This comprehensive buyers guide was put together to help
individuals or companies looking into outsourcing their
product photography. It will assist you in picking the right
studio for your project and answer many common questions
first time customers have when looking for a product photographer
or product photography studio.
Traditional, On-Site or Mail-Order Product Photography
The first thing for you to decide is whether a traditional,
on-site or mail order photographer is better suited for
your needs. Each have their advantages and disadvantages.
Traditional - If you need to sit in and direct your photo
shoot or if you need elaborate sets designed then a traditional
studio might make more sense for you. With a traditional
studio you'll usually be required to schedule studio time
and will most likely be charged a sitting fee, hourly studio
rates and itemized hourly editing fees. Generally a traditional
studio will cost quite a bit more than the other two options.
On Site - Many photographers will travel directly to your
location with all their equipment to shoot your products.
This may be the best way to go if your products are very
heavy, fragile and/or extremely expensive. You'll also have
the advantage of sitting in on the photo shoot. A few disadvantages
would be: 1) It is quite time consuming to set up and break
down lighting, backgrounds and other various camera equipment
so you can count on this extra travel/on-site expense being
passed onto you. 2) The photos have to be captured perfectly
the first time. If you're unhappy with a shot the day after,
there is no way to quickly re-shoot it.
Mail Order - A mail order studio, such as productimage.com,
can be a very economical solution for your product photography
needs. Their are no studio sitting or on location fees and
you can have as many or as few shots done as you need while
only paying one "per image" flat rate. This is
great when you only need one or two shots done. All proofing
is done online so if you're not happy with a shot it's very
easy to reshoot. Even though you end up having additional
shipping expenses it is usually much more affordable in
the end to use a mail order studio.
Budget
Creating a product photography budget may be simple for
some and a bit more challenging for others. Things such
as sales volume, product costs and how frequently you redesign
packaging should be taken into consideration. No matter
what your circumstances, figure out a price that fits your
needs before you begin your search. Often a product photographer
will be able to flex a little on pricing. A studio like
productimage.com can custom tailor a solution to fit almost
any budget.
Questions to ask
In the process of interviewing product photographers you'll
find that pricing and skill levels are all over the place.
Like with anything else, you get what you pay for. Look
at all their sample work and ask to see a high-resolution
sample photo. Experience, quality of equipment, camera resolution
and even studio location can affect prices quite a bit.
Here are few things you should ask when you request a quote
from a product photography studio. All of them will directly
effect pricing.
1) How long have you been doing product photography?
2) What kind of cameras do you use? What resolution?
3) What kind of editing, if any, do you include with your
prices?
4) How quickly will I get my photos?
5) Do you include clipping paths?
6) Do you include web and print preparation?
7) How are the photos delivered?
8) Are the photos royalty free?
9) What if I'm not happy with the photos?
10) Can you shoot a sample for me?
Pricing
Pay very close attention to how much editing is included
in the price you receive. Some studios include clipping
paths, web prep, print prep, retouching and online delivery
for free, while others might charge extra.
Be prepared to pay set up fees for products that require
assembly. Group shots will always be quoted at a higher
rate than a single product shot because of the extra time
required to set up, properly light and edit the photo.
Most mail order studios you find online will offer "per
photo" prices that decrease with the number of products
you have photographed. These tiered pricing structures vary
quite a bit from one studio to another and can be confusing
when compared. You want to find the best combination of
pricing/quality/services/reputation to fit your budget and
photography needs.
We're here to answer your question
Productimage.com prides itself on being a reputable and
honest studio with very reasonable prices. We would love
to help you with any of your product photography or editing
needs. If you have a question about us or would like to
discuss your project, please send us an e-mail
or call us Toll Free at (866)683-0306.
