Why do different products require different photographic approaches? And what do we mean by this?

Not every product is created equally. Different products require different photographic approaches and styles. Every product has different needs and functions, and to understand how to best photograph it, the photographer must first understand the purpose of the product.

For example, let’s say we have an ergonomic mouse pad that we are trying to photograph and sell. One idea to showcase the mouse would be to show how well it fits in a person's hand by photographing it being used by someone. Shape is also important for differentiating between products with similar purposes. For example, if your mouse pad is round and another brand has a rectangular version of that same product, then this difference would be important to capture in photography.

The product’s target market is also a relevant factor when choosing a photographic approach, as each target market may value different things. For example, the way you may photograph a protein bar for an athletic adult would be very different than how you would photograph a candy bar for a child. You may want to portray the protein bar in a way that would help the adult picture themselves gaining something from eating it, whether that may be portraying how much better they would feel during their workouts after eating it, or grabbing it as a snack to eat before they leave for the day. For the candy bar to be more appealing to a child, photographing it in a colorful setting with props that help accentuate how tasty it is would be very conducive towards that goal! Both of these methods will help allow customers to see the product in an appealing light.

Even if you have two products that are being used for the same purposes, they will still need to be photographed differently depending on their brands. Let’s say you have two different backpacks from two different brands that need to be photographed. One brand is an athletic brand who makes a backpack that is specifically used for hiking. The other brand makes backpacks specifically for kids to use at school. You would have to approach the two backpack photographs differently: showcasing the hiking backpack in a way that is appealing to hikers, and showcasing the school backpack in a way that is appealing for students. Either way, the photographs would not be the same. Do you see what we are getting at here?

If you sell a product that needs to be professionally photographed to make sales, let’s chat! Schedule your free consult call with us today HERE.