Location Photography: When Should Products Be Photographed On-Site?
Plus, how shooting on-location saved this Wilton, NH company time and stress
Sixty miles: that’s about the distance between Wilton, NH and Boston, MA. Which also happens to be the distance one of my Wilton, NH clients was about to lug a bunch of large, heavy belt-winding cores – just so they could get some professional product shots for their marketing materials. I happened to be at this client’s facility shooting some lifestyle photos when I first learned about this plan. The owner mentioned they were trying to figure out the best way to haul these not-so-portable products over to a Boston studio where they’d be shot.
products over to a Boston studio where they’d be shot.
It quickly occurred to me that this client may not be aware, that these days, this type of product photography could actually be done right on location. Not only would this save them time, but it would also save them the headache of trying to figure out transportation logistics.
I emailed the owner to let him know this was an option and to share some sample work of a similar on-location photoshoot I did in the past.
The owner was pretty thrilled to hear this was a possibility. And the next thing we knew, I was the one transporting equipment over to their facility, and not the other way around. The thing is, today’s modern gear is much smaller, and therefore easier, for photographers to move around. There is a lot more flexibility regarding what can be shot on-location than there used to be.
So, this raises an important question:
What can be shot on-location these days?
This wasn’t the only time I noticed confusion around what kinds of photography sessions can be done on site nowadays. Because the truth is, there are a lot more options than there used to be.
Here are some examples:
- Lifestyle shoots where the facility is an integral part of the photographs
- When products are too large, bulky, or heavy to transport
- When a large number of corporate headshots is needed
- Photoshoots showcasing a client’s facility/production process etc.
- When insurance is an issue (e.g., expensive jewelry)
- When government restrictions require new location permits
If you find yourself in one of these categories – or simply prefer a location photography shoot for the sake of time and ease – be sure to check with your photographer to make sure he or she has the experience and available equipment that allows them the flexibility to travel to you.
Want more information on booking a location photography session? Reach out anytime!
Tags: professional photographer