Even with a limited budget, you can get clean, clear, and visually consistent photographs of your products. This will make your catalog more attractive and ultimately help increase sales. For a range of identical products, simpler yet no less effective photography solutions are possible.
To ensure the result meets your expectations, it’s important to consider six basic recommendations when preparing the Brief.
1. One lighting setup for the entire range
I always try to organize the shoot so that one lighting setup works for all items. The light, background, and composition are set once, and then I carefully swap the products. For the client, this means fewer shooting hours and a lower cost per image — without sacrificing quality.
2. One style for the entire range
It’s often tempting to photograph each product “a little differently.” I understand that, but if the goal is a website, catalog, or marketplaces, a consistent style works better. I usually recommend one or two angles, the same composition for the whole series, and a focus on clarity and readability of the product.
3. A good brief saves money
The clearer we agree on everything before the shoot, the smoother and more affordable the process will be. When I understand in advance where the images will be used, which angles are mandatory, and what is definitely not needed, I can organize the shoot as efficiently as possible — without unnecessary tests or revisions.
4. It’s better to shoot everything at once
If possible, I always recommend photographing the entire range in one shooting day. This avoids resetting the lighting each time and returning to decisions already made. Plus, the whole series will look visually cohesive, which is especially important for a brand.
5. Identical products — one retouching approach
When working with series, I use a unified retouching approach. This speeds up post-production and helps maintain the same clean look across all products. As a result, the client gets a neat, consistent series without overpaying for extra retouching hours.
6. One reference image
Create one “reference” image — polished to perfection — and then adjust all other shots to match this standard. This is a great way to maintain high quality across the entire series while keeping the budget under control.
Budget is something that can and should be discussed — I’m always open to conversation. In most cases, it’s possible to offer a simpler yet equally effective solution tailored to a specific task.
My goal is not just to create beautiful images, but to make sure the photographs actually work — and, of course, are cost-effective.
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