Looking for some guidance - no expierence but needing some good lookin product shots.

[aperfectcircle]

Hello Photo Forum,

I am not a professional photographer and have never really taken any photos outside of a droid phone and basic digital point/shoot. Basically wandered in off the internet street to here. I started a t-shirt business from the gournd up and while I won't bore anyone with the details of that, I hit my budget limit for the business but have not launched yet. I am in need of product photos and happen to have a Canon T2i (only have the one lens that came with it) that I inherited. It takes good pics but I only know how to use the autofocus setting. I'm wanting to have some slightly more unique photos for my shirts but need some professional guidance. Not asking anyone to reveal to me the secrets that would destroy someone's photo business. (doubt that is even possible) I'm just in a dangerous position if the photos of my shirts are completely lame. Like I said I am over budget so there is no way to get someone to just take the photos and seeing I've got a decent camera in my possession I thought it would be worth a shot getting someone's advice.

What I had in my mind was taking the shirts out into the woods, or an old cabin, building, or something that has an old rustic vintage look to it.

So my questions are.

1. What kind of picture scenerios would you suggest?
2. Are there any kind of settings or methods you would suggest for achieving the type of shots I'm looking for?
3. really...what would you suggest all around?

I would be happy to further elaborate if it meant people could actually assist me.

 

[Big Mike]

Welcome to the forum.

If you want to sell _______ (t-shirts in this case). Find the prettiest girl you know (or can afford to hire) and take photos with her in the ______(shirts).

Everyone knows what a T-shirt looks like. You might as well just show the logo/design/slogan that will be on the shirt.

As for where & how to take the photos...I wouldn't neccessarily look try too hard to find a 'perfect' location, unless it really goes with the theme of your shirts. Rather, look for good lighting (outdoors, in open shade)...then make sure that your photos are in focus, sharp (ensure a fast enough shutter speed) and properly exposed.

 

[tirediron]

...Find the prettiest girl you know (or can afford to hire) and take photos with her almost in the ______(shirts)....

I know that's what Mike meant to say! At the end of the day, regardless of the product, sex sells!

In addition to Mike's great suggestions, I will add that when choosing your location look very carefully at the background and make sure that it doesn't hurt the image, look for things like trees or poles which appear to grow out of the subject, or distracting elements such as two people talking or anything else that doesn't work. The difference between an okay snapshot and a great photograph is very often the way the background is dealth with!

 

[KmH]

It should only take you 6 months to a year or so to learn how to consistantly make quality product images. There is a lot more involved than most aspiring business owners realize. You'll need more than just the T2i, a lens, and a T-shirt.

Start here: Digital Photography Tutorials

Knowing the fundamentals of photographic lighting will help: Light Science and Magic, Fourth Edition: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting

I recommend a background that takes zero attention away from your product. A background like this:

 

[aperfectcircle]

Welcome to the forum.

If you want to sell _______ (t-shirts in this case). Find the prettiest girl you know (or can afford to hire) and take photos with her in the ______(shirts).

Everyone knows what a T-shirt looks like. You might as well just show the logo/design/slogan that will be on the shirt.

As for where & how to take the photos...I wouldn't neccessarily look try too hard to find a 'perfect' location, unless it really goes with the theme of your shirts. Rather, look for good lighting (outdoors, in open shade)...then make sure that your photos are in focus, sharp (ensure a fast enough shutter speed) and properly exposed.

thanks Mike. I really don't want to be the "sex sells" guy. The content of my shirts contain a little historical, somewhat religious, inspirational, etc. It would be too obnoxious and out of place. I know what you mean though and you are right that attractive women sells products.

 

[JMBriggs]

Maybe what you could do is find some amateur photographers and make a trade... Ask to have some pictures from them that meet your requirements in exchange you could let them have their name or business name somewhere on the shirt. So it would be exposure for them and get their pictures out there for the public to see and you would have good pictures because you could hand pick them.

If you dont like that idea my advice is read your manual to understand your settings then go to a culture fair or car show or whatnot to find your historic subjects... and follow the above peoples advice WATCH YOUR BACKGROUND! A bad background can make an amazing subject completely worthless.

 

[Big Mike]

Welcome to the forum.

If you want to sell _______ (t-shirts in this case). Find the prettiest girl you know (or can afford to hire) and take photos with her in the ______(shirts).

Everyone knows what a T-shirt looks like. You might as well just show the logo/design/slogan that will be on the shirt.

As for where & how to take the photos...I wouldn't neccessarily look try too hard to find a 'perfect' location, unless it really goes with the theme of your shirts. Rather, look for good lighting (outdoors, in open shade)...then make sure that your photos are in focus, sharp (ensure a fast enough shutter speed) and properly exposed.

thanks Mike. I really don't want to be the "sex sells" guy. The content of my shirts contain a little historical, somewhat religious, inspirational, etc. It would be too obnoxious and out of place. I know what you mean though and you are right that attractive women sells products.

Fair enough...but you don't have to use a typical Hooters model....if you know what I mean. An atractive/good looking person, whether they are men, women, boys or girls...will, in the end, probably make for better photos to sell your product.

But light I said before, I've seen a few T-shirt web sites...and they may only have a couple photos of the actual shirts (people in them or not)...but the various graphics that could be ordered...are front and centre. So unless you are selling the quality of the fabric & stitching...it's the graphics that are selling points...are they not?

 

[aperfectcircle]

Yes! The graphics are obviously the selling point. They're being printed on high quality cotton and are a very nice wear, but yet the graphics are key. Knowing the type of look I am going for (vintage, rustic, old timey) what kind of background situations would be recommended and settings for the camera? I know some say read the manual, but I could read that thing forwards and backwards for months and still not know the best . Going to do some reading up on it, but i don't have 6months to learn how to take the best picture. More like 5 days. So that's why I thought I could get some specific scenario help from some pros that's a little more focused rather than "read the manual".

 

[tirediron]

Without knowing every detail of your set-up, it's virtually impossible to recommend camera settings beyond the very general. I think Mike's suggestion about concentrating on shooting the graphics only is an excellent one; for that all you need is nice, flat, even lighting and focus. Despite it being hard on the wallet, it might well be worth it in the long run to hire someone to shoot a few model shots for you, and then you can add images of the different graphics as you go.

 

[aperfectcircle]

I definitely understand it being too difficult to give me further suggestion. I know it probably sounds like I want these epic pictures, but it was more of a looking for simple tips on background/camera settings/etc. I appreciate all the input thus far!