Today’s question is from Myriam, who writes…
Hi Jess! I follow your blog from France and I just love reading the interesting articles published. This is really useful information! I’ve seen a post about photographing small things and I’d like to ask a question about the opposite : what about photographing big things, such as aprons on a mannequin ? I hope you can answer my question and give tips and advice on the site. Thanks, Myriam
Well, this is actually a question that Jeffrey answers in more detail in the upcoming Create & Thrive Guide: Product Photography, but I thought I’d share a snippet from the Guide that might help you head in the right direction…
Photographing Big Things: Use a Wide Angle Lens or Move it Outside
Fitting a large item into the frame of your camera is a tough challenge to overcome. One way to fit it in is to use a wide angle lens or the widest setting of a zoom lens (somewhere between 10mm and 24mm). A wide angle setting can squeeze more space into your frame but creates some distortion. If you can’t fit your object into the frame of the camera, you just need to back away from it. If you cannot back far enough away, that is when you may need to move it outside or to a larger space. For example, photographers who shoot cars take advantage of enormous studios that are much larger than a standard garage.
Find some outside space you can turn into your own large studio.
Bring your large item outside on an overcast day to take advantage of soft, diffused light. Just make sure that you stage the area to look like a studio or the environment where your large item belongs.
There’s obviously a ton more to consider – like backgrounds, modelling options, editing etc… but getting the right space is the first step. That final line is a really important step – if you’re taking something outside to photograph it, don’t just use a random garden background. Find something that works with the item – something that both compliments your branding and looks natural. Unless ‘outdoors’ fits with your branding, set things up so the customer can’t even tell you’re taking the photos outdoors!
Do you have big products? How do YOU photograph them?
