Product Placement

We all know about the basics of product placement, whether we recognize that phrase or not. If you can think of a movies or TV show that have had brand names of some kind in them, then you've seen product placement. Bigger companies like Pepsi or La Croix are often seen when a character goes to grab a drink while they talk. Cars like Mercedes are visible when being chased by giant dinosaurs on the run. All of that goes back to marketing and planting those product images into the audience's minds.

So how does a photographer manage to do that?

I won't pretend to have all of the answers, because in truth, it's something that I'm still researching and learning myself. Part of that includes perusing topics on media platforms like Instagram, or watching tutorials on YouTube. Often times, my favorite photos on there tend to be more moody, like a cup of coffee by a campfire, or a Jack Daniels bottle surrounded by earthy tones and dramatic shadows. But how do you get studio-worthy images when you have a cramped space?

My current living situation involves two roommates, which means that I don't always get the house to myself, and I certainly don't have much room to dedicate as a studio space because we all have to share the main living spaces. I've managed to get a few creative shots for my Etsy store, by keeping a neutral background and allowing for natural light to do most of the work for me.

I wasn't always happy with the results, however, and I could never leave my products really set up for long. I always had to pack everything up and move it so my roommates could use the space as well.

While I still plan on finding a way to set up studio space in my house, including lighting setups and props, I decided I could at least get a little started by taking some of the products with me to the great outdoors, since I spend a good majority of my time out there anyway. I gave myself a challenge, of sorts, to see what I could do with some of my favorite products, from local handmade mugs to cell phone cases. It made me think outside the box as a photographer, and I ended up learning a lot about angles and lighting in the process.

Some of my favorites included a session with my absolute favorite mug created by Handmade Bend, a local business here in Central Oregon.

I had so much fun going for a drive along my favorite seasonal highway, searching for just the right spots to set these up, and I was not disappointed with the results.

My other favorite photos have by far been for Keyway Designs, a cell phone cover manufacturer based in Canada. I've had my cell phone case for a year and a half now, and I love it. It's so hard for me to decide when it comes to their products, because I want to buy them all, but this case has been my favorite from the get-go. And since my cell phone is basically always in my pocket, I've been able snap some last-minute shots.

I did being to notice something. Many times, I was looking for the best angle or a magnificent view, but sometimes less was truly more. I remember trying to get just the right angle in front of a waterfall, then I happened to set my cell phone down for a moment on the stone wall next to me. The colors and texture were so pretty that I snapped a shot right then and there, and it ended up being one of my favorites.

It made me wonder if that was one of the secrets to marketing - knowing when to sell an experience and when to sell a product. Often, you can combine both to make a photo pleasing to the eye. Other times, you just need to let the product speak for itself.

I'm growing to love the marketing game and the challenges it has presented to me as a photographer. It makes me think in ways I normally never would, and I'm glad for that. Whatever your creative endeavor may be, never back away from a challenge. You might fail at times, but you'll likely end up learning something along the way, and that's the path that leads to success.

Be blessed!

Kendra

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