Your Complete Guide to Commercial Photography

Whether you have years of experience or are new to the business world, we’re sure you’ve heard of commercial photography many times. In fact, for many people, commercial photography is considered an essential part of every business.

Here is a complete guide about commercial photography to help you understand and learn more about it.

What is Commercial Photography?

Commercial photographer Jesse Taylor at work on a fitness shoot

Commercial photography is a type of photography where photos are used for showcasing a business or a product. In simpler words, commercial photography is a genre of photography that helps sell things. Commercial photography is sometimes also referred to as advertising photography.

To take a good commercial photo for your company or the products you want to sell, you will need the help of a professional commercial photographer. A commercial photographer can help you showcase the strongest features of your business, products, or even you as an individual to help gain the trust of your target audience.

What is the Difference between Commercial Photography and Other Photography Genres?

It’s easy to differentiate commercial photography from other types of photography like editorial, weddings, family, etc. Commercial photography is about selling, whether it’s a product or a service, a person or a business, or perhaps even an idea or lifestyle. It’s all about engaging your audience with a view to getting them to buy something.

For example, when you take a picture of a person eating inside a café and use it in a magazine about coffees and pastries, then it’s called editorial photography. However, when you use the same photo to advertise the different flavours of coffee and pastries for that café, then it’s considered commercial photography. Commercial photography is about selling the object in a photograph.

Types of Commercial Photography

Here are the different types of commercial photography to help you understand more about it.

  • Headshots – Professional headshots are different from other portrait photography. It’s different in a way where your headshot photo is used to build trust between you and your target audience. It is applicable for business owners or employees who want to make sure that they reflect a good image in front of their target audience.
  • Product Photography – Product photography is perhaps the most common type of commercial photography. It’s simply about showcasing a product through a photo or in another creative way where you show how the product should be used. Here are some examples of product photography.
  • Architectural – Architectural photography focuses on buildings. It can be about showcasing both the exteriors and interiors of a building.
  • Fashion – Fashion photography can be about two things; it can either be a photo showcasing a brand or it can also be a photo about selling clothes.
  • Food – You see those yummy photos in restaurants, brochures, or magazines? Yes, that’s food photography.

Commercial photography can be anything. As long as you are taking a photo to showcase and sell something, then it is considered commercial photography.

Process of Commercial Photography

Here, we will show you the process of commercial photography from pre-production to post-production.

  • Preparation – This is where you prepare and consider a lot of things – like who is your target audience, where your photo will be displayed (the media), as well as create a mood board so you have a vision of how the final image will look. You’ll use this to brief a commercial photographer
  • Shooting – Depending on the requirements, this could be quick and simple or it could be a complex production involving many people. Some briefs can be tackled by just the photographer working alone. Others may need a large crew including talent, hair and make-up artists, stylists, production assistants, art directors, and more in addition to the photographer.
  • Post-production – This is the time when you finalize everything about your photo. Sometimes the photographer will do this, or this may need a highly skilled graphic artist or retoucher.

 Commercial photography is essential for a business or an individual because it allows them to showcase their product or company. If you want to learn more about commercial photography or perhaps get your commercial photograph, get in touch with us today at Jesse Taylor Photography.

Also see our other services like fitness photography Sydney, advertising photography Sydney, real estate photography Sydney and portrait photography Sydney – contact us now!

Commercial fitness fashion photography with female modelNurse cares for premature baby in a humidicrib