Original Photography vs Stock Photography

original photography versus stock photography

taken on-site at auto repair shop

As a photographer I can appreciate stock photography. Well lit images, with models, shiny clean cars and wonderful macro photography. For business owners they have been a resource for a long time to get professional photography onto their website. Consider lifestyle photography for polished original images of your business.

As the internet has evolved users have become savvier with higher expectations. In a visual world photos are seen faster than website copy is read, which gives them the potential to deliver a message quicker. Users have become cynical: “Are we supposed to believe that model works at your company? And are these people always that happy discussing one piece of paper?” On top of this skepticism you run the risk of these same images being seen repeatedly on other websites – and worse…a competitor’s site. Show pictures of real customers, your staff, your product, and your location. A professional photographer not only brings proper equipment, but helpful insight into staging scenes to cover all your photo needs from staff to facility, and services.

Use your photos on your website to deliver your message with text laid across the image. Make a bold statement – and keep it real.

Google has taken an interest in photos and how to give more weight to original photography versus stock images. That is reason enough to take a closer look at professional photography for your business. Google is secretive in many of the “how” they make their decisions, rather than waiting to figure it out, take heed and make a change.

While everyone has a smartphone/iPhone and can take good photos – at some point you will need a professional photographer to take your business photos to the next level. This is especially true when your business is a product, or your product is you – as a service provider. We hire professionals when we want the job done right – from plumbers to electricians to photographers. It’s your business; put your best face forward to the public.

medical-lab-technician

Male Portrait Poses

Portrait Photography

Equipment used:
Paul Buff 86 inch PLM
PLM 7 feet back from subject with photographer in front of it
Einstein 640 Studio Flash
white sweep
Canon 6D, 35mm 1.4

Information on posing men for portraits is far less easy to find than posing women.  The male portrait is about capturing completely different traits.  Rather than cute or glamorous the male portrait is about strength, fitness, coolness, ease or likability.

Typically men need a purpose for their hands.  If not using their hands, they can get fidgety and feel uncomfortable.

This model was awkward smiling directly into the camera and as with most male clients: didn’t know what to do with his hands.  The photographer had him put one hand in a pocket, the other holding a pair of glasses.  The assistant was off to the side making the model laugh.  The photographer said, “When you start laughing look into the camera” and we got the shot.

Portrait Photography on White

Portrait Photography on White Background

This setting was chosen by the photographer to capture the subject, who is an artist, in a pensive mood while she creates.  This brings the focus to the face while keeping the body language central in the composition.

Using a white background for this portrait is all about bathing the subject in translucent white, having her melt into the surrounding white. To achieve this stunning effect requires a wash of light. The photographer used two Paul Buff 86 inch PLM soft silver with diffusion, lighting the sides and background; and a 64 inch PLM in front of the subject.  The light is critical to obtaining this elegant softness of light. This shot required no Photoshop.

Portrait Photography Composite

Composite Portrait Photography

This portrait was shot on a grey background on location. The simple staging of a coffee table gave nice foreground texture.  The light source was a Paul Buff 22 inch beauty dish with a grid.  This bounce flash light modifier is beautifully flattering to faces.

The photographer’s library of backgrounds is a collection of textured surfaces such as tin siding, stucco walls, weather beaten exterior house walls, stone surfaces, etc.  These he shoots specifically for this purpose of blending and layering to build up an artistic backdrop for a studio portrait.  The manipulating of these backgrounds takes place in Photoshop to his creative eye. This background was a composite of 2 backgrounds over the grey studio backdrop.

Read more on our website about backgrounds for portraits.

Portrait Photographer

Onsite Portrait Photographer

What goes into a portrait photography session?

This is an in-home session.  This small house had no background photographic opportunities.  The photographer created one from a set of window blinds. Despite looking like it was shot at sunset this is a staged shot-manipulating the background.  We created this effect by setting up tungsten lighting outside the window at night.  Adjusting the window shades for the precise bounce of light gave the photographer the control he wanted. Using a handheld flash allowed for exactness in adding the highlights to face and hair. Every angle and tilt of camera complete the composition of the subject.  Once softness and overall look was established to the photographer’s eye the session proceeds with multiple shots.  Finishing touches are completed in Photoshop for facial tone and minor touch-up.

Read more on our website about backgrounds for portraits.

Commercial Facility Photography

Industrial Warehouse Photography
Your typical three story industrial distribution warehouse building. Getting the exterior shot was the simplest part of this job, but the client installed a massive air conditioning system and wanted to capture the expanse of this project.

Distribution Warehouse Photographer
These air conditioning ducts are massive. This ended up being a pretty shot – architecturally speaking.Commercial Photographer
You can’t get this with your iPhone. Critical to my client were shots of the air ducts – which were 3 stories up, no ladder or lift system to get me close, and these ceilings were 80% dark.  The crew was laying in the ceiling panels as I worked staying ahead of them before the window to shoot was gone.  I used a 35 mm lens and metered for the darkness to achieve the results above.

Industrial Building Photography

Industrial Photography
This industrial air conditioning system sets on the roof of a massive distribution warehouse, three stories up with many, many units.  The only access to the roof was via an access ladder which is straight up the wall, with a platform halfway up and a safety fence encircling the ladder for the final climb.  And carrying a camera bag.Industrial Warehouse Photography

Choosing Images for Your Website

Every business wants their website to reflect the best about their business.Your website is the cornerstone of your marketing. Every ad whether print or online directs potential clients to your website. Your business practices, expertise, standards and customer service all are contained on your website for visitors to review.

A well designed website with easy navigation is critical to the functionality of your site. The internet is a visual world and having professional photos can make all the difference. Visitors’ expectations are highly visual-raise the level of your website to keep them visually engaged, read your message and convert to a customer.  Read another opinion.  View our Business Gallery.

original photography versus stock photography

Lunar Eclipse-Blood Moon in California

Lunar Eclipse, California

The lunar eclipse April 15, 2014 was spectacular to see.  Couldn’t resist capturing a few shots.  Short of having telescopic lenses here is a way to use the tools you might have.

A tripod is a must. Hands off the camera and use a 10 second delay to stop lens shake.  Using a 70-200mm lens on a crop sensor camera equals a 300mm lens.

ISO 125
Aperture 2.8
Shutter Speed 1 second

Commercial Photographer

Commercial photographers have more creativity than you think.  It’s about manipulating the elements.  This is an exciting dramatic photo using only one light.

commercial photography

Arri Fresnel 650 with a 300 watt bulb
Using a plastic diffusion sheet background called translum made by Savage paper.
Lens EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM
ISO Speed 125
White Balance Mode Color Temperature(9900K)
Av( Aperture Value ) 16.0
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 0.3

Business owners need original photos for their marketing.  So many clients have been exasperated feeling they have nothing worth photographing, particularly when their business is service oriented or their tools are not flashy and exciting.  As a commercial photographer it’s my challenge to find interesting composition in the ordinary.  This turns an ordinary table top photo into a dazzling advertisement image.