Now that Google is looking less favorably on stock photography you’ll be looking at options for original photos for your website. If your business produces products you’ll find this an easier solution. But when you provide services it can be more challenging to find ways to compose photos to represent your services.
Google has expanded its desire for original content to include original photography, and is looking less favorably on stock photography. It is part of how Google decides which websites have more authority. As the internet has morphed it’s a natural progression for each website to have its own original content for a unique online presence.
As you travel the internet you’ll begin to recognize stock photography as you see the same photo on multiple websites. Stock photography used to be a cost effective solution for website owners. Recent years have seen substantial increases in the cost of stock photography. If you choose 10 photos at $50 each for your website – you can afford to have original photos shot.
These two shots are staged. Using promotional items strengthens the branding, and also helps deter your website photos being stolen.
Another huge plus for having your own photos is Google’s image search. Your images will work as an advertisement for your services and products. Bring an original touch to your website. View more staged photography.
Staging photography is about total light control. The shutter allowed light manipulation behind the olive oil bottle. The light in this case is a photographic light balanced and diffused to match sunlight. Separate lighting on the garlic, peppers and tomatoes give yet more control adding dimension to this olive oil bottle staging.
The fire behind the bourbon bottle was photographed waiting as the flames flared to balance the bottle, and monitoring the light it cast on the bottle, glass, cigar—even the limes. Ice cubes were created from acrylic – sized proportionately to fit the glass. The second staging for this product (see below) focuses on a clean sharp reflection accented by diffusion lighting.
Merchants selling on Amazon.com are asked to submit their catalog of product images on an all white background. There are a couple of ways to shoot your products to look their best.
These samples are not cutouts nor photo edited-these are as shot. Here is an example without any shadows:
Product Photo without shadows
Product Photography with shadow
Visit our Catalog Photography and Product Photography pages.
Beauty Dish Photography
This is a simple one light shot. White back drop, a beauty dish with an Einstein 640 flash, 1/4 power. Light was positioned to the extreme camera left approx. 45 degree angle over shoulder of man pointed at girl.
Canon 7D
lens: 70-200mm f/2.8
Aperture f8
Shutter Speed 1/250
White background turned grey since the couple was 8 feet in front. The skin tones varied dramatically, desaturation was the ideal solution.
Think you need a full studio to take a terrific dramatic portrait?
This is a simple one light portrait, referred to as “Paramount Lighting” (AKA “Butterfly Lighting”). Paramount Lighting was developed by a photographer at Paramount Studios in the 1930s. It was a dramatic and easy way to take publicity photos of their stars. It was an easy setup and proved to be very dramatic. Read more.
I used a 300 watt daylight fluorescent bulb and a small 16″ square soft-box with one diffuser panel. (No flash, continuous light) Placed above the camera, pointed at the subject. Used a tripod.
In Photoshop I posterized the background, and saturated the orange decals.
You don’t need special lighting for this one. Turn off your flash, put your camera on manual.
This is a simple shot. You need one household goose-neck lamp with an 18 watt 2700 K energy saver warm bulb. When you purchase energy saver bulbs you’ll notice you often have a choice between daylight balanced and soft white (might read “warm”). Soft white/warm is the typical indoor lighting we all use. This table is pine with a flat finish. The reflection comes from the gold gilded page edges.
Turn off the lights in the room. Focus your goose-neck on the edge of the book. Experiment with camera angles. Use a tripod and a self timer or a remote control. Very simple.
Canon 7D used
Camera settings:
lens: 100mm f/2.8 macro
shutter speed: 1/50
aperture: 2.8
ISO: 200
white balance: “white florescent light” (if using a Canon 7D)
your camera may have a similar setting option, go to the menu and find “white balance”
Have fun!
Bokeh is the background blurred effect created by being out of focus, using a wide aperture.
This image was taken using a 35mm lens 2.8 aperture. Notice the trees and the motorcycle headlight are all out of focus, yet the subjects are in clear focus. That’s the art of getting bokeh by using a wide aperture. Unfortunately, the better the bokeh – the more expensive the lens.
Remember when using a wide open aperture focusing becomes difficult. The wider the aperture the narrower the focus field. At 1.2 or 1.4 you’re dealing with inches on a horizontal plane. Sometimes pinpoint manual focusing is necessary through using Live View – if using Canon 7D.
Practice, practice, practice.
You’re wanting to photograph your new dining room table. That lovely finish reflects your flash, ruining your shot.
You need to shoot without flash. That means getting as much area light as you can, but that light needs to be the “same” light. You don’t want your dining room curtains open letting in sunlight mixing with your fixture lights. This results in mixing warm and cold light and the results are adverse. Close the curtains and turn on all available lights.
The advantage in shooting inanimate objects is you can use low shutter speed. You need to use a tripod for low shutter speeds. Lower your ISO. If you’re at 800, try 400 AND lower the shutter speed. Keep going lower until you achieve the desired photo. Test test, test.
You can see examples of product photography.
