CarbonCopy
New member
As someone who is a trained Industrial Designer, and having gone through the Portfolio review process of his 3D (as in model-making) work, great photography of your portfolio work is priceless. It is the difference in getting a job/work and not. This very website is, when all things are considered, a peer-reviewed portfolio for all its members.
The great advantage we have today is low-cost a access to digital cameras that take excellent photos with little to no effort. The great differentiator is the lighting process. Those who know how to actually LIGHT a subject. I'm extremely hit & miss on this myself. The main thing stopping me from contributing more works to this site is everything I try to shoot lately has been coming out all wrong with lighting and/or color. I have a new lighting rig that I need to try out, so this should change shortly.
Would I have someone take photos of my work? Yes, absolutely. I have in the past (more than 10 years ago). When I get a good dozen high-quality pieces that I am pleased with, I'll be contacting someone I know and trust to do it -- but not until then.
There is something interesting I have noticed over the years of GD coverage. The amateur photos of the winning entries make them look downright awful. Yet, when you see the professional photos of those works, you see why they won. I'd actually highly encourage everyone here who is close to scoring the "magic 8" on this site to have a professional photographer shoot their work. It might be the difference between scoring under or over that magic line.
Learning how to take photos yourself is invaluable. Having a professional photographer take photos of your work can be just as valuable, as they may notice important aspects or details of your work that you may have completely overlooked. Just watching the process, you might learn something about composition and/or lighting that only professional photographers know.
Every photographer is different. Some have experience with product and promotional work. Most don't. You want someone who actually has experience shooting little things. Ask questions! Remember, you are interviewing THEM for your job. And its' just as much a portfolio experience for THEM as it is for you.
If you have high-quality work, go have it done. Even if you are skeptical, go do it. You might be surprise by the difference a professional can bring out. At the very least, you may just validate your own skill level and never have it done again.
The great advantage we have today is low-cost a access to digital cameras that take excellent photos with little to no effort. The great differentiator is the lighting process. Those who know how to actually LIGHT a subject. I'm extremely hit & miss on this myself. The main thing stopping me from contributing more works to this site is everything I try to shoot lately has been coming out all wrong with lighting and/or color. I have a new lighting rig that I need to try out, so this should change shortly.
Would I have someone take photos of my work? Yes, absolutely. I have in the past (more than 10 years ago). When I get a good dozen high-quality pieces that I am pleased with, I'll be contacting someone I know and trust to do it -- but not until then.
There is something interesting I have noticed over the years of GD coverage. The amateur photos of the winning entries make them look downright awful. Yet, when you see the professional photos of those works, you see why they won. I'd actually highly encourage everyone here who is close to scoring the "magic 8" on this site to have a professional photographer shoot their work. It might be the difference between scoring under or over that magic line.
Learning how to take photos yourself is invaluable. Having a professional photographer take photos of your work can be just as valuable, as they may notice important aspects or details of your work that you may have completely overlooked. Just watching the process, you might learn something about composition and/or lighting that only professional photographers know.
Every photographer is different. Some have experience with product and promotional work. Most don't. You want someone who actually has experience shooting little things. Ask questions! Remember, you are interviewing THEM for your job. And its' just as much a portfolio experience for THEM as it is for you.
If you have high-quality work, go have it done. Even if you are skeptical, go do it. You might be surprise by the difference a professional can bring out. At the very least, you may just validate your own skill level and never have it done again.
