Looking for a good Product Photography course

Steve-T

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just wondered if anyone can recommend a good course or one to one where I can get some intensive training on product photography, lighting etc.
I have been considering buying Karl Taylor's DVD's 'Advertising, Product & Still Life Photography Secrets' but they are not cheap. Not an issue if they are good but perhaps not ss an impulse buy.
But also I would like some training off a pro at work if such exists?
 
I'm not sure what companies are around in Derby, but are there no large pack shot companies that you could freelance for?
 
Hi Charlotte, I must admit I had not considered that as I did not think anyone would be like to want to hire me (even for free) if I have no previous experience in this area.

I got my job in a company like that based on a CV and a portfolio interview. I had never had any photographic training of any kind and took along a combination of white background product shots (the companies staple product), food shots (something else they did) and fashion/glamour images (their other main area). They seemed impressed that I had researched them and taken along a portfolio of images that reflected the things they shot.

If you do go down that route prepare to be a very fast learner. I was expected to be shooting and retouching 50 garments a day within three days. I think I just about got there.
 
Can't say I liked Karl Taylor's DVD's 'Advertising, Product & Still Life Photography Secrets' - Prefered reading Garry Edwards blog about it....
 
I got my job in a company like that based on a CV and a portfolio interview. I had never had any photographic training of any kind and took along a combination of white background product shots (the companies staple product), food shots (something else they did) and fashion/glamour images (their other main area). They seemed impressed that I had researched them and taken along a portfolio of images that reflected the things they shot.

If you do go down that route prepare to be a very fast learner. I was expected to be shooting and retouching 50 garments a day within three days. I think I just about got there.

Well at 55 I may struggle to get someone to take me on on that basis I guess, and of course I have no commercial portfolio. Also not sure whether 55 items a day appeals though commercially for pack shots Im sure that kind of number is required to stay competetive.
I would need a basic studio to get started at least and I still think some intensive training may work for me to get my lighting technique fast tracked a little althugh no doubt much can be learnt from books and youtube.

Can't say I liked Karl Taylor's DVD's 'Advertising, Product & Still Life Photography Secrets' - Prefered reading Garry Edwards blog about it....

Appreciate the comment and will help in the decision making process,
 
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Another place to look for online tutorials is Creative Live or Lynda.com
 
I would need a basic studio to get started at least and I still think some intensive training may work for me to get my lighting technique fast tracked a little althugh no doubt much can be learnt from books and youtube.

Do you have any examples of pictures you would like to be able to shoot?

I could teach someone the basics of white background product photography (with and without reflections) easily in less than half a day. I'm sure between the collective minds of TP we could recommend some tutorials if we knew what you were looking for?
 
What do you actually want to learn?
There's a world of difference between the high volume, production-line "pack shot houses" and real product photography. The packshot people tend to throw light at things from every direction, it makes their life easier and produces a consistency of result that their level of clientele tend to find acceptable.

Real product photographers, advertising and commercial photographers, light and photograph every subject as an individual item, in fact they base their photography on showing the benefits of that particular item, and approach it as if it actually belong to them and was made and designed by them - a totally different approach. In fact, product photography is really almost as much about using marketing skills and other business skills as it is about lighting.

There are very few people running training courses who actually have any real knowledge, many in fact seem to do it simply because they can't hack it as photographers. There are of course exceptions to this, and there are also photographers who run training courses mainly because they like to help people by passing on their knowledge, but in general terms you need to be wary of people who run courses and recognise that not everyone who does so either knows their subject or knows how to teach.

I'm just a fossil, someone who entered the profession back in the days of on the job training with large Companies that no longer exist, and who had the doubtful benefit of working for years for very low pay (unlike the current trend of buying a camera and claiming to be a professional) so I've had advantages. But most of what I've learned has been from experimentation, and you can learn the same way.
 
Thanks Charlotte and Garry

Garry
Good post, and it would be the latter. I could enjoy spending time geting the best out of a product and trying to make it desireable. I would not enjoy a job on low pay churning out 'acceptable' shots. Not that I consider myself above that just that, just that I don't need to.
I fully accept and am always cautious that photographers selling courses can be just because it is an easier way to make money than what is now a tough profession and if they were that great perhaps they wouln't need to sell courses. Though as you suggest there are no doubt a few good ones. Perhaps though you are right and I should just read up get some it and experiment. Your own blog looks helpful, tough I have not had ime to lok in depth yet.

Charlotte
I appreciate the offer, I have read 'Lighting for Product Photography' by Allison Earnest and watched some great Youtube tutorials by Phil McCordall and am hungry for any info can get my hands on.

Many thanks
 
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