As a marketing agency, 341 Studios is no stranger to using custom, high-quality images to give a client’s ads and promo materials visual oomph. While using stock photography is fine for the design comp, when it comes to the final product, professionalism is top priority. That is why we asked professional Photographer, Donna Callighan of Donna Callighan’s PHOTO designs to explain how a commercial photographer can be an asset for your business images.

Most people’s experience with a professional photographer is for their school portrait or hiring one for their wedding. However, we commercial photographers are a different type of service and are mostly focused on helping businesses sell their products or services for B2B or B2C.

The images we create for clients are used in advertising, websites, annual reports, and other collateral materials. Our equipment toolboxes are usually far more complex to solve more unique and varied lighting challenges than a wedding or portrait photographers’ kit or studio.

Here are some guidelines for how to communicate with a commercial photographer. These are some of the things we need to know to properly estimate and prepare for your job.

Product Photography:

1. How large will the images ever be seen? (think billboard, poster, banner vs. ad, or brochure)
2. Where are the images going to be used? (transport stations, highway, etc.)
3. Are you doing a media buy or ad placement?
4. Is the product made of glass, glossy metallic, or transparent?
5. What type of background do you envision? Sweep or horizon line, or do we need to illustrate the product ‘in use’?
6. Is the product going to be silhouetted against a color or white background?
7. Can we sum up the product’s features in one shot?
8. When is our deadline?

People Photography:

1. Studio or location?
2. What is the background?
3. Number of people? Headshot or group shot?
4. Wardrobe? Who is YOUR market that you want to impress? Traditional look or contemporary? Formal or relaxed?
5. Wardrobe – stay away from whites or colors lighter than your skin tone, and large-patterned print fabrics. We want the viewer to look you straight in your eyes – anything brighter will detract from that goal.
6. Mood? Most people want to do business with sincere, approachable, and confident professionals. A good photographer can help you bring out those attributes during the session.