| Every business needs to promote itself visually | | | | works especially well with estate agents and |
| and there are vast numbers of small businesses in | | | | property realtors. Often you can tell the standard |
| need of services to take quality images. | | | | of their photo taking by looking in their window. If |
| Companies are realising that it is not as easy as it | | | | you deliver outstanding images that really |
| looks to shoot quality digital images on a plain | | | | showcase homes you'll standing a good chance of |
| background and skills are needed to do this. This is | | | | getting some business. |
| where someone who can take this type of shot | | | | 3. Equipment |
| can make good money. | | | | Good product photographers need a simple |
| By taking a little time and marketing skill you can | | | | inexpensive setup to create good images. An |
| find many businesses who don't have large | | | | essential item is a good light table coupled with a |
| marketing budgets and are in need of the | | | | light tent and two good lights. Besides this a |
| services of a good photographer. Here's what you | | | | macro lens or extension tubes to get close up for |
| need to do. | | | | smaller items is a valuable asset to your gear. An |
| 1. Research | | | | overhead light box or a ring flash will make it just |
| Do a search on local businesses from directories | | | | that bit more simple to get your lighting right. On |
| and the yellow pages in your area. Do a search | | | | that topic, good lighting is essential to great |
| for particular kinds of local businesses on the | | | | product shots. |
| internet and look at the quality of their images. | | | | 4. Creativity |
| Most times they have been taken by the owner | | | | Try to be more creative and come from a unique |
| or staff and don't reflect the quality of the | | | | angle. Make sure your background complements |
| product. Create a list of potential businesses to | | | | the object and helps to showcase it. Bottom line |
| work from and get to know the products of | | | | is that your images should help the business |
| each of them so that when you arrive at the | | | | owner to sell more of his product. If that happens |
| store you will know what you are talking about. | | | | you can be assured of more work and referrals. |
| 2. Create a portfolio | | | | Don't try to be too smart but rather focus on a |
| By creating a simple portfolio of your work you | | | | simplistic, less is more approach that makes the |
| will be able to demonstrate to the owner what | | | | product stand out clearly. Use props to |
| you can deliver. We are visual people and the first | | | | complement the product without competing for |
| impression created by a good portfolio will often | | | | attention. |
| open the door to some profitable business. If you | | | | You will always find work as a product |
| have the time, shoot a few similar products in | | | | photographer if you are prepared to look for it. |
| your studio to show what a particular item will | | | | Even if it is not a huge amount of work it can |
| look like so that the potential client has a better | | | | supplement your other areas of photography and |
| idea of how good it could look. You only have one | | | | bring in a tidy income. |
| chance to create a good first impression. This | | | | |