p.1 #1 · How to photograph construction site to promote business
I am working on construction products catalog.
From artistic point of view photographing construction site is difficult to impress the viewer
The scene is not a nature scene, or a model to capture the beauty of God creation/evolution. But rather artificial/man made (which can be beautiful like classic cars and old airplanes and many other crafts but not construction site).
I found 3d software like blender and 3ds max generated images coupled with real seen photographs can make nice product catalog to impress the customer than just abstract photographs.
down is a link to some construction site photos that I took few months back with the z7 and kit lens
I still do not feel comfortable including such images in product catalog. just started in blender to see what I can do.
p.1 #2 · How to photograph construction site to promote business
you need to "look over" the environment. see what the central action area is and then the supporting satellite areas are that work around it. tie things together. put a script together showing the workflow.
look up the work done by Peter B Kaplan. his most famous "construction" shot was call "Moon over Manhattan". probably not a great advert photo but highly enlightening. the then Mayor Ed Koch thought so.
p.1 #5 · How to photograph construction site to promote business
sjms wrote:
you need to "look over" the environment. see what the central action area is and then the supporting satellite areas are that work around it. tie things together. put a script together showing the workflow.
look up the work done by Peter B Kaplan. his most famous "construction" shot was call "Moon over Manhattan". probably not a great advert photo but highly enlightening. the then Mayor Ed Koch thought so.
p.1 #9 · How to photograph construction site to promote business
sjms wrote:
pray tell why would you say that and what's so amusing about it?
oh, by the way PB did
How about because this is a forum to discuss Nikon gear, not general photography questions.
So what if the OP used a Nikon camera? Do you think that is the only brand of camera that could be used for the subject he is talking about?
I guess Canon, Sony, Fuji, Olympus, etc., etc. gear could not do the same thing. Maybe the OP only wants advice on
How to photograph construction site from Nikon owners.
JFYI, forums not specifically for Nikon or any other brand.
In the past when I post my question outside the Nikon forum, I get 0 replies.
the forum is like a community where people get used to each other just by seeing each others post time after time until they become familiar.
In the beginning even in Nikon forum I get no replies, so I do not want to start over in another forum specially, the Nikon forum has quite good traffic and people with amazing experience (not that the other forums do not).
plus posting the question here does not violate the forum rules.
p.1 #11 · How to photograph construction site to promote business
The number one thing I look for in construction photography is that the verticals are vertical. If they aren't, it shows a lack of attention to detail, that will be picked up by clients in that industry
You know I keep on forgetting that you run this. But then again that is absolutely wrong. It is an open forum for communication on usage of Nikon products. That does not mean it’s talking toys all the time.
Maybe he does only want info from users of the gear he too has used.
p.1 #13 · How to photograph construction site to promote business
NissanPatrol wrote:
I am working on construction products catalog.
From artistic point of view photographing construction site is difficult to impress the viewer
The scene is not a nature scene, or a model to capture the beauty of God creation/evolution. But rather artificial/man made (which can be beautiful like classic cars and old airplanes and many other crafts but not construction site).
I found 3d software like blender and 3ds max generated images coupled with real seen photographs can make nice product catalog to impress the customer than just abstract photographs.
down is a link to some construction site photos that I took few months back with the z7 and kit lens
I still do not feel comfortable including such images in product catalog. just started in blender to see what I can do.
I think you should make sure your goals for the images align with your client's goals for his business. Think about why the company wants a construction products catalog, and why clients will purchase said products. Think about the layout of the catalog, what types of images are needed and produce a shot list.
A goal of making images that are "artistic and impressive" I'd say is too broad and general. What kind of catalog are you making? Is it color? How many images are needed? Does the client actually want "artistic and impressive" images or do they just need simple clear images to document? Sometimes it's just about documenting, doesn't always have to be pretty.
Ultimately, as a business, the images are a tool to sell the products, and right now the images you've posted feel more like a guy posing in front of a construction site. If I were just shown these images without context I wouldn't really know what they are intended for.
If this were just for fun I'd say just shoot and see what you get, but it sounds like you would benefit from understanding your clients needs and goals better.
p.1 #14 · How to photograph construction site to promote business
sjms wrote:
You know I keep on forgetting that you run this. But then again that is absolutely wrong.
That is right, Fred runs it and I'm pretty sure he created specific forums for specific subjects for a specific reason. Probably so that the Nikon Forum would not get cluttered with Canon talk, and vice-versa. And probably a General Gear-talk Forum for talk about gear in general. And probably a Forum & Miscellaneous for talk about miscellaneous stuff.
And maybe because a forum rule is: Messages must be posted to the appropriate board.
It is an open forum for communication on usage of Nikon products.
I guess I missed the part where the OP only wanted advice on usage of Nikon products. My bad.
Maybe he does only want info from users of the gear he too has used. Yeah, sure.
And of course there is the Pro Digital Corner Forum where such commercial subjects such as the OP ask about are discussed:
p.1 #16 · How to photograph construction site to promote business
Imagemaster wrote:
That is right, Fred runs it and I'm pretty sure he created specific forums for specific subjects for a specific reason. Probably so that the Nikon Forum would not get cluttered with Canon talk, and vice-versa. And probably a General Gear-talk Forum for talk about gear in general. And probably a Forum & Miscellaneous for talk about miscellaneous stuff.
And maybe because a forum rule is: Messages must be posted to the appropriate board.
I guess I missed the part where the OP only wanted advice on usage of Nikon products. My bad.
Yeah, sure.
And of course there is the Pro Digital Corner Forum where such commercial subjects such as the OP ask about are discussed:
Feel free to report me. This will move forward. If Mr Miranda has an issue with it he will let us know and move it to what he feels is the appropriate locale. At this point in time it seems you are the lone dissent. You could just join in and give constructive info or ignore till it ends on its own.
If you want to have a personal conversation with me take it private please. Don’t ruin it for the others. We have enough well established hijackers on this site as it is.
p.1 #17 · How to photograph construction site to promote business
rw11 wrote:
to promote this type of business you will want to figure out what impresses its potential customers the most
you don't say what type of construction - is it houses, or commercial? or large skyscrapers?
the customers for each type will differ somewhat in sophistication, and there may well be regional differences in them at least for houses
fine trim details and "architectural" shots might be important
Yes +11111
B2B vs B2C is such an important distinction in terms of look.
Guessing these images are in part to demonstrate that this company aligns to covid-19 precautions (I'm also putting together a page on my work website talking about this), so my feeling is that it's less about impressing people, and more about reassuring people that they can build projects safely.
Ultimately it's our job to help our clients shape what types of images they should post. Generally our clients are good at doing things like selling widgets or building things, and leave the creative and marketing questions to other people like us. Adding value by understanding the market by asking the right questions, in order to provide a content solution that makes sense will win you more business long term than pretty photos
It is also important to ask one self, are photos the best way to tell this story? Would it perhaps make sense to do video, considering in a static image can sometimes feel too easily doctored or posed. If you are trying to just show the scale of the website, cranes, and earth movers, a drone would be great but it won't show how people are safeguarding against covid (if that's one of your goals).
And ignore imagemaster as his posts make no logical sense. You're taking photos with a nikon camera, and have posted said photos on the nikon forum asking for advice. Nuff said.
p.1 #18 · How to photograph construction site to promote business
Just remember that you need to tailor to the needs of the client. As it is a construction site there are many variables that are not as rigid to some. If it is an architectural in view or looser. This is all worked out in communication with said client. Knowing your client and your creativity are the tools to make it work
p.1 #20 · How to photograph construction site to promote business
I'd second the comments about drone use & verticals. Also, either focus on details, on an overview of a building or building complex, or a person (or a group of persons engaged in a cooperative activity). The mix does not really work, in my view, also you get the impression that something importang might be going on just outside the frame.
