What is Commercial Photography? Top Strategies and Essentials

There is a greater need than ever for high-quality photos today as most people prefer visual stimulation. To effectively express their message, businesses rely on appealing visuals, whether for marketing, branding, or advertising objectives. It is easier to convey and retain messages when you use visual mediums such as images and videos.

Commercial photography can help in this situation. What is commercial photography you ask? Read on to learn everything you need to know about this approach and how you can edit them effectively for a variety of genres.

What is Commercial Photography: Definition

The practice of taking pictures, especially for use in commercial purposes is known as commercial photography. It centers on producing visual material to advertise goods, services, or brands to increase brand recognition and boost sales. Commercial photography prioritizes the client’s aims and targets a certain audience, in contrast to fine art photography, which focuses largely on self-expression and aesthetics.

Types of Commercial Photography

Still wondering what commercial photography is and how you can use it in your industry? Here are some types of this approach you can use if you are a commercial photographer:

• Product Photos
  

  This approach involves shooting pictures of products that are up for sale or promotion in the broader market. It could be larger objects like cars and furniture or even basic consumer products like apparel, gadgets, and cosmetics. Presenting the product in the best possible way while emphasizing its features, build, and functioning is crucial.
  
  

  Product Photography Examples
  The main objective of product photography is to present an item’s qualities and appearance in an eye-catching way. Consider the subtle and understated appearance of a smartphone. The photographer makes sure that important components like the screen, camera, and logo are visible.
  This helps the editor carefully manipulate the lighting to highlight the phone’s textures and curves. The photographer highlights particular elements in the product by employing methods like selective focus and short depth of field, which gives the image an air of desirability and ambition.
  
  
  
  
  

• Lifestyle Photos
  

  The goal of commercial lifestyle photography is to portray a specific way of life or the ideal lifestyle that is connected to a company or item. Frequently, it entails taking pictures of people going about their regular lives while discreetly mentioning the good or service being advertised.
  To build a bond between the company and its intended audience, this genre aims to arouse feelings and ambitions in whoever sees the images. By looking at good commercial lifestyle photography results, viewers will want to either change their lifestyle or try new things.
  
  

  Lifestyle Photography Examples
  Moments that represent a specific way of life or project the idealized image connected to a business or product are captured through commercial lifestyle photography. Imagine a family having a picnic in the park with thoughtfully chosen picnic supplies that prominently display a company branding.

  In this instance, the photographer wants to elicit sentiments of happiness, coziness, and leisure while delicately incorporating the brand into the story. Commercial lifestyle photography connects emotionally with the target audience by showcasing realistic and aspirational scenes, which encourages consumers to identify the company with positive experiences and ideals.
  
  

  
  
  
  

• Nature Photos
  

  This form of photography aims to capture the beauty of nature. It could be through wildlife, landscapes, or even natural occurrences. You could grab a shot of the rainfall or a scenic shot of the mountains. They can be used commercially by outdoor gear manufacturers, eco-friendly corporations, or tourist agencies who want to highlight particular locations. Awe and wonder are often evoked by nature photography, which appeals to people who value outdoor experiences and sustainability.
  
  

  Nature Photography Examples
  Nature photography highlights the wonder and beauty of the natural world, frequently to support eco-friendly tourist destinations or environmental conservation. Imagine a gorgeous sunrise illuminating a stunning mountain range and bringing a pleasant glow to the surrounding area. It can even push viewers to value and save their planet. You could even inspire people to travel more and discover the beauty of nature.
  
  

  
  
  

• Architecture Photos
  

  This style involves taking pictures of commercial buildings, focusing on their interiors, exteriors, and other features. To bring the subject’s design and aesthetics to life, composition, lighting, and perspective must be perfectly taken. Architects, real estate companies, and interior designers use these photos commercially to highlight their work and draw in customers.
  
  

  Architecture Photography Examples
  Using this style, you can portray the architecture, scale, and visual attractiveness of buildings and other structures. You can take a dramatic shot of a skyline or a low angle shot of a massive building towering above all others. With a deft composition, the photographer highlights the building’s svelte lines, reflecting surfaces, and commanding presence.
  Architecture photography elicits awe and elegance by highlighting the architectural prowess and urban landscape with meticulous attention to lighting, perspective, and framing. Architects, property developers, and urban planners frequently use these pictures to highlight their creations and draw in clients.
  
  

  
  
  

• Fashion Photos
  

  Commercial fashion photography aims to present apparel, accessories, and trends in an eye-catching way. It is essential to journalistic spreads, e-commerce platforms, and advertising campaigns that aim to attract customers and increase sales. Fashion photographers frequently work in tandem with models, stylists, and makeup artists to produce visually striking images that complement the brand’s concept.
  
  

  Fashion Photography Examples
  The primary purpose of commercial fashion photography is to present apparel, accessories, and trends to the audience. The highlight of this approach is to present these styles to the audience in a visually striking way. Picture a high-end editorial spread with models dressed in the newest styles of apparel and accessories from designers.

  With creative directors and makeup artists, photographers can create unique compositions and designs. This will help them portray the essence of their brand’s aesthetic and values. Commercial fashion photography pushes the boundaries of creativity and style, influencing trends through everything from catwalk photos to magazine spreads.
  
  

  
  
  

• Food Photos
  

  If you enjoy taking pictures of food and beverages while focusing on their presentation, flavor, and appetizing appearance, then this style is ideal for you. Strong food images can influence a customer’s decision to choose one dish over another. It can even help companies tempt people and make them choose dishes on their restaurant menus, cookbooks, or food packaging. It all comes down to the interplay of lighting, styling, and composition.
  
  

  Food Photography Examples
  This style involves images like the flavors, textures, and attractiveness of delectable foods and beverages. It is used to entice the senses of your viewers even though they are miles away from your food. Imagine a close-up of a gourmet burger with a unique visual appeal, complete with juicy toppings and melted cheese. It would look fresh and tasty thanks to selective focus, careful lighting, and unique compositions.
  This makes food photos a good tool for restaurants, food bloggers, and food corporations to attract customers. They can effectively increase sales because they not only highlight culinary artistry but also pique viewers’ appetites and cravings.
  
  

  
  
  

The Editing Process with Presets

Since editing enables photographers to improve their photos and be consistent in a sequence of shots, it is an essential part of commercial photography. Presets can greatly expedite the editing process, resulting in time savings and guaranteeing a consistent appearance across various photos.

Start by importing your photos into Capture One or Adobe Lightroom, two popular photo editing programs. To keep things organized, group them into folders according to the project or shot. To fix any flaws and provide a strong basis for additional editing, start with fundamental adjustments like exposure, contrast, white balance, and cropping.

Select presets that go well with the style and feel you want your photos to have. For instance, choose presets with earthy tones and gentle contrast for a warm and inviting look in lifestyle photography. Presets that intensify colors and give a hint of glitz might work well in commercial fashion photography.

To get the desired effect, adjust specific settings like saturation, clarity, and sharpening after applying presets. In portrait photography, be mindful of skin tones and make sure they seem appealing and natural. When editing many photos from the same shoot, batch processing allows you to apply the same edits and settings to all of the photos at once.

By doing this instead of modifying each image separately, consistency is maintained and time is saved. After editing is finished, export your photos in the resolution and file type that best suits their intended usage. Make sure the finished photos satisfy the client’s requirements and quality standards, whether they are for print or the web.

Conclusion

Commercial photography is a must-have for all industries – be it marketing and advertising strategies or architectural digests. Every kind of photography needs a different approach to draw viewers in and communicate the intended message. You can distinguish yourself from the competition by learning the many types of commercial photography, analyzing samples, and honing their preset editing techniques.