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What does a Product Photographer do?

Photo of Brenna Goyette
Brenna Goyette
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert

Published 4 min read

A product photographer is responsible for taking pictures of products for advertising and marketing purposes. They must be able to make the products look appealing and capture the viewer's attention. Product photographers typically work in studios, but may also travel to different locations to take pictures of products.

Product Photographer job duties include:

  • Operate cameras and other photographic equipment to capture images of products
  • Select and set up equipment, including tripods, reflectors, and flash units, according to product requirements
  • Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus to control exposure and capture desired images
  • Compose images to convey a product’s features or tell a story within the context of an advertising campaign
  • Use computer software to edit and enhance digital photographs
  • Upload finished images to a company’s website or online store
  • Create photo layouts for use in print or digital marketing collateral
  • Work with art directors, stylists, and other creative professionals to plan and execute photoshoots
  • Maintain accurate records of all equipment and supplies used

Product Photographer Job Requirements

A product photographer is responsible for taking pictures of products for catalogs, websites, and print advertisements. They must be able to make the product look appealing to customers and capture its best features. A product photographer typically has a bachelor's degree in photography or a related field. They may also have certification from a professional organization, such as the American Society of Media Photographers. Product photographers typically have several years of experience working with commercial photography.

Product Photographer Skills

  • Product photography
  • Camera skills
  • Lighting
  • Composition
  • Photoshop
  • Editing
  • Color correction
  • Retouching
  • Background removal
  • Image manipulation
  • Creating clipping paths

Related: Top Product Photographer Skills: Definition and Examples

How to become a Product Photographer

Product photography is a specialized field of photography that involves taking pictures of products for commercial purposes. Product photographers typically work with businesses to help them sell their products by creating images that show the products in their best light. If you’re interested in becoming a product photographer, there are a few things you should know.

First, it’s important to have a strong foundation in photography. This means having a good understanding of composition, lighting, and other technical aspects of photography. You don’t need to be a master photographer to become a product photographer, but it helps to have a strong understanding of the basics.

Second, it’s helpful to have some experience working with products. This could mean anything from working in a retail setting to photographing products for a blog or website. The more experience you have working with products, the better you’ll be at photographing them.

Third, it’s important to be able to work well with clients. As a product photographer, you’ll be working with businesses to help them sell their products. This means being able to understand the client’s needs and desires and then translating that into beautiful photographs.

If you have a strong foundation in photography and some experience working with products, then you may be ready to start your career as a product photographer!

Related: Product Photographer Resume Example

Related: Product Photographer Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

Editorial staff

Photo of Brenna Goyette, Editor

Editor

Brenna Goyette

Expert Verified

Brenna is a certified professional resume writer, career expert, and the content manager of the ResumeCat team. She has a background in corporate recruiting and human resources and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. Brenna has experience in recruiting for tech, finance, and marketing roles and has a passion for helping people find their dream jobs. She creates expert resources to help job seekers write the best resumes and cover letters, land the job, and succeed in the workplace.

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