ksl studio 5 - shoot to sell

This morning I got to share some tips on Studio 5 for their shoot to sell segment. A big thank you to them for having me. Here they are again for you to refer to (or see for the first time.) Thanks for visiting and I hope you will come back soon and often. If you really want to get great at shooting product, just get to it and do it as often as you can. It is the best way to get great at it. I also highly recommend Nicole's Classes for those of you who are serious about getting better.

Great lighting is everything and I prefer natural light, and everyone has access to one of the best sources, window light. It gorgeous and soft and produces beautifully lit images. You can use a white pillow case or a white foam board to bounce light from the window back on to your subject. Often times you will need to use a slow shutter speed to get the best exposure with window light and product, using a tripod is the best way to get a sharp image with correct exposures. Clean and simple backgrounds. Let your product shine by placing it in front of a wall, fabric or table that will enhance and not detract from your product. 

Whether it's a home, a product or something you are selling on KSL classifieds. Take a moment to style your shot. You can add props that make sense with your product, or just arrange it simply. The better looking your product is the faster it will sell.

 Details, let your customer get a feel for the texture and quality of your product. Find what you
love most about your product and get up close. Getting different and interesting angles will help sell your product.

 Shoot your product in its element. If it is a painting or print show it styled on a wall or in a room. If it is a mobile show it in the nursery hanging over a crib. Selling food or recipes? Have the food in a beautiful dish or being prepared.

Capture the feeling of the home. Make people feel like they are sitting in the room.
This is accomplished by styling the room, using interesting angles and photographing the room when it has the best light.

Get or rent a tripod. The best light for me is natural light especially in homes. The tripod allows you to have a
long enough exposure to have a beautifully lit room and a sharp image.

Get or rent a wide angle lenses are a big help, if they are out of your price range, you can rent them. Pictureline in SLC & Draper is the best place to rent, they have a great selection and the best customer service. 

the hall and york families

This was hands down one of my favorite shoots ever. My dear friend Suzanne Hall's family has a tradition at Christmas to make peanut brittle that her great, great grandparents created. And they make a lot of it, like they transform their kitchen into a peanut brittle factory, it's awesome.

Photographing four generations doing something they love, that is a family portrait. I hope that future clients will let me talk them into doing something this meaningful for their family portraits. This is the reason I love photography. Thanks Suzanne for the incredible opportunity, I loved every minute of it. 

the gary family

Oh I love these guys! My cousin and her beautiful family. This was such a fun afternoon, it is always a pleasure to be able to capture my family.

thanksgiving

Another great thanksgiving, and my first go round with my new favorite instrument my beautiful Mamiya 645 pro TL.