Are you looking to do more with your shop’s product photography?

You know you can convert more customers into sales if your shop is optimized.

Your product photography is no exception.

I’ve talked about how to take product photos on white backgrounds and how you can edit those photos using a free software.

Today, we’ll take this to another level and talk about how you can take photos of your product on models!

Why you need model photography for your products

Having your products photographers on models is a worthwhile investment for your shop!

It’s important to have several product shots in different angles of your product so your customer can get a good idea of what they’re buying.

To take that a step further, you can show your product’s size and scale through model photos.

You can even tell a story with your model shots. This is called lifestyle photography and it shows your customer how to use your product or how they can benefit from it.

Model photos can move your customer and get them to feel an emotion!

So it’s very important that you have a clear idea what emotion that is.

Do you want them to feel happy? Or loved, or feel special?

Your model photos are also necessary in creating a look book which can sometimes be helpful in reaching out to bloggers.

They also make great photos to share on your social media.

Where to find models

You could hire a model at an agency but they will potentially charge you commercial prices since you are a business.

There are tons of strict rules and regulations in working with an agency, so here’s an alternative!

You can find model profiles at Model Mayhem and search based on your location.

It’s important to look for a model that represents your brand well, so take your time sifting though all the model profiles.

Make a shortlist of models you’d like to work with and send them messages inviting them to your photoshoot!

Depending on the model’s experience, you might be able to work out a deal where he/she gets copies of the photos to showcase in their portfolio in exchange for their time with you.

That was what I did starting out and funds were low, but eventually I would pay them $20-30/hr in addition to copies of the photos.

What about hair and make-up?

If you want professional hair and make-up done, you can also look for MUA’s (make-up artists) on Model Mayhem.

MUA’s are likely to want compensation since they’ll be using product from their make-up kits.

Again, depending on their experience, with enough searching, you can find someone to work with you at a lower price point.

Otherwise, if the model is confident with doing his/her own make-up, be sure to give them specific directions of the look you want.

Send them photos for inspiration a couple of weeks before the photoshoot, so they can prepare and aren’t left guessing.

Where to shoot

If you’re looking for a studio location, look around town for co-op spaces.

Professional photographers normally have studio space that they rent out by the hour.

A quick Google search for “Minneapolis photography studio rental” will give you tons of options.

Some photographers will allow you to use their equipment. Some won’t so be prepared to bring your own or make sure your photographer brings theirs.

It’s a great idea to consider outdoor or indoor locations, such as a park, beach or cafe scene depending on the look you want to achieve for your brand.

If you’re using a coffee shop, ask the staff for permission and be sure to organize your photoshoot around a less busy time.

Wardrobe

You might want to shop for wardrobe and accessories for your model. Ask them for their clothing size or measurements so you can get the right fit.

Again, clothing are a huge part of setting the tone for your photos.

Take your time to shop around.

Consider using a different outfit for different products.

Change things around to create more interest in your photos!

Depending on the experience of your photographer, you can get through taking photos of dozens of products every hour.

You should be able to wrap up your photoshoot in 2-5 hours.

Taking photos

If you’re comfortable enough with your camera, you can be your own photographer.

You will know best how you want to picture your products.

But not all of us are skilled enough to take model shots right off the bat, so you could practice on a friend while you learn the ropes.

I taught myself how to take model photography and was able to have a lot more control over my photos. It was worth definitely worth it to learn how to do on my own!

If you simply don’t have the time or brain space to worry about learning how to do it yourself, you can always hire a photographer!

Where to find photographers

A great place to start is on Thumbtack. This site allows you to post a free ad for virtually any professional, from carpenters to landscape artists to – you guessed it – photographers.

What I love about Thumbtack is for professionals to apply and bid on your ad, they need to spend tokens that cost money to acquire.

This means you’re only getting bids from photographers that have availability in their schedule and who want to work with you!

It saves you a lot of time from calling on photographers asking if they are interested to cover your photoshoot and figuring out what they will charge you (I like to know prices up front).

Once you receive a few bids, you can check out the photographer’s portfolio.

Don’t hire a photographer without one!

Once the photoshoot is done, a photographer can take anywhere from a few hours to several weeks to process and edit your photos before delivering them to you.

Be sure you account for that wait time, in case you’re in a hurry to get a lookbook set up!

Take action

Do you have any model or portrait photography tips to share? Post resources in the comments below!

Or if you have any questions, let me know.