The Vintage Advisor
Sometimes, this photography career I love so deeply is a job. Meaning I do my work — making the best possible images for my clients, mind you — but it’s work and maybe even a bit of a slog. Then there are the times when the stars align, the heavens sing, and unicorns fart rainbows, like with my recent work for The Vintage Advisor.
When Sam first contacted me, he had a crystal clear vision of how he wanted his signature line of scented home products presented to the world. His inspiration board was toe-curlingly gorgeous, so I happily signed on to do a small remote shoot in my home studio. But something funny happened: when I got to the final number of images we’d agreed to, I found I wasn’t quite ready to stop shooting, so I didn’t.
Odd reaction, right? I mean, who wants to make more work for themselves? Part of it is that the products are delightful and packaged beautifully, so it was fun to work with them. I’m sensitive to scents, often burning a new candle for just a few minutes before a raging headache makes me douse it — my house doubles as a scented candle mausoleum — but working with these these scents all at once in a small, enclosed environment was actually pleasurable instead of the agony-fest I anticipated.
Still, the real reason I kept going was that the products spoke to me. I know it sounds weird/woo-woo/witchy-woman, but absent art direction from a client, I’ll let the products dictate how they should be photographed. And these products knew what they wanted. They demanded to vacation in an upscale island resort spa, in minimalistic sets rich with texture and changing light patterns, with gentle breezes wafting through open windows hung with gauzy sheers, and a glass of bougie water at the ready just out of frame. There might even be a caftan draped over a chaise, but I’ll never tell. I styled with rough and smooth marble surfaces, limestone blocks, brass and velvet, and broke out so many lights and modifiers I even shocked myself. But the results were worth it, and more importantly, my client loved it.
The very best photo shoots draw the viewer in with their story, even if you aren’t consciously aware of it. They set a mood, create desire, and (in the best-case-scenario of commercial photography) those products end up on your wish list, if not in your shopping cart.
As I’ve mentioned before, I try to add a motion component to all of my photo shoots, and this line lent itself to it especially well. You can feel a breeze swaying the palms just on the other side of the window below, can’t you?
Do you have a story to tell with your line of products — food, beverage or something completely different? I love to change things up and can work in your favored style — anything from minimalist and subtle, to bright, colorful and punchy! And if you’re a smaller company without an established art department, we can discuss my art direction services. I’ll make sure you’re telling the right story to your potential customers.
