How it works

FACT: Product photography should only be done once. Yet many of our clients come to us after multiple attempts at DIY and/or amateur photographers have been engaged because they were $5 cheaper per image.

We’re here solely to help you achieve your business dream in terms of sales conversions, and have refined our craft and processes to do precisely this, since 2004. Let’s do this once, do it right and give you your time back for business development.

Product shoot BTS Tezzi 5 SMALL

the most efficient product photography process:

How we enable eCommerce sellers to achieve their business dream

1. Pre-production

The most important aspect of every shoot. This is where we ascertain not just your image needs, but also your marketing strategy, to ensure that your product shots are future-proofed, ROI is maximised and expectations are managed.
We’ve put together some helpful tips below to help you plan for successful marketing.

2. Production

Execution of the actual product photography taken care of by experts with almost two decades of experience, using state-of-the-art studio equipment.

3. 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 clean background removal where required – to name just a few aspects.
In the below FAQ’s, you can learn about all the things that we include, which many other product photography services don’t.

Frequently asked questions

Ensuring the best ROI from your product photography project:

Aj Navrin Face Serum 1
How does your ‘Ship & shoot’ service work?
1-Ship Products

If you can’t make it here to the studio, send us your products from anywhere in Australia for us to shoot. This is a super-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

If you would like your products back after the job is complete, we will take care of it. Enjoy no stock-loss by including return postage when you send us 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 will be sent to you via an FTP download. You’ll receive an email with a link that you simply click on. The download begins automatically to your downloads folder. Simple!
Can I afford to invest in pro product photography?
Absolutely. In fact, you can’t afford to NOT invest in this. If just one of your competitor’s does so by investing just a fraction of the revenue that they will generate from pro images, then THEY are the ones who will take advantage of the fact that people shop by image. Studies show that you have just 2 SECONDS to catch the attention of a shopper.
Our prices start at just $22 per photo. So let’s do this!
What do I need to prepare before the shoot?
A great place to start, is the ‘Freebies’ page of this site.
There, you will find a FREE downloadable eGuide which includes a check-list for you to go through to be shoot-ready, as well as how to properly brief a Photographer for your shoot. It’s filled with tips to expedite the shoot process (and therefore minimise your costs). Grab the other freebies to help your eCom business while you’re there! You’re welcome. 😉
Do I need to use a Product Stylist?
If your products are being shot on their own against pure white (such as for an Amazon title image), then no, definitely not.
If you would like STYLED shots, then it really depends on the art direction of the project, as well as your own styling skills. Be realistic about your own abilities, as styling can be very subjective and I’ve seen clients who have (frankly) a very delusional sense of what looks not only attractive, but marketable!

Typically I am capable to style your products competently, as I believe ‘less is more’. It’s important that YOUR PRODUCT always remains the hero and is not too distracted from with props etc.
Gather some inspirational images of similar products that you like the styling of and I’ll be able to quickly advise if a Stylist is needed to make your vision come to life.

My product is food-based. Do I need to use a Food Stylist?
This is a team member that client’s are often tempted to exclude, to keep their costs down. While understandable, unless an incredibly 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.
Beyond this, the table styling is often what reiterates the essence of the food and is where the contemporary story telling is done. They have the experience, props, taste and trade tricks that allow the effective communication that both your food and brand need to move product. This is the sole reason why I don’t mark-up my Food Stylist’s fee. This helps keep it more affordable and encourages my clients to not pass over such an important team member who makes such a large contribution to their shoot’s success.

Of course, if your proposed styling is less complex, then I have a good eye and am happy to work with you to avoid the cost of contracting a Food Stylist.

Do you have props that we can use for the shoot?
We have a pretty good range of props to style your products with. From slate stone to wooden tones, we can also source that perfect prop or tabletop that helps 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 us what demographic these models would be (same as your target market), how many you need, physical characteristics and whether or not you’ll need help sourcing this talent for the shoot. Your options are generally two-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 legalities.
2) Do a ‘Street casting’ yourself. Search on Instagram for #GoldCoastModel (for example) and see who comes up. Choose the right look for your brand and approach them via direct message with a proposal to shoot and the hourly fee 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 at eCommerceImages.com. 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.
How do you cost STYLED shots?
Due to the broadly different requirements for each client, the cost of producing styled images is based on time requirements. 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 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 us for your shoot. 🙂

Why shouldn’t I take my own shots on my phone for my listing?
Time for some cold love! 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 fail, often followed by the business. Accurate colour and lighting handled by a professional photographer using professional gear, is vital.
For interesting real-world stats and studies that irrefutably prove this (fairly obvious) fact, check out the free eGuide on our ‘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 our social media feeds for this purpose, and/or subscribe to the helpful YouTube channel. The channel shares trends, tips and case studies to help e-Commerce sellers learn about how they can grow more and position themselves 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 accompanied by ongoing fresh imagery. This is why I position myself as more than a bi-annual photographer to my clients. Effective brands build relationships with support partners to maximise the benefits for both parties in an ongoing manner.

Why are you my best choice of Photographer?
If you’ve read this far, you’re hopefully starting to get a sense that I know a little bit about brand positioning. Photography aside, I was a multi award-winning Graphic Designer for many years, specialising in branding. So I understand successful strategy that establishes and builds brands. This is why I partner with my clients and engage with their brand long after we’ve shot together.

Being available to clients for advice on brand and marketing strategy keeps me engaged in both fields that I love and 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. This has become one of the world’s most contested 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 for you, you’ll need to settle on a very clear idea of how you would 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), all need to 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 $90 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 clean background removal where required – to name just a few aspects.
Read more HERE about all the things that we include, which many other product photography services don’t.
I need a good Designer / Web Developer / Social Media Strategist / SEO specialist! Do you know of any?
Yes – I am more than 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 of 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 at what they do. Email me and I’ll make an introduction for you. 🙂

Ready for sales-driven product photography?

eCommerceImages have been working with WorkwearHub for a number of years and produce excellent work for us. We are more than happy to recommend them.
Mark Adams
Owner at WorkwearHub
eCommerceImages have been working with WorkwearHub for a number of years and produce excellent work for us. We are more than happy to recommend them.
Mark Adams
Owner at WorkwearHub
Paul took our photography to an entirely new level both creatively and professionally. He is genuinely passionate about our business which is demonstrated by sharing new ideas and inspiration...
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Adriana Rehbein
Digital Marketing Manager at Sleepy’s
Paul took our photography to an entirely new level both creatively and professionally. He is genuinely passionate about our business which is demonstrated by sharing new ideas and inspiration before each photo shoot, providing the opportunity to gradually evolve, be appealing to our market and stay on brand. His innovation, work ethic and culture is a perfect fit for Sleepy’s.
Adriana Rehbein
Digital Marketing Manager at Sleepy’s
From a quick google search of food photographers on the Gold Coast, it was no question that Paul was the best. My experience using him for my food product was ...
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Jordan Au
Owner at Gold Coast Cookies
From a quick google search of food photographers on the Gold Coast, it was no question that Paul was the best. My experience using him for my food product was outstanding. He is truly an artist and sets himself a high standard. Our photos make people feel hungry, feel like they need to buy our products and suit the brand perfectly.
Jordan Au
Owner at Gold Coast Cookies