Click on the link below to sign up, and I’ll see you on the other side.
To your success, Phil Sills
This is what you will learn when you commit to Shoot Products Like a Pro, the online course.
Module 1 is the introduction, then you get to start working on the following topics.
Interested in the high level Workshops instead? Click here
The results we achieve are a direct reflection of the space we shoot in and the clarity of our minds.
In this module I’ll cover how I feel about shooting – from the moment I walk through the door, to the kind of space I want to work in that day and how maintaining an organised approach pays off on set. We’ll look at two different situations: the one-off shoot and the repetitive shoot. I’ll explain what kind of mindset is required for each situation.
You’ll learn to:
It’s not important what kit or setup you have.
Photography is all about light, and how you use it. You should not be bullied or pressured into having any particular setup in order to take great product shots.
In this module we’ll be looking at different types of lights and how to use them, and I’ll cover camera types, computers, capture software and backups.
You’ll learn to:
A good quality digital file is the key to a great quality shot.
Without the correct digital file, no amount of post-production is going to save your shot. Maintaining good working practices and having a set of rules in place will ensure you hit the required standard every time.
In this module I’ll show you how to create and edit files that will do your work justice.
You’ll learn to:
I want you to be comfortable with the idea that position within the frame will affect the product shape, and that focus can be used to accentuate different parts of an image.
You’ll learn to:
Nowadays I don’t consciously think about what kind of light I need or how I’m going to create it – the decision making process is automatic.
But it’s taken many years to get here, so I’m going to teach you the principles of lighting – so that it becomes fast and instinctive for you too.
This module is about understanding the difference between soft and hard lighting, why it’s important, and how to create it.
You’ll learn to:
I want you to be comfortable with the idea that position within the frame will affect the product shape, and that focus can be used to accentuate different parts of an image.
You’ll learn to:
(But only if you really, really need to!)
That might sound a bit controversial, as it’s often the first thing that’s recommended for shooting products.
Personally, I choose not to shoot with a light tent. However, I can understand why some photographers might need them as a working vehicle for getting results that might be otherwise impossible.
The purpose of this module is to explore the options of using a light tent, what we can do with it, then look at the result and ask the question of whether we need it, or whether it’s better to do something else.
You’ll learn to:
One of the most important challenges we face as product photographers is to reproduce the quality of the look and feel of a real three-dimensional product in a two-dimensional picture.
We want to give the viewer all the information they need to think they know a product – even though they may never have actually seen or touched one before. The surface material and texture of the product must be truthfully represented by our choice and approach to lighting.
Building on what I showed you in modules 6 and 7, we’ll now explore two very different types of material finishes – glossy and matt.
You’ll learn to:
In this module we’ll push on and develop some crucial lighting skills, because it’s these surfaces that will give you the greatest challenges.
When photographing metallic and transparent products I think about the visual metaphors that best describe the materials. For metallic objects I think of darks and highlights; contrast and hard edges. When considering transparency as a concept I imagine depth of tone and rich light movement – transparency needs to glow from within.
I’ll take you step by step through the process of shooting two of the hardest products to photograph – the chrome kettle and the glass bottle.
You’ll learn to:
Today’s creative industry requires product shots that can be used across multiple marketing platforms, usually requiring cut-outs.
This course is designed to help you become a flexible, intelligent creator of images that are 100% fit for purpose. So I’m going to take you through some approaches to make sure you know the pitfalls to avoid when setting up and shooting for cut-out.
In this module I’ll take you through how to shoot for cut-out, and against white and black backgrounds – ready to go straight on your website.
You’ll learn to:
Using a shadow or a reflection as a grounding device makes for a much more dynamic shot.
A great surface will work with the product and can aid and improve the photograph’s visual communication.
Here we’ll look at creative use of shadow and reflection. We’ll explore how to integrate a product onto a surface using a shadow or a reflection.
You’ll learn to:
In this final module we’ll bring together everything you’ve learned and see what we can create.
Everything you see in this module has been shot live for the first time – I’ve never created this image before before this shoot.
You’ll learn to:
Click on the link below to sign up, and I’ll see you on the other side.
To your success, Phil Sills