My boss wants me to photograph all our stock and put onto his website Help!

[Sw1tchFX]

The picture the Pro shot is so simple a monkey could do it. Trust me, this isn't hard work, it's just time consuming.

You need:

-White or Gray Seamless
-At least two strobes
-A tripod
-A wasit-up mannequin on some kind of a rod/pole coming up through its back
-A clothing stylist
-And a very basic knowledge of Photoshop


You set up in the space you'll be shooting, have the stylist prep and put the clothing on the mannequin, shoot, rinse, repeat.

when you've shot all the product from the desired angles, you go into photoshop, run a clipping mask, flatten, and call it good.

Stylists can run about..$100-$200/hour, so either shoot quick or get really damn good with a steamer.

Depending on how many product there are, jobs like this for a typical professional are well north of $10,000

 

[TheBlueSparrow]

I will have about 300-750 products to shoot .. so im thinking a steamer is my best bet.

a problem with the mannequin is that most of the garments are very large .... so displaying them on it would become almsot impossible without it looking .... kinda silly ..

Even if the garment was taken flat and not supported by a mannequin it would be fine ... so long as i can produce it perfectly.


---- Edit

I will indeed be getting a copy of that light Science and magic book... either buying it or downlaoding it (Arrgh mateys).

 

[pgriz]

Blue Sparrow, there is a reason (which you're finding out) why professional product photographers can ask for good money - they have skills, knowledge and equipment to deliver the image their client(s) need(s). The book that Keith pointed you to is a very good one - it covers in ten chapters much of the basics of theory and practice of using light. It also refers to a number of items of equipment that are used to make the light work. I can tell you from experience that it will take you a while to go through the book and learn even a fraction of the techniques the book describes. Plus, you would need to acquire some basic lighting equipment. Plus you also need some software to do post-processing with. That software also has a steep learning curve.

Part of the problem, as I see it, is that your boss has no clue as to what is needed to make good, commercial-grade images. And somehow, you have to be able to show him that the problem is non-trivial. If he understands the challenges involved, then he can make a business decision - either build up the expertise inhouse (you, plus training, plus equipment, plus time...), or outsource (professional photographer hired to do one or a series of shoots).

I belong to a photoclub with many members, both amateur and professional. One of our members is the production manager for a well known internet clothing outlet. He gave us a presentation on how they photograph clothes for their web site, and what work is involved in doing so. It appears that you are being asked to do what he does, and he uses a full studio, two full-time photographers, one full-time photo-editing specialist, a stylist, and a web designer to keep the images on their web site attractive, current, and representing the products accurately. Here's a basic question - do you have the knowledge to ensure that the colours of the items you show on your web site correspond to the products in real life? That's a pretty important thing to have nailed down, and it's not that straightforward.

While I admire your attitude and willingness to take this challenge on, there's much more to doing this work than you currently see. You'll do yourself, and your boss, a big favor if you can explain to him the realities of what it takes to make competitive commercial photography.

 

[cgipson1]

I will have about 300-750 products to shoot .. so im thinking a steamer is my best bet.

a problem with the mannequin is that most of the garments are very large .... so displaying them on it would become almsot impossible without it looking .... kinda silly ..

Even if the garment was taken flat and not supported by a mannequin it would be fine ... so long as i can produce it perfectly.


---- Edit

I will indeed be getting a copy of that light Science and magic book... either buying it or downlaoding it (Arrgh mateys).

Piracy is kind of frowned on around here.... comments like that won't get you too far! Just a hint! We respect copyrights... otherwise OUR image ownership is worthless!

 

[TheBlueSparrow]

Thanks Pgriz,

I had written out paragraphs of responses to your comments... but deleted them all to say...

WHile I know all you have said is true... I can't bring myself to ask him to put out more money for this task.

So i just have to bite the bullet and teach myself how to do it.. Im not taking the task lightly and i will be giving hours of my time to learning the right way to produce the results needed.

this is what I feel i owe my boss for giving me this job in the first place.

I will be getting the book mentioned earlier.

I have at the moment a small setup which i thought may work but perhaps won't

- Sony a65 DSLR
- 2 x Umbrellas / Lights
- Tripod + Background screen stands
- White/ Black/ Green backdrop sheets


Edit -----

Removed something that relates to Charlies previous comment

 

[pgriz]

If you can't get your boss to understand what's involved, perhaps you could at least have him show you what he wants you to shoot for. Let him set the standard for you in terms of image quality, colour accuracy, product presentation, etc. Then you have something (a standard) to compare your own efforts with. It would be totally unreasonable for him, in my opinion, NOT to define for you the expected deliverables and the level that he expects them to achieve.

 

[Sw1tchFX]

You know, it's totally OK to say no. And it's totally OK to tell your boss when he's asking too much of his employees.

You're not trained for this, you don't have the appropriate knowledge for this, you won't be able to afford a stylist (arguably the most important part)...He's out of his mind if he thinks he can do this in-house.


800 product? If you're a one man show, that'll take you weeks

 

[Light Guru]

a problem with the mannequin is that most of the garments are very large .... so displaying them on it would become almost impossible without it looking .... kinda silly ..

You know they make plus size mannequins right?

Honestly give your boss a list of things HE needs to purchase for you so you can do this. Things like lighting, background, mannequins. Etc.

Also I have a feeling your boss is not providing the camera equipment but wanting you to use your own. If you are using your own camera, lenses, tripod etc he needs to pay you for the use YOUR equipment not just your time. The same goes for any software used like photoshop.

 

[nola.ron]

I think some people are getting way too serious about this. The guy wants to help his boss out. AS LONG AS his boss is understanding that these shots are NOT being done by a professional, and that the work can't be guaranteed to be like that which he has paid for in the past, and as long as the OP is getting paid while he is working.. then so what? Even if he's not wanting to get paid and is willing to do it as a favor to his boss for getting a job, then so be it. If nothing else then it is a learning experience for him. He will learn more about photography and specifically product photography.

This guy works for a mom and pop store. Small businesses like that can't compete with major retailers and their websites. They do not generally have the budget to pay tens of thousands of dollars for pictures to go on a website. If the boss is in a situation where it's free pictures or no pictures at all and is made CLEAR that no quality of work can be guaranteed, then I encourage this guy to go ahead. Go above and beyond, learn something new, and try your best. When I do this at my job it's all praise, and if the work doesn't come out to an acceptable level (ie: web design, logos, etc) then we send it to a pro. In the meantime I have done something I enjoy doing, haven't spent any of my own personal money, and gave it my best shot. It often comes back to me in the form of a raise or a bonus.

Now if the OP is claiming to the boss that he can do professional quality work then that is another story completely... and in that situation I would run for the hills.

 

[pgriz]

Actually, nola.ron, you have a point. We don't know who the company is competing against and what the competition is showing as their imagery. But if this business is competing on the internet and is trying to reach the world-wide market, then the competition is against well funded and well executed product imagery. If, on the other hand, their focus is purely local (and they limit or respond to only local inquiries), then perhaps the measuring stick is different. But even if the latter case was true, potential buyers are seeing product images from many companies on the web, and I am thinking that this is what sets the standard in terms of what is acceptable. In the end, IF the company gets enough business through the internet with the current level of photography, then we may be overthinking this.

As a business owner, I'd want to ask the following: who are my (potential) customers, what is their expectation, who is competing with me for those customers, what do THEY have, .... and make my business decisions accordingly. If I'm trying to portray our company as being bigger than it is, do I really want to reveal our small size by showing images that correspond with our small size (ie, having no money to do it right)? Because the lack of production values will translate in the minds of potential customers to the quality of the product.

 

[sm4him]

My advice?
Rather than getting into the debate about whether you should or shouldn't do this, I am going to just take it as a given that you ARE going to do it.

Take two or three items, do your very best with them, given your CURRENT level of ability and understanding, then show them to your boss. Tell him that those are what you are currently capable of producing. See if you can talk your boss into funding what it would take to do better--let them buy the book, the mannequin, the strobes. Tell him that with the proper equipment, you'll do your very best to improve on what you've already shown him, but it'll take some time.

And get a contract wherein YOU retain the full copyright to the images, so that when you ditch that place, you can at least use the product photos in a portfolio. Who knows? Maybe you'll actually be good at it, and you can go sell your services to OTHER clothing stores for the kind of money you SHOULD be getting for this one.
(Helpful tip of the day: Do NOT hold your breath waiting for that to happen... :lmao: )

 

[Sw1tchFX]

If you do end up doing this, seriously get a stylist. they're worth their weight in gold, and they'll make or break pictures like this. Also, even though this a plus mens outlet, request the smallest size possible, that way it'll be easier for your stylist to put clips on the backs of the shirts.

 

[TheBlueSparrow]

Sorry it has taken me soo long to reply .. I've read through all the responses and I will try my best to explain to my Boss that the level of image he wants me to produce is out of my capabilitys. But I will still be trying my best to get as close as possible.


I appreciate all the comments. it all helps