What To Expect from a Professional Commercial Photography Shoot and is it Worth The Money?

Sep 25, 2024 | Commercial/ Brand Campaign, Editorial Photography, Photography Classes

A person wearing a blue jacket and black beanie operates a large industrial machine, handling a massive roll of material in a factory setting. Long cylindrical materials are neatly stacked in the background. The logo "SP Studios" is visible in the corner, showcasing expert brand photography at work.

Brand photography is about showing your business off in the best possible light, to communicate your brand identity and stand out from competitors.

This week I am delivering one of my regular photographic lectures for start ups and creatives at Leeds BIPC. The lecture is centred around how to get the most out of the photographic equipment that you have (mostly a phone) and how to capture better quality, more creative images of your products and staff. In a nutshell – how to do your own Brand Photography.

At the end of my lecture I highlight what a professional photographer can do for a client that a non-professional with a phone might not be able to do, and I explore if hiring a professional photographer is worth the extra expense. I discuss how I go about delivering a commercial/ brand shoot and deliver hints and tips about how to get the most out of a shoot and what to expect from a professional photographer.

Below is a list of what to expect from a professional photographer and the value you should gain vs doing it yourself on a smartphone:

Communication

Clear communication prior to the shoot is a must. When I studied photography I remember very clearly my brilliant tutor (Bob Catterall) hammering home the acronym WIF. ‘What’s it for?’ To me this means giving the client exactly what they want but in a creative and interesting way. When I press the shutter people are paying for 25+ years of experience and my creativity.

A professional brand photographer should establish and understand your brand identity and where this shoot sits in your marketing plan, what the purpose of the shoot is, what you need the images for and how exactly how you will use them. When this has been ascertained the photographer will then have a good idea of what is possible in a day and what extra editing time is needed and can give an accurate quote to ensure you and your team get exactly what you need to make the most out of the shoot. You may be surprised just how much is possible in a days shoot. The majority of my jobs are one day shoots and my clients get a wealth of content out of this day.

Pre-Shoot Planning

This is one of the major factors to denote how well a shoot will go and how productive the photographer can be on the day. Planning is a team effort and may include location scouting, shot preparation, production scheduling, equipment prep, clothing and props prep and call sheets.

For example, if the brand photography shoot includes head shots – make sure the sitters have been prepped about this in advance. The member of staff will then be prepared to be photographed at their best, they won’t be taking time getting ready and more importantly they won’t have to be chased after and begged to take part! Most people are uncomfortable having their photograph taken, i’ve taken over 3000 portraits and i’ve developed the confidence and knowledge to put subjects at ease.

A Typical Brand Photography Shoot in Manchester

In the preceding day to the shoot, having established exactly what is being photographed and working to a pre agreed schedule, I always ensure my equipment if ready to go and has been thoroughly tested. On most shoots I will take in my van with more equipment than I think I need. I have had to revert to the extra equipment on many occasions as every shoot is bound to throw up unexpected challenges no matter how well you have planned. The mark of a good professional is how they deal with these challenges. When you are getting paid a professional rate there are no excuses – you provide the best images possible that meet (and exceed) the clients objectives regardless of unforeseen challenges on the day.

Knowing When To Stop

An amateur photographer will would wander around all day taking hundreds of photographs, often of the same image. As a professional you don’t often have that luxury. There is a schedule to stick to and you have to use your experience to know when you have captured a great image, then move on. This is how it’s possible to capture so much quality content in a day. It’s a like doing your own DIY – you can mostly have a good go however it won’t be quite as good and it will have taken 5 times longer. That’s what happens when I do DIY anyway!

The Equipment Needed For A Brand Photography Shoot

On average I will take around £20000 of equipment to each job, this includes back ups for everything. Just to rent this would cost way more than my day rate (more on my day rate later).

I tend to use powerful battery powered studio flash (Elinchrom ) and Nikon Speedlights to light my subjects. I like to use a combination of natural light and flash. This is generally for portraits and head shots. You often don’t have the time to light every shot of a production process unless it’s for the ‘hero’ shot. If time is absolutely key then I will use a battery powered LED light such my Rotolight .

No matter what your equipment is, get to know it inside out, every setting, every button and what each setting does instinctively. Be able to change settings without thinking about it. Practice costs nothing only time. Make mistakes – mistakes are good and without mistakes you are not pushing yourself forwards. If knowing your settings and how to utilise them become instinctive – you can concentrate on the image, the composure and the overall feel and look.

How Much Does Brand Photography Cost?

The following set of images are a small selection of the 300 hundred images that were presented to the client. This shoot for Nova Tissues took 2 days, one and half days shooting and half a day editing.

You might think that photographing a toilet roll manufacturer isn’t that ‘sexy’ and you might be right! However I had a great time. Khurram – the manager of Nova Tissue who I worked closely with was a pleasure to work with, the staff were very receptive and I loved seeing the process in action, it was very interesting. The images were used on their new website and for future social media posts. I’m really pleased with this set of images, I do think I have made the process look interesting and presented the whole company in it’s best light.

My day rate ranges from £200 to £320 per day. This particular shoot was £260 per day. It’s not uncommon to pay £500-800 for a days brand photography.

Is A Professional Photographer Worth It?

The decision to consider is: ‘How much worth to your business do you think a set of images like this would add?’

Ultimately the decision is yours, but with careful prep – hiring an experienced professional photographer will provide you with high quality content that can meet your marketing needs and elevate you brand for years to come.

The real question, in my opinion is: ‘Can you afford NOT to hire a professional photographer?’

Thanks to Nova Tissues for this Google Review:

“We had Tim over for a two-day photo shoot at our paper factory, and he was amazing! Tim has an incredible eye for detail and managed to capture the heart of our operations perfectly. The photos are stunning and really showcase the production process and dedication of our team. Tim was super professional, always on time, and really flexible with our needs. The quality of his work blew us away, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. We highly recommend Tim for any photography projects you have!”

A forklift is loading a pallet of toilet paper rolls into a shipping container. The scene, capturing brand photography, appears to be inside a warehouse with stacks of wrapped toilet paper rolls in the foreground and background.
A smiling older man wearing glasses and a red safety vest holds a clipboard while standing in front of stacks of packaged goods. He is in what appears to be a warehouse, with parts of industrial equipment visible around him—capturing the essence of brand photography.
Conveyor belts transporting multiple rolls of toilet paper glide seamlessly in a manufacturing facility, showcasing organized movement and an automated production process. This brand photography setup captures the essence of efficiency, with a green bin and machinery visible in the background.
A person wearing a blue jacket and black beanie operates a large industrial machine, handling a massive roll of material in a factory setting. Long cylindrical materials are neatly stacked in the background. The logo "SP Studios" is visible in the corner, showcasing expert brand photography at work.
A person in a high-visibility vest and mask operates a red forklift, transporting a tall stack of shrink-wrapped goods in a warehouse. The surrounding area is filled with similar stacks, indicating a bustling work environment. This brand photography captures the industrial efficiency of the setting. Image by TSP Studios.
A person in a green hijab and sweater sits at a desk in an office, typing on a laptop. They are smiling and wearing glasses. The neatly arranged desk, ideal for brand photography, also has a phone, a pen holder with pens, and office supplies. The background includes a window with paper towel packs on the sill.
A man in a gray suit jacket sits at a desk with a laptop and phone in front of him. He is smiling and has short hair. On the left side of the desk, there are packages of toilet paper—part of a brand photography shoot. The background is a neutral office setting with a TSP Studios logo in the lower right corner.
A man with a beard and mustache, wearing a blue shirt and striped tie, stands amidst stacks of packaged toilet paper rolls. The scene, likely brand photography for a warehouse or storage area, features packages with various brand labels. A "TSP Studios" watermark is visible in the corner.
A group of people in safety vests stands in front of a warehouse with a partially open shutter. The warehouse has a sign reading "Nova Tissue." The background features a brick wall and a blue sky, creating an ideal setting for brand photography.
A worker in a high-visibility orange and reflective vest operates a red forklift to move a large roll of white paper in a warehouse. The floor and surrounding area appear industrial, with machinery and materials visible in the background—a perfect example of brand photography by "TSP Studios.
A close-up view of a machinery system in a factory shows several white rolls of paper towels with patterned designs. Red laser lights are scanning the paper rolls as they move along metal tracks, indicating an inspection process. The logo "TSP Studios" is visible in the bottom right corner, highlighting premium brand photography.
A forklift operator meticulously moves a large pallet of stacked, wrapped goods through a spacious warehouse. High stacks of similar pallets are visible in the background, showcasing efficient storage. The image features a "TSP Studios" watermark on the bottom right corner, highlighting their brand photography expertise.
Close-up view of a large stack of empty cardboard tubes, arranged horizontally and extending into the background. The tubes are uniform in size and color, showcasing TSP Studios' expertise in brand photography. In the bottom right corner, a watermark reads "TSP Studios.
A man with a beard and glasses is smiling while wearing an orange high-visibility jacket. In this piece of brand photography, he stands confidently in an industrial or workshop setting. The background is slightly blurred, focusing on the man. Image credited to TSP Studios.
A man with glasses, a beard, and a high-visibility vest kneels in front of an open electrical panel, meticulously working on the wiring. Various tools bulge from his pockets. Behind him are cables and circuit breakers. "TSP Studios" is printed in the bottom corner, showcasing their brand photography expertise.
A smiling older man with glasses and a beard, wearing a black beanie hat and a yellow safety vest, works on machinery in an industrial setting. Perfect for brand photography, he adjusts a component with both hands while looking at the camera. The logo "TSP Studios" is visible in the corner.
Close-up of two cylindrical spools with a beige material being wound around them, suspended vertically on a production line. This example of brand photography showcases a clear and focused view of the spools, with the background appearing blurred. The text "TSP Studios" is visible in the lower right corner.
A machine wrapping a large pallet stacked with goods in plastic film inside an industrial facility. The motion blur indicates the wrapping process is in progress, capturing the dynamic efficiency of the scene. "TSP Studios" is printed on the floor in the bottom right corner, showcasing adept brand photography.
A close-up view of an industrial machine featuring rows of interconnected gears and mechanical components framed with orange and black metal parts. This instance of brand photography showcases the complex arrangement and intricate engineering, highlighting operational mechanisms in stunning detail.
Close-up view of an industrial machine with multiple spools of paper being fed through rollers. Two green belts are wrapped around the spools. The machine and surroundings have a utilitarian, industrial appearance, captured perfectly in brand photography. The "TSP Studios" logo is visible in the bottom right.
Aerial view using a DJI Mavic Pro of an industrial area with warehouses, buildings, and vehicles. Roads and greenery surround the site, while a city skyline is visible in the distant background. This striking example of brand photography is branded with the "TSP Studios" logo in the bottom right corner.

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