own clients with.
All the above services can be provided remotely, so this offer stands for eCommerce businesses Australia-wide, who don’t have the time or money to find and try-out a new service provider (who may or may not be competent)! Email me and I’ll make an introduction for you. 🙂