Freelance Product photographers focus on producing product images for use in a variety of ways. Product photography is used for websites, catalogues, brochures, PR, marketing and advertising material.

How to break into Freelance Product Photography

Any person with a passion for photography can get started as a freelancer because of the affordable and intuitive cameras on the market. Since freelancing photography can be started up as a part time job, this can be an excellent choice for an individual who wants to earn some extra cash without resigning from their full time job.

Although there is no explicit education requirement for product photography, a photography degree is suggested; however not all photographers have followed the college route and have learnt their trade from hands on experience. An option is to become a photography assistant and learn the industry from a professional specializing in product photography. A period spent as a photography assistant is also a good way to make valuable contacts in the photography industry.

Who hires Freelance Product Photographers?

Product photographers are typically hired by manufacturing companies, large supermarkets and catalogues to showcase their products to their best advantage.

What to Charge

A rough guide is to charge $10 per image on top of a $195.00 setup charge. But as with everything, what you can charge depends on many factors and you need to cost your services appropriately. Investigate a little to find what other freelance photographers are charging for product based work.

Tasks Expected of a Freelance Product Photographer

Your main objective is to highlight the visual elements of the product in order to make consumers want to buy it. You will need to use an assortment of props to produce a suitable background and should be able to work well in variable light conditions, as well as making skillful usage of studio lighting to demonstrate the products.

Skills of a Freelance Product Photographer

Product photographers are likely to specialize in straightforward pack shots onto a white background. They should have the facilities to photograph images with a 100% pure white background, allowing quick and easy uploading, saving them from spending extra effort editing images. You will need to possess advanced skills and knowledge on shutter speeds, zoom, lighting and the use of flash to make the product the most attractive to the consumer. You will also need very good IT skills so that you can manipulate photos via software such as Paint and Photoshop in order to get the best from the product photograph.

Equipment used by a Freelance Product Photographer

To begin with most photographers should have a high quality camera and several lenses. As lenses are extremely expensive, it may be a good idea to rent any additional specialist lenses. You will need to invest in some studio lighting equipment appropriate for doing product shots and a light tent is also a good investment for product photography. A decent specification PC is also very valuable so that you can manipulate photos via software programs such as Photoshop.

Where to look and apply for jobs

A photographer who specializes in freelance work has to be able to find work for themselves. An excellent way to so this is to display your services and portfolio on a website and look for work on the many freelancer websites. You may also find employment with advertising agencies, creating products images for their clients and advertising campaigns.

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