Flawless, clean images on a white sweep are highly desired for catalog work. This type of product photography is used on web stores, online catalogs and printed materials for marketing and advertising purposes. The image can be cut out - often called a 'floating' image, or shot with a gentle shadow to ease the transition from the product edge to the page. Popular as well, is to have the images shot with a reflection below.
Above is a
completely random smattering of 70 images in this 'catalog' style.
In addition to the web catalog, the images can be a massive help to the sales team, and the feedback from their customers has been extremely positive. Rather than digging through line after line of item numbers and descriptions.. the customer browses the images quickly and effortlessly. Ask yourself how quickly you recognize the brands in the image above - even at a very small size. Images are powerful sellers!
Honestly, there can be just as much work in keeping large projects like this highly organized, as there is in the shoot itself! My experience in providing images for the grocery industry has definitely honed my skills in this area, and you can be confident in my ability to handle a catalog project of almost any size.
TIPS FOR YOUR SUCCESSFUL PRODUCT CATALOGUE SHOOT:
- Provide products as clean, new, and ding-free as possible! Photoshop can fix it, yes, but at what cost?
- Decide whether you would like the images with a natural drop shadow, or 'floating'
- Advise me on desired angles and key product features. Sell it to me, so that I can have the image sell it to others.
- Decide how you would like the file names to be organized. I often use the UPC or item number. This can help immensely when your graphic designer is putting the catalog together, or when your web team is deploying the images across your site.
- Ask questions! I will be happy to consult with you on your project.
