nickjohnson
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JWilsonphoto wrote:
Yesterday's product shoot was amazing, as in amazingly difficult, amazingly strenuous, amazingly challenging and, most importantly amazingly successful. I can't post anything at this moment due to the proprietary nature of the subject but it won't be too long before I will be able to. The product is a machine that is used in open heart surgery and one of it's functions is to stop and start the patient's heart...............yeah, I know............
We created a studio at the clients facility, which took several hours, then dove into the shoot. The client had endured a less than satisfying experience with a photographer that they had used for a number of years and apparently he/she was in way over their head on this one, telling them that most of the effects could be created "in post", which became a joking phrase during yesterday's efforts. The truth of the matter was, some post processing was necessary, but it needed to be captured properly first and then the final touches could be done in post. I worked with the marketing directors throughout the shoot so when we wrapped it up late yesterday evening we all were comfortable that the imagery was everything they had hoped for. That was good too, because they had run smack up to their deadline trying to make the previous imagery work.
The day was mentally and physically challenging, but I haven't done a product shoot that was this complex since the days of Superior Air Parts, so it was neat to dig deep and use every bit of technology at my disposal to make this client happy. The new CamRanger (dumb name/great product) was wonderful, instant download is a huge improvement and allowed us to move quickly with the necessary compositional changes as we worked through about 50 different set ups. A couple of years ago I saw something on some new soft box products and apparently I ordered six of them, thank the Good Lord because I needed all of them and the clean crisp light they would provide.I had never taken them out of the packaging so they were brand new and perfect. My older Chimera soft boxes are getting long in the tooth and a bit yellow which is probably why I bought all of these. Anyway, it was a full blown product shoot where we used everything, clothes pins, super glue, fishing line, double stick tape, clamps, Plexiglas, seamless, antistatic cloths, Plexiglas polish, the works, it was fun, wouldn't want to do it every day, but it was great.
About halfway through the shoot the director of marketing was holding my iPad as images popped up and she turned to her assistant and said, "these images are so beautiful that they are going to make all of our existing product shots look terrible......"
I just grinned and assured them that I would make myself available to fix that problem............ ...Show more →
Hi Jim. Many thanks for taking the time and trouble to recount your adventure. It kinda sounds like that client has not had the benefit of working with a proper commercial professional photographer, previously. What is the point of having marketing folks involved if “fix it in post” is the norm? How is anyone supposed to envisage the final result?
I hope you will be able to take a rest after all that. 50 set ups – wow! When I do my Nightscapes I manage about five set ups in two or three hours. Then I go home absolutely worn out!
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