Product photographer (Productfotograaf)
Information on this skill...
A product photographer is a professional photographer who specializes in product photography, which usually involves taking product photos for product advertising. Nowadays there are special photo cameras and photo boxes, so that products can be photographed in a good and fast way. Product photography is important for companies that want to promote products for various purposes. Think, for example, of webshops, television advertisements, brochures and advertising leaflets. Nowadays, most products for the internet are photographed from all sides, so that potential customers can view the products on all sides. This form of product photography is only possible through the use of a camera that is equipped with special software. The profession of product photographer does not have much to do with the traditional way of photographing, despite the fact that a photo camera is used. Product photography therefore in most cases relates to photos that are taken for marketing purposes. It is possible that a product photographer is also responsible for other activities, such as maintaining a webshop, in which the products are offered, depending on the type of company where the product photographer works. Product photographers in most cases work in a special photo studio. Product photography is a discipline that should not be underestimated nowadays. Good product photos can significantly increase conversion and therefore sales. Most companies pay a lot of attention to making good and especially clear product photos. Clear product photos can also prevent customers from returning products. In product photography, it is important to use good even exposure to get as little shadow as possible around the object.
A product photographer is therefore a photographer who specializes in the photography of products. A product photographer usually cannot be classified as a fashion photographer, because a fashion photographer takes other types of photos. A fashion photographer is more specialized in photographing models wearing fashion clothes. Product photography is much more about photographing individual products. These product photos are used for webshops, brochures and advertising leaflets. It is not the case that all companies use hired product photographers, because the large retailers also have their own photo equipment and photography employees. Due to the rise of product photography equipment, taking product photos has become much easier. Making good product photos is and remains quite a task, because photographing different products is not very easy. In product photography, especially shooting without shadow with the right color fastness is quite a task. In addition, it may still be necessary to restyle product photos to achieve the best result.
IMPORTANCE OF GOOD PRODUCT PHOTOS
Taking good product photos is important nowadays. Good product photos significantly increase conversion. A webshop that is full of beautiful product photos generally guarantees more sales. In addition, it is important to use unique product photos. Unique product photos are in most cases also well indexed by the various search engines. In other words, unique product photos can generate many additional organic visitors without the need for advertising. Sharing product photos via social media can also generate many extra visitors. Product photos can also be used as a supplement to content articles. For bloggers, it is important to supplement articles with good product photos. A blog article that is provided with unique photos will generally be rated higher.
TAKE YOUR OWN PRODUCT PHOTOS OR HAVE THEM TAKEN
Taking product photos yourself or having product photos taken is a personal consideration. In all cases, it is advisable to pay a lot of attention to the product photos. There are still plenty of webshops that do not use good product photos. These are often the webshops that ultimately do not make it. Webshops are largely about good product photos and not just about the price of products. Customers want to be able to view products in a good way before they possibly make a purchase. Nowadays there are many different photo tables and light tents for sale, which has made making good product photos yourself much easier. Those who have to photograph many products can also use professional equipment with which 360-degree photos can be taken. These types of product photos make it possible for visitors to a webshop to turn products. Good product photos also contribute to an important part of the reliability of a webshop.
WHAT DOES A PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHER DO:
TRAINING TO BECOME A PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHER
There are no specific training opportunities to work as a product photographer. However, there are training opportunities for the profession of photographer at both MBO level and hbo level. At Mbo you can start with the photography employee training at level two, and then follow the MBO photography course at level four. The training to become a photographer through the Mbo school will usually take four years and prepares you as a photographer. If you want to learn even more afterwards, it is best to follow the private hbo education at the photo school. The direction of photographic design can be followed both in a two-year study and in a four-year study. During the programme you will also work and, depending on the chosen study, go to school one or two days a week for the theory. During the photographer training, attention is paid to the following subjects: portrait photography, lighting, editing, analog techniques, digital techniques, camera technique and creativity. But of course you also learn to work with the most famous photo programs to be able to work your photos. As a photographer, the computer nowadays plays an important role within the profession. After your education, there are various specializations possible as a photographer that you can focus on, depending on your own wishes as a photographer. There are also plenty of courses in the field of product photography. Accounting is also important as an entrepreneur.
COMPANIES WHERE A PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHER CAN WORK
In most cases, a product photographer must be regarded as an entrepreneur. Most photographers nowadays work as self-employed and not in paid employment. In addition, a product photographer can work internally for companies that have a lot to do with product photography. Taking product photos can be done both on location and in the photo studio. As described earlier, not all companies use hired product photographers.
COMPETENCES PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHER
The most important competence of a product photographer is the professional knowledge of product photography. In addition, a product photographer must be able to be regarded as a stylist, who knows exactly how products can be photographed in the best way. Communication is also usually an important competence, because you also have to deal with other employees. If you work as an entrepreneur, your bitches will have to have a commercial attitude. Generally important words are creativity, flexibility, inspiration, planning, organizing, ICT knowledge and perseverance. Perseverance mainly relates to the number of products that need to be photographed.
LABOUR MARKET PERSPECTIVE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AS A PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHER
The labour market perspective of a product photographer cannot simply be indicated, because most product photographers must be regarded as entrepreneurs. An entrepreneur will have to determine his own labour market perspective by winning sufficient assignments. Networking is therefore usually important in order to be able to get enough assignments. As described earlier, the profession of photographer in paid employment is almost non-existent. It is conceivable that a product photographer works internally for companies. In that case, you can also be responsible for other activities, such as maintaining the webshop. The career opportunities of a product photographer must be seen in building a good name, which will increase the number of assignments. There are actually no other career opportunities.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHER
There are no specific terms of employment to indicate for the profession of product photographer, because the employers will generally be too different. For example, a product photographer employed by an advertising agency will have different terms of employment than a product photographer who will only photograph webshop items. As an independent working product photographer, you naturally determine your own terms of employment. A product photographer in paid employment will usually earn between 2000 and 2800 euros gross per month depending on his age and education. An independently working product photographer usually works on commission for a fixed fee. The competition among the product photographers can be called great, which can make the chances of survival as a product photographer difficult. It is therefore important to distinguish yourself from other product photographers.
The content on this page has been automatically translated from the Dutch language. For this reason, texts and videos on this page may contain small errors.
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