Best Business Competition

[kanuski]

A local business is submitting an application for a best business award. It is a combination flower shop and home decor shop. She wants me to take pictures for her application. I have never done a shoot like this and I don't want to mess up by not being prepared. I have been searching for YouTube videos about this type of photography but came up blank. Do you have any hints or suggestions for me? Any online material I can use for ideas or to help me prepare?
Equipment: Canon 5dmiii, 50mm 1.4, 24-70 2.8, 70-200 2.8, four flashes, and several umbrellas, stands and radio triggers.

 

[480sparky38 37]

Have you considered politely declining the work?

 

[kanuski]

Nope. I will do it and I will do a decent job. In a larger center I might decline but out here in the sticks I may be her best option. Any other suggestions?

 

[Light Guru]

Why don't you ask them what kind of images they are wanting? Sitting down and discussing expectations is always the first thing you do with a new client.

 

[480sparky38 37]

A pre-shoot site visit would be time well spent.

 

[kanuski]

Why don't you ask them what kind of images they are wanting? Sitting down and discussing expectations is always the first thing you do with a new client.

Thanks. I have talked to her on the phone about this a little. It sounds like she will be happy with clean, clear shots showing the various areas of the store. I would like to give her some more interesting options to choose from as well.

 

[justingrainge]

Don't get bogged down with too much technical lighting, much of it can be done using available light (even if you have to go to 3200 or 6400 iso - usable on the mark III if you employ the appropriate noise reduction when processing the raw files).

*Portraits of her (and the other staff) with the store in the background - looking at camera and not.
*Architectural shots of the building and interiors.
*Many Incidental close up shots of any attractive details in the store - shallow DOF
*Shots of smiling customers using the store (get a model release).
*Vox-pop style portraits of happy customers with store in the background (get a model release).

 

[tirediron]

Good points raised so far!

-A pre-shoot consult on-site is essential. Discuss the types of shots she thinks she wants, ask/search for examples of images used in past campaigns. Most important, find out how many finished images of each type the owner requires. Use this as your guide when drafting your shot list.

-Do a series of shots of the interior at about the same time of day as the actual shoot will be done. Study them VERY carefully for lighting. Make a not of what type of lighting and temperature (assuming it's probably flourescent), and make sure you have lots of CTG and CTO gel.

Don't get bogged down with too much technical lighting, much of it can be done using available light.

Possibly, but this is hardly 'best practice'. With your shots from the site visit, plan your lighting. For this sort of thing, I would just tuck speedlights here and there, gelled to match ambient. Pay special attention to windows so that you don't blow them out. That just looks tacky and amateur-ish.

-Be prepared with a CPL and polarizing gel for your lights in case you have to shoot sparkly/reflective stuff.

-If you're going to be shooting "customer" shots, have the owner arrange for them, (family members might work well), and ensure that they're briefed on clothing choices; neutral tones, light colours, complimentary to the interior colour scheme. Have releases ready (probably totally unnecessary, but if you don't have 'em, that's when you will need them).

-Plan the shoot. Shoot the plan.

 

[kanuski]

Don't get bogged down with too much technical lighting, much of it can be done using available light (even if you have to go to 3200 or 6400 iso - usable on the mark III if you employ the appropriate noise reduction when processing the raw files).

*Portraits of her (and the other staff) with the store in the background - looking at camera and not.
*Architectural shots of the building and interiors.
*Many Incidental close up shots of any attractive details in the store - shallow DOF
*Shots of smiling customers using the store (get a model release).
*Vox-pop style portraits of happy customers with store in the background (get a model release).

Thank-you Justin. Some things I would not have thought of. Totally forgot about the model release forms.

 

[kanuski]

Thanks.

Make a not of what type of lighting and temperature (assuming it's probably flourescent), and make sure you have lots of CTG and CTO gel.

Good point . Thanks.

I would just tuck speedlights here and there, gelled to match ambient. Pay special attention to windows so that you don't blow them out. That just looks tacky and amateur-ish.

I think I will try some HDR if the windows are a problem.

-Be prepared with a CPL and polarizing gel for your lights in case you have to shoot sparkly/reflective stuff.

CPL I have. I have not even heard of Polarizing gels.

-If you're going to be shooting "customer" shots, have the owner arrange for them, (family members might work well), and ensure that they're briefed on clothing choices; neutral tones, light colours, complimentary to the interior colour scheme.

Great idea. I will get right on this.

 

[tirediron]

...CPL I have. I have not even heard of Polarizing gels...

Cross-polarization (Okay, you're not shooting frogs, but the theory is the same for anything sparkly/reflective)

 

[robbins.photo]

Why don't you ask them what kind of images they are wanting? Sitting down and discussing expectations is always the first thing you do with a new client.

Thanks. I have talked to her on the phone about this a little. It sounds like she will be happy with clean, clear shots showing the various areas of the store. I would like to give her some more interesting options to choose from as well.

Showing off the store would be nice, I guess if it were for me since it is "home décor" maybe something more in terms of before and after, before just showing a fairly empty corner or location and bland scene and after the same corner or location after her and her "experts" recommend all the right products for that space - just a thought of course.