There were no interior lights turned on in this airplane hangar. I chose to open the hangar door behind us and use the natural light from the skylight. When I turned around to shoot the airplane (below), I changed the white balance temperature to 3350 to get this blue water look. View more business photography.
Author Archives: Doug Simon
Lunar Eclipse-Blood Moon in 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
Business Video
Each business video begins with a script. It’s a blueprint for the filming and any stills needed. The opening for this was created in After Effects using logo art from the web designer. Simple transitions and small movements worked for the screen captures needed, subtle movement is powerful. The opening video is a high key setting, while closing with an intimate office set-up for a nice contrast. Captioning is simple with a clear font and minimal movement to avoid clutter. The length of video is ideal, just over the minute mark.
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.
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.
Alternative to Stock Photography
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.
Creative Product Staging
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.
Bedding Staging Product Photography
Fully staged this bedding shot combined full props, natural light and composite photography. Thorough experimentation with the sheets to find the best display for pattern and colors. All other elements needed to funnel the eye toward the bed sheets. Two products in the nightstand help to solidify the product in this grand setting. While an intimate shot this required placement of the bed, nightstand and shooting the window light separately to give maximum control.
Product Bottle 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.
Liquor Bottle Staging Photography
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.
Product Staging Photography
Staging photography enhances a product in variety of ways, creating a beautiful setting with props, lights, visual aids or composite photography.
While this is a simple looking shot, it took multiple lighting techniques, composite photography and custom camera settings to achieve this desired look.
The same bottle was re-shot with a chilling blue (see below), using diffusion to create a background, precision is the key.