Model / Product Shoot - looking for advice

Fujifilm XF 16mm f/1.4 R WR

11/14/2013 05:58:10 PM · #1

Hey folks - I landed a gig last month to shoot products for an online catalog - actually I landed the project to build the website, but he also happened to need a photographer, so this combination of skills has finally been paying off. Not thrilled about the product (Men's underwear), but hey, it's a stepping stone and a Victoria's Secret shoot can't be that far off! :) So here are the specs: 50 products (various boxers, briefs, t-shirts - All Fruit of the Loom or Hanes products). I've already done all the packaged product shots and am getting ready to setup for the model shots.

BrentS recommended a studio rental downtown Seattle that looks ideal and they have the lighting and other equipment, as well as a lighting expert to help me with that. My plan is to have two models (little to no experience) basically alternating through the product list. There will be issues like prepping the products (steaming, ironing, etc.) and my client will be there to do that. I am planning on 2 hour prep and getting all the shots done in a 3 - 4 hour period.

What I am looking for is any thoughts on my plan, my process, my schedule - is this all realistic? Anyone have any specific tips or advice or similar experience to share? I assume I will need model releases even though no faces in the shots?

As far as the packaged product shots, I went through hell with reflections and wrinkles in plastic packages. I could not shoot them flat like they are on the mfrs site - partly because I received them all stuffed in a shipping box. The budget for these shots was not big enough for me to go to great lengths to make them perfect, but if you know any tips or tricks for dealing with this, let me know. Here are some samples (the model shots will be similar to those on the packages)...

insteps

Ricoh GR III

11/14/2013 06:25:29 PM · #2

Congratulations on the gig! Did they send your size? That would be one option.

Seriously, if you want to leave them in the plastic wrap then low indirect light with a long exposure is the only thing I can think of.

Leo

Apple iPhone Xr

11/14/2013 07:29:52 PM · #3

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

My plan is to have two models (little to no experience) basically alternating through the product list. There will be issues like prepping the products (steaming, ironing, etc.) and my client will be there to do that. I am planning on 2 hour prep and getting all the shots done in a 3 - 4 hour period.

What I am looking for is any thoughts on my plan, my process, my schedule - is this all realistic? Anyone have any specific tips or advice or similar experience to share? I assume I will need model releases even though no faces in the shots?

Socks. Your models may need to be prepped with socks :P

No advice. Just wanted to say congrats on the gig.

bohemka

Nikon D700

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX Aspherical DG HSM for Nikon

11/14/2013 07:41:24 PM · #4

More cowbell.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

11/15/2013 03:00:58 AM · #5

Originally posted by insteps:

Congratulations on the gig! Did they send your size? That would be one option.

LOL - When I was waiting for his response on my website proposal, he told me he was still waiting on proposals for the photography and I told him "it just so happens..." and when he said he would need a model for shots of the product, I said "well AGAIN, you're in luck!" ...and we both laughed and laughed. ;-)

Originally posted by insteps:

Seriously, if you want to leave them in the plastic wrap then low indirect light with a long exposure is the only thing I can think of.

Good call. I tried that to an extent, but noise and blur was an issue (the website has zoom capability on high-res versions of the images). Although now I am thinking a shorter focal length with a different lens would have helped.

Thanks for the replies. Still open to thoughts about the timeframe to shoot and get 50 usable shots in 3-4 hours with 2 models alternating...

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

11/15/2013 03:04:41 AM · #6

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by insteps:
Congratulations on the gig! Did they send your size? That would be one option.

LOL - When I was waiting for his response on my website proposal, he told me he was still waiting on proposals for the photography and I told him "it just so happens..." and when he said he would need a model for shots of the product, I said "well AGAIN, you're in luck!" ...and we both laughed and laughed. ;-)

Originally posted by insteps:
Seriously, if you want to leave them in the plastic wrap then low indirect light with a long exposure is the only thing I can think of.

Good call. I tried that to an extent, but noise and blur was an issue (the website has zoom capability on high-res versions of the images). Although now I am thinking a shorter focal length with a different lens would have helped.

Thanks for the replies. Still open to thoughts about the timeframe to shoot and get 50 usable shots in 3-4 hours with 2 models alternating...

This would be an excellent time to quickly learn Capture One Pro.... Use it for tethered capture, and you can really get down and dirty with your results fast, and KNOW if you've got the shot.

Message edited by author 2013-11-15 03:06:03.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

11/15/2013 03:22:30 AM · #7

Originally posted by Cory:

This would be an excellent time to quickly learn Capture One Pro.... Use it for tethered capture, and you can really get down and dirty with your results fast, and KNOW if you've got the shot.

Lightroom does a decent job as well.

11/15/2013 03:32:26 AM · #8

Good call (tethered). I have an EyeFi card that I use in my office studio. I shoot RAW+JPG and just set the EyeFi to retrieve the jpg, but that is still a bit too slow for what I will need.

see

Canon PowerShot S95

11/15/2013 04:33:48 AM · #9

Mind "objects" like the 1975 Sears catalog ;p

Message edited by author 2013-11-15 04:34:35.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

11/15/2013 04:37:02 AM · #10

Yeah, prayers for no "wardrobe malfunctions" are appreciated.

Devinder

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

11/15/2013 07:31:54 AM · #11

hey Art, i assume you're aware of what i m about to say and i have no specific experience with small plastic packaged products, but with glossy stuff good manipulation of little flags ( i use little black foam sheets on these wire clips i made) and a large scrim to calm down the main light source seem to be of help in general. Depends a bit on time per shot too though. i haven't worked on more than 5-6 at a time.

hope that helps somewhat

bohemka

Nikon D700

Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX Aspherical DG HSM for Nikon

11/15/2013 09:30:36 AM · #12

Originally posted by Devinder:

Following up on this, would a polarizer also help?

Garry

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

11/15/2013 09:43:39 AM · #13

Not sure how realistic your timeframe is.

In four hours, you have less than 5 minutes per shot if you want to shoot 50 images. Factor in that you will be discarding a large chunk of your images, you will need to shoot say 75-100+ images to give you a big enough selection to cull down to your required 50.

This means you're going to need to do a pretty high shot/minute in your allotted time which will be challenging given that your models are inexperienced and will need constant direction.

Just a thought.

tanguera

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

11/15/2013 12:14:55 PM · #14

I echo Garry's concern, especially if you're doing both front and back povs. On the other hand, if they have to strike the same pose each time, and it's just MCU you're doing, they should go pretty quickly. Once you get the lights set and dialed in, it should go pretty quickly.

Have whoever is doing the ironing and prepping of models get there earlier and started before you do. You will likely move quicker than they will, and you don't want to be waiting for them to get ready.

Also, once you've got the lights set, spike the exact spot the models have to stand. If they are inexperienced, hitting their mark may be a challenge.

Finally, if you have any say in the matter, try to get the models to be the same height/weight/skin color, or you'll find yourself adjusting the lighting each time, and you will definitely not have enough time for that.

For the packaged stuff, I think a polarizer would definitely help (as Scott mentioned), and perhaps also black cloth in front of the package (obviously far enough from it to not be in the shot) to minimize that reflection.

Message edited by author 2013-11-15 12:15:42.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/15/2013 01:44:52 PM · #15

For the packaged stuff, try putting them under a largish sheet of very clear glass, perhaps weighted in the corners, so that you can get the plastic completely smoothed-out underneath. If you can then set up the camera directly above (sensor plane parallel to the glass) and you light it with two lights from opposite sides, placed at a 30-45° angle to the glass, you should be able to shoot without wrinkles or reflections.

You are trying to emulate a copy- or process-camera setup, as would be used in the printing industry or for copying books/artwork.

Message edited by author 2013-11-15 13:45:13.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D

11/15/2013 05:52:20 PM · #16

Yeah, the timeline had me nervous, but since I included the studio rental in the proposal, I was trying to cut my costs, but doesn't look like it will be worth it. I'll go for a full day.

Great idea on flattening the product packages,

GeneralE. I had thought of doing exactly that, but didn't have the glass. I might reshoot some of them that way, though.

I experimented with a polarizer (CP) and it didn't seem to make much difference.

All great advice. Thanks a bunch!

xml5000

Nikon D300

11/15/2013 06:58:56 PM · #17

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Message edited by author 2013-11-19 04:33:43.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

11/15/2013 07:32:33 PM · #18

Originally posted by xml5000:

Ken, as far as I can tell, very few online retailers of these two brands have images of the actual product
scrunched up inside a reflective retail packaging. Are you quite sure, your client expects this?
Moreover, does the client realise, that presenting this type product in such a way, simply isn't the norm - far from ideal?

(IMO) these underwear garments look just fine on the models - negating the need for a (awkward looking) retail packaged shoot.

SW

This is what he asked for and the manufacturer sites do actually have many photos of the pkged product (not ALL, though).

example:

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

11/15/2013 07:39:54 PM · #19

If you end up using Paul's setup, and the tether suggested by Cory, I would add in a piece of black foamcore around the lens with black cloth extensions to keep reflections to a minimum, or at least so they are only at the far edges of the packaging.

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

11/15/2013 07:58:35 PM · #20

Originally posted by BrennanOB:

Really good idea.

xml5000

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D

11/16/2013 04:59:19 AM · #21

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Message edited by author 2013-11-19 04:33:11.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/16/2013 01:30:00 PM · #22

Experimenting with product photography (article and linked video)

xml5000

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D

11/16/2013 04:50:23 PM · #23

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Message edited by author 2013-11-19 04:33:26.