Advertising photography is a type of commercial photography that is used to launch, engage a target audience, deliver a business message, create awareness, share information, and/ or boost sales on a certain product.

Advertising photography isn’t always about the product. Photography like headshots or model photography intends to advertise a person’s skill to the targeted job marketplaces.

The purposes of advertisement photography are:

• Taking high-quality images
• Showcasing value and authority
• Gain trust and impact
• Highlight features
• Assurance to provide a solution

That’s the purpose and power advertising holds- influencing us to buy and own products, properties, and many other things.

How an ad performs mostly depends on the visuals. So, let’s get to know what is advertising photography, its types, benefits, and how you can shoot to advertise, all at once.

Ad Shoot Services

What is an Ad Shoot?

An ad shoot is where creativity meets marketing. It’s the process of producing high-quality visual content—videos or photos—that tell your brand’s story in a compelling and engaging way. Whether it’s for a television commercial, social media ad, or product promotion, the right ad shoot can make all the difference in grabbing your audience’s attention and driving results.

Our ad shoot services help bring your vision to life. We create dynamic and visually stunning advertisements that resonate with your target market. From conceptualizing the storyline to executing a flawless shoot, we handle everything to ensure your brand gets noticed.

Benefits

BENEFITS

Advertising photography can have many benefits, including: 

• Branding

Consistent advertising photos can help a company establish a memorable voice and tone. 

• Social media accessibility

Advertising photos can reach millions of people on digital platforms. 

• Persuading consumers

High-quality images can make products or services look more appealing and encourage people to buy them. 

• Cost-effective

While the cost of equipment and software can be high, taking the photos themselves is usually inexpensive. 

• Storytelling

Positive advertising techniques, like storytelling, can help customers engage with a brand. 

• Client collaboration

Photographers work closely with clients to understand their brand and target audience. 

• Professionalism

Images on a website should be uploaded correctly and have the right composition. 

• Credibility

Curated visual content can help build credibility and save prospective clients time. 

• Portfolio building

A strong portfolio can help demonstrate skills and style to potential employers or customers. 

Why Choose Us for Your Ad Shoot?

1. Creative Concept Development: We work closely with you to develop a unique concept that aligns with your brand’s message and goals, ensuring your ad stands out in a crowded market.

2. High-Quality Production: Our team of experienced directors, photographers, and videographers use state-of-the-art equipment to create visually striking ads that capture attention.

3. Versatile Shoot Options: Whether it’s a product-focused shoot, a lifestyle ad, or a full-scale commercial, we have the flexibility and expertise to produce the content you need.

4. Post-Production Excellence: After the shoot, we enhance the footage with expert editing, color grading, and sound design, ensuring your ad is polished to perfection.

5. Fast Turnaround: We understand that timing is crucial in advertising, so we ensure that your project is completed efficiently, without compromising on quality.

Benefits of Having Us Shoot Your Ads

Brand Recognition: A professionally shot ad helps your brand stand out, increasing visibility and recognition across platforms.

Emotionally Engaging Content: We create ads that connect with your audience on an emotional level, driving engagement and inspiring action.

Multi-Platform Optimization: Whether your ad is for TV, Instagram, YouTube, or other digital platforms, we ensure it’s optimized for the best performance on each channel.

Increased Conversions: A well-crafted ad can significantly boost your product or service sales by clearly communicating your value proposition.

TYPES OF PHOTOSHOOTS

MAIN TYPES

• ADVERTISEMENT SHOOTS (AD SHOOTS)
• BASIC SHOOTS
• FASHION
• PRODUCT
• ECOMMERCE

Photography types vary in many and new types of photography are being added from time to time. Even so, the main genres are still the most sought-after. Let’s take a look at the most common types of ad photography.

1. Product Photography

Product photography is the first thing that comes to mind when we think of advertising photos. The main goal of advertising a product is to describe the product, highlight its features and benefits, show how it offers solutions to users, and so on. People are getting more interested in buying things from e-commerce websites. Brands and ordinary people are hiring photographers to capture professional photos for product listings. Product photography is one of the most demanding niches in this industry. To do better in product photography, you must have knowledge about lighting and its uses.It includes:

• Ecommerce Photography: Aims to promote products on ecommerce platforms. These types of products are photographed by following some rules.There are lots of e-commerce sites that sell various kinds of products online. For product selling purposes, they need high-quality and eye-catching product photos to attract the maximum number of audiences. Ecommerce photography has become a great opportunity for commercial photographers. Most of the time, the picture is captured on a white background, focused on the main product.
• Social Media Photography: Shows products on diverse layouts to make them look attractive and stunning.
• Lifestyle Photography: Helps people visualize how a product will look or feel based on real-life events or usage.

2. Fashion Photography

Fashion photography is a vast category. Advertising photography for fashion products aims to keep fashion enthusiasts informed and brands to attract and engage more targeted customers and convince them to purchase. In fashion photography, models showcase the products they are wearing or using. There can be different types of products, and you have to focus on both the model and the products. So, for this type of commercial photography, knowledge of fashion and posing is most important.Some of the fashion products include:

• Clothing Photography: Showcases fashion in the most convenient way, from children to adults, cloth has an audience of all ages.
• Jewelry Photography: Displays the tiny intricacies and dazzling look of ornaments and jewelry pieces.
• Beauty Photography: Displays beauty products, their benefits, and the impact it has on the face or skin.
• Shoe photography: Shows different types of shoes based on users’ needs, usage, seasons, or purposes.
• Accessories Photography: Products like wristwatches, bags, caps, etc that help complete a fashionable look.
• Model Photography: Models are used on specific products or show an overall look of how to look fashionable.

3. Food Photography

Food photography shows how delicious, mouth-watering, and tempting food is. Every restaurant and food product manufacturer wants the viewers to taste that feeling through the images. Food photographers show that with their products.Most of the clients are restaurants for food photography. They hire people to take pictures of their food, expecting a sales boost. For this type of photography, you need to be creative about framing and angles.

4. Portrait Photography

Portrait photography reveals human personalities, facial expressions, and emotions. Mostly used to advertise movies, games, or shows. It can be of one single person’s image or a group of people’s image.

5. Corporate Photography

Corporate photography aims to show the environment and culture inside of a business by capturing photos of spaces, employees, work environments, etc. It also includes:

• Headshot Photography: Shows employee’s professionalism and corporate look.
• Event Photography: Includes different programs, events, corporate gatherings, etc.
• Architectural Photography: Shows office interior, exterior, facilities, etc.

6. Automotive Photography

Automotive or car photography is where photographers show cars, their features, and different parts through images. Different car brands look for automotive photographers to advertise their cars to their prospects.

7. Real Estate Photography

The purpose of real estate photography is to advertise homes or residential areas so that people can find the most convenient place to accommodate them. For example Airbnb.Real estate photography shows creative architectural work or properties to make a sale. Companies or brands hire photographers to attract customers to buy their property. Also, people who do architectural design or work for a company can be experts in real estate photography.To become a pro, you have to learn to capture photos with the proper details. That will enable your clients to understand the area without even seeing it.

8. Travel Photography

Used for offering relaxation, travel photography offers services to help people understand different cultures, educate them, and promote sales. This is mostly used by travel agencies, resorts, etc.

9. Miniature Photography

This type of shot is meant for small objects in which the details or the subject are somewhat difficult to see by the naked eye. By using a macro lens or prime lens macro shots are taken to make those small or visible parts a life-like one. For example, jewelry intricacies, or toy photography.

10. Commercial Headshots

Headshots are always in demand. Clients pay you to look good in pictures. They may use the pictures for their acting portfolios or for any other purpose they want. Good looks and good style are the most important factors for commercial headshots. Gather knowledge about styling if you want to build a career in this section.

11. Advertising Photography

Advertising images are mostly used on billboards, magazine covers, posters, etc. This type of image is the main shot for the particular company, not for any individual.

12. Environmental Portraits

Environmental portraits are photographs of people working somewhere. The main focus of this kind of commercial photography is the working environment. Mostly, these portraits are used for job advertisements or service promotions. People playing their roles as personal trainers, massage therapists, hairstylists, and chefs are the main clients for this field.

ELEMENTS

Taking photographs to advertise news a thorough planning. This planning includes the subject, location, theme, equipment, types of shots, inclusion of models, props, etc. I understand- it seems a lot at first glance. Don’t worry; here is the breakdown for each of the steps and how you can proceed.

1. What is the Subject?

When it is about advertising photography, the subject is a vital factor. Most ads are about products, oftentimes these are about action or service as well. Based on that, you need to revise the plan so that your subject appears easy to understand for the viewers.

For example, you can simply take a shot of a product on a white background, but if your subject is for a charity organization, you need to have a story plan to encourage people to donate.

2. Decide the Location

Indoor photography isn’t much of a hassle. Just get your equipment, set it, and start shooting. However, if the location is outdoor, then that’s a concern. Here is what you can do to find locations for outdoor photography:

• Check with Google Maps
• Contact location scouting service providers
• Ask the community for location suggestions
• Do DIY setup around you

3. Theme Matters

Advertising photo themes can vary, it can be funny, professional, serious, or sympathetic. Having a theme in mind will set the other tasks right on the track. It’s up to you how you can come up with your theme, but consider the following questions:

• What’s the purpose of this shooting?
• What are you trying to deliver?
• What’s your target or goal?
• What type of concept and mood fits the subject?

List down the answers and you will find out the theme you can arrange for your photoshoot.

4. Prepare the Photography Gear

A good photograph isn’t all about the skills, but also about having the right equipment set. If your gears are in support, you will streamline the process and make smooth progress. If not, there will be a disaster!

At the beginning of your photography career, finding the right equipment is challenging. That’s why we are here to help you.

Check the equipment list suggested by veteran photographers for advertisement photography below.

Camera

Choose a camera that offers a high-resolution image and performance. If you want other features, you can choose:

• DSLR
• Mirrorless camera or
• APS-C cameras

You don’t need to start working with a brand-new camera from the store, you can choose to purchase a pre-owned one. You can also work with your smartphone cameras as well.

Lenses

Having different lenses will help you explore the diversity of photography. But it’s okay to own one or two depending on requirements. Here is what you can choose.

• Prime lens: Fixed focal length, offers sharp images in low light.
• Zoom lens: Captures photos from different ranges.
• Macro lens: Take close-up shots in detail.
• Wide-angle lens: Captures expanded scenes.
• Standard lens: Offers natural field of view.

Backgrounds

For outdoor photography background isn’t much of a hassle, you can choose to use natural background scenes or take artificial backgrounds as well that complement the subject. Some common photography backdrops are:

• Muslin
• Canvas
• Vinyl
• Velvet
• Chroma key
• Paper etc.

Lighting

Both natural and artificial lighting can work well if you can prepare the setup well. If you are unsure, then go with artificial ones like:

• Softboxes
• Umbrellas
• Speedlights
• Strobes
• Continuous lights

Also, while selecting the lighting gears, take note that the lights are durable and compatible with modifiers. To mitigate the harshness of the light, use bounce cards or reflectors to balance the lights.

Filters

Known as a silent hero, this gear offers creative control. You can choose:

• Polarizing: To remove glares and enhance colors.
• Neutral density: To achieve long exposure in bright conditions.
• UV/ Skylight: Haze reduction and enhanced clarity.
• Colored filters: Emphasize specific colors and add color casts.

Tripod

You need to mount your camera and hold it in a steady position so that there are no blurry or shaky images. For that, you can choose from the following tripods:

• Vanguard Alta Pro 263AP
• Manfrotto B PIXI Mini Tripod
• Benro Mach3 TMA37C
• 3 Legged Thing Punks Brian tripod

5. Select the Types of Ad Shots

Now that your equipment and gear are all in place, it’s time to start the main event.

Photography shots vary depending on the purpose and subject.

Take a look at the chart for the types of ad photo shots.

Shots	Description
Close up	Shots are taken from a close distance so that the subject details are visible.
Long shot	Taken from a distance so that the surroundings are inside the frame.
Medium shot	A merge of close and long shots, reveals the subject more and surroundings less.
Bird’s eye view or Ariel shots	Taken from the above or elevated point so that the subject looks tiny or appears below.
Flat Lay shots	The subject is on top of a table or a flat surface and the shot is taken just above.
Eye-level	The subject appears as natural as the human eye.
Dutch angle shot	It is a tilting shot, taken to create a cinematic look.
Point of view	Taken from a person’s perspective, so that viewers consider themselves as that person.

6. Inclusion of Models

Hire models to advertise your products (physical or digital). The model helps make the subject more relatable and generalized, and it naturally sparks interest. Models are attractive and glamorous, so it is easier for them to deliver the brand’s message and photography purposes and fulfill the role the whole photography theme is missing.

7. Shoot & Edit Your Photos

As everything is prepared, start taking shots of products, Consider the above-mentioned angles and try other angles as well. Take shots and analyze the light setup, props arrangement, shadow placements, etc. The whole setup would highlight the subject, anything other than that needs alteration.

You want absolute perfection in every shot; minor flaws can sometimes arise. For that, you can outsource photo editing services from us, it’s affordable, quick to deliver, secure, and services provided by skilled photo editors. Post-production work is essential for the commercial look but time-lengthy.

So leave the tiring after-photoshoot work to us and invest the time you have saved to prepare for your next projects.

How Important is Post-Production in Advertising Photography?

Post-production works are like a structure that helps raw images fall into the system. A finishing retouching will empower the ad images to perform better. Here is how:

• It helps enhance visual appeal, capture attention, initiate interaction, and spark interest.
• Editing helps viewers understand the authenticity and quality of products.
• It retains consistency, which is the foundation of awareness, reputation, and credibility.
• Post-production works ensure that the images can convey the message, and personalize the target audience across all sales channels.

If you want to make a change to your advertising images, consider professional photo editing services. These services are reliable, secure, and fast and you get high-end edited images ready to publish.

Equipments you will need for a commercial setup

It’s actually tough to give a list of equipment you may need for commercial photography. There are different kinds of setups for different kinds of places. Sometimes you are going to shoot in a studio with a full setup, and sometimes you are outside with only the camera in your hands. Also, there are no limits to advancement. You can upgrade the entire setup with high-end accessories. However, assuming you are a beginner in the commercial photography industry, we will now provide you with a list of equipment you are going to need to run the work smoothly.

• Camera
• Lenses
• Tripod
• Lighting setup
• Backdrop

Let’s Get to Know the Equipment in Detail:

Camera

A camera is a must-have thing for photography that I don’t even need to mention. For professional picture capture, get a good-quality camera with a full-frame sensor.

Lenses

Lenses are not less important than cameras. The photo quality highly depends on the quality of the lenses. As the light enters through the lenses before clicking, it’s almost impossible to deliver quality pictures without suitable lenses.

Tripod

A tripod is a tool where you place the camera and click pictures. Professional photographers need to hold the camera for a long time. They wait for the perfect light to get a good capture, take multiple shots, and sometimes they need to change the setup for a different angle. It’s not an easy thing to hold the camera the entire time with your hands. Get a good quality tripod that you will be able to carry everywhere you go.

Lighting Setup

Well, lighting comes after the basic tools. This is one of the most crucial elements a photographer needs when capturing a photo. Different types of lighting can change the mood of the entire photo. Also, natural light is not enough. To focus on the subject, you will need to get an additional lighting setup.

Backdrop

Backdrop ensures a perfectly white background for your commercial pictures. For most ecommerce sites, it’s required to have a pure white background. A pure white background is not something that you will see anywhere you shoot. So, arrange a backdrop. That will give you a smooth white background, and you can easily capture flawless photos.