Product photography

[w9ctm]

I have a client that is dabbling into a new area and is asking me to do some product photography for them. 50 items, individually photographed, all will fit on a table top. Any recommendations for a fair price?
Oh, I travel to their location. 1 hour drive each way. Set up everything at their location.
I thought I remembered reading something on this a couple of months ago, but haven't found the thread. I am kind of interested in the market price for this type of work, just so I have something for her to compare against when I give her a price.

Thanks in advance...

[CaptainTom]

I charge a day rate or a half day rate for something like this.
It sounds like an all day job including travel.

My day rate is $1500. plus any unusual expenses. ( that is below the average for my area ).

Keep in mind that the shoot is only part of the work that you will be doing.

[ShaneKislack]

I don't usually recommend using day rates...but for something like this I think you may have to. I've been on shoots where you kick out 50 shots pretty easy. But I've also been on shoots with a crazy art director where you get 2 shots done because of the art director's tweaking. And do they want just one view or 360s?

[w9ctm]

Hi Tom and Shane, thanks for the quick responses. The good news is that they are looking for just one view of each product. I am expecting probably 5-10 shots of each after the first 4 or 5 to get the look down that they are wanting. I expect this won't be too bad as this is something new for them and it is a rather low budget start. So, I think they'll be happy with anything that just looks rather decent. They did receive a proposal from someone that was just starting out and offered to use them for practice, but they were concerned with getting what they paid for. So they called me.

If I get the job, I'll post something after I have finished the shoot.

Thanks again,

[Steelsun]

On mass product shoots the most important thing is to get your uniform lighting set up that will fit most of the items. Then do all those items first, and then go to the ones that need individual lighting attention later, as they will take more time each.

And if the items are small and require macro type shots, also separate them off to be done in a different set as they will all consume more time each.

Also have plenty of or replacement background available - that much moving and replacing of items to be shot may mar, tear, etc the background you'll use.

[lukehng]

Originally Posted by w9ctm

I have a client that is dabbling into a new area and is asking me to do some product photography for them. 50 items, individually photographed, all will fit on a table top. Any recommendations for a fair price?
Oh, I travel to their location. 1 hour drive each way. Set up everything at their location.
I thought I remembered reading something on this a couple of months ago, but haven't found the thread. I am kind of interested in the market price for this type of work, just so I have something for her to compare against when I give her a price.

Thanks in advance...

I don't know about your equipment..., but if you have Lightroom and Canon Ultility software, you can set up LR to auto import images directly into your laptop for everyshot. That way both you and the client can see the image right away.

I did a test run with a few products sometime ago:
30 minutes to set up the strobes/ratio/test shots
5 products (each with 3-5 angles) took me about 5 minutes
white balance correction / curve adjustment / color enhance / export ... in lightroom took another 10 minutes
complete seamless white touch up requires sometime in PS, not too long, about a minute for each image

I think auto LR import is great for product shot, just want to share the info

sample:

[w9ctm]

Luke, Thanks for the response. That's pretty much what I was thinking. Once I get the lighting set, I "should" be off to the races. It was my intention to use the laptop with Lightroom for just those reasons.

Did you just use a small product photo tent for your shots? I am thinking I can get away with this approach as the products are not very large. Similar to what you posted.

thanks,

[lukehng]

No problemm. I don't have a photo tent. I used 3 strobes + 3 umbrella

Originally Posted by w9ctm

Luke, Thanks for the response. That's pretty much what I was thinking. Once I get the lighting set, I "should" be off to the races. It was my intention to use the laptop with Lightroom for just those reasons.

Did you just use a small product photo tent for your shots? I am thinking I can get away with this approach as the products are not very large. Similar to what you posted.

thanks,

[w9ctm]

Currently, I don't have a photo tent, but this may cause me to acquire one. I have two soft boxes and an umbrella I could use if needed, but would prefer a table top tent, as this product line individually would easily fit inside one.

Thanks again,