Unpopular TRUTH About Product Photography

You don't need to be the best at product photography to get clients and grow your photography business. In fact, as a beginner freelancer, it's better to be great rather than elite. The key is to match your product photography skillset with businesses that have budgets for you.
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I’m Chris, a photographer based in Chicago. I teach photography and creative business through KZbin, my newsletter, and coaching. When I’m not teaching, I make photos and videos for brands. My KZbin channel is here for two reasons: to teach you how to start a creative business and photography.
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[@ChrisPieta]

This is something I'm really passionate about and I think is key to gaining clients. I'd love to talk more about this in the comments - drop your thoughts right here!

[@darellh2007]

Hey I'm just starting out and I have great skills such as photography solid backgrounds, decent retouching skills, small video clips, b-roll , and shooting with natural light. With that said I'm always worried to start my business because my client may ask something that I can't do. What do you do in those situations? tell them no? I'm confident in my skills as a photographer but things such as styling and splash drinks I still need to work on.

[@gregxcelente4271]

How do you find and qualify these mid tier businesses? do you search certain things on instagram or maybe linked in? Also, how do you reach out without scaring them? I do video and sometimes I'll spend hours creating beautiful pitch decks for clients I'd love to work with only for them not to respond at all.

[@gregxcelente4271]

​@@darellh2007 Anything you cannot do will need to be outsourced. Things like additional talent, equipment or contractors who can get the job done should be factored into your initial estimate if this is something your client wants.

[@tride.design]

I absolutely agree. As industrial designer who got basics right now we are asked by clients to make prpduct photos for their Amazon listings. We have to shoot 30-50 products per month for decent price that will allow us to scale our business and employ graphic designers to edit them properly. We just made a simple workflow that any junior designer can follow up to make good results. No one is paying nor looking for perfection, there's no stress and everyone is satisfied.

[@ChrisPieta]

That's a great position to be in. Awesome that you recognized the situation and embraced it head on

[@brokenovenbaking]

Matching your skills to different level clients is a concept I've been learning recently. Thanks for sharing!

[@ChrisPieta]

It's a tough one! I'm happy you're starting to learn more about it. It's not something I was thinking about when I started off but looking back it makes total sense!

[@sanjemyles3944]

Yeah, it's official Chris makes the best Product Photography videos here. Thanks again, so much value as usual my guy 🤘🔥🤘

[@ChrisPieta]

I'm humbled you would say that! Only way to go is up

[@matthewjeffres4640]

Hi Chris! I just found your channel a few days ago. You are a 4+ ⭐ photographer. I am just getting back to my photography. I am finding your thoughts very invigorating! Keep up the good work!

[@whenearthspeaks]

Great prints! Thanks for the discount code. This is a great video, very validating and encouraging for the majority of product photographers. Thank you!

[@ChrisPieta]

Thank you!! There's room in the space for everyone :)

[@pooopymist]

Your videos are arguably the most informative product photography videos on KZbin. I was on the fence about starting my business, as photography has just been a hobby.. then I found this playlist. 👌🏻

[@ChrisPieta]

Your comment made my day, thanks for the kind words! Hope playlist serves you well, I've got some free resource on my website too :)

[@amandacampeanu]

I loved your breakdown Chris! Totally agree with everything you said. At one point I wanted to aim towards the 5 star photographer you mentioned but I honestly love being able to keep things simple and serve the medium sized brands within my client base. Even with some medium sized clients, their budget is still small as they turn content over quite quickly given how much they post and doing multiple campaigns a year.

[@ChrisPieta]

Thanks Amanda! Yeah agreed - even medium sized clients seem to have smaller budgets with their churn rate. You make awesome videos by the way!

[@amandacampeanu]

@@ChrisPieta aw thanks Chris! 🙏🙏

[@sheriadams2203]

I found the video included the perfect amount of information and conveyed it concisely. This information is very helpful to those, like myself, just beginning to research this aspect of monetizing our photography skills on a small budget. Thank you for sharing your perspective! This motivates me to climb down off the fence and jump into product photography. I've been undecided, fearful that my lack of experience in this particular photography genre would shut me out of gaining paid work.

[@ChrisPieta]

Hi Sheri, thanks for your comment! There is a market for every level - go and get after it :)

[@janwebb9055]

Great advice. would love to learn more about lighting-basics

[@banditalley9592]

I've been doing some great images using one flash, 2 LED little square lights and some pieces of foam board cut into squares to make reflectors. I could spend $1000 more and still get the same result

[@kevin5121]

Love your Instagram! So glad that you are making longer/ informative videos :)

[@ChrisPieta]

Thanks so much Kevin! Keeping it up :)

[@happysunshinemedia7092]

subbed. loving this channel thanks chris

[@ChrisPieta]

Appreciate you following along. Glad to have you!

[@largefamilyruralliving7434]

So wise, thanks so much, excellent video. About to do my first product photos for a friend. She has a jarred candle business and i offered to take photos for her online shop to get practice.

[@ChrisPieta]

Thanks for watching - exciting that you're doing your first shoot! Candles can be fun to photography :)

[@basimali5319]

Hi, Chris. You've really changed my perspective in a good way! Thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge and experience.

[@ChrisPieta]

I'm so happy to hear that Basim!

[@seherbya_snapper]

Wow ! I also have the same mindset and you just made me more clear about it. I am just getting started and I really care for now is to get myself some good clients. I want to work as per the client's budget. I want my clients to grow and my business as well.

[@ChrisPieta]

love to hear that! Great mindset to have

[@thevincentpaul]

Great video👍

[@ChrisPieta]

Thank you - really appreciate that

[@johngregg5735]

Very informative! One thing - you have to get in with the Art Director at the big companies to get business. . A friend of mine related that he had to go the extra distance (concert tickets, meals etc.) And that isn't cheap. Speaking of ranking people (and totally unrelated to this topic), I once worked for a major bank in New York City. One of their divisions was not meeting their goals. All the managers in the division were told to rank their team members into one of four groups: The top 10%, the next 40%, the next 40% and the bottom 10% of performance. An off-site meeting was called, select employees were notified that transportation was waiting for them to take them to the meeting. The selectees were then driven to the Meadowlands in New Jersey, where they were all fired. Turns out the 'select employees' were all in the bottom 10%....

[@ChrisPieta]

John thanks for this comment! Eye opening for sure! I did not expect my ranking system to kind of align with that haha! Rough industry to be in... Appreciate you watching

[@StevenScarborough]

On point

[@ChrisPieta]

Appreciate you Steven!

[@fedora_x7938]

Thanks for making this video. I’m agree with you. Is good to want to be the best. But I feel as an staring photographer, in my experience I have stop doing photos cause I don’t have x or y. I had a cheap kit photography I get to practice, and once you master the camara and understand how to control and play with the light, you can make magic. And yes to offer your service to small business. Even just for fun.

[@ChrisPieta]

Well said! Thanks for watching

[@lashantawade8317]

Thank you, very informative.

[@ChrisPieta]

Appreciate it! Thank you

[@ronlemelinphotography]

Great info

[@ChrisPieta]

Appreciate you Ron!

[@davidlinney8106]

The length is spot on...in my opinion..you need to get the points across and having too short a video would not do the subject justice. Its something I had mot considered..but something I will start to use going forward

[@ChrisPieta]

Thanks David! Happy to hear you enjoyed it and learned something :)

[@amorjajawy]

great video and very helpful 🤍

[@ChrisPieta]

Thank you for watching!

[@peter_shadow7559]

Big companies are turning to CGI, those 5-star photographers are in trouble.

[@ChrisPieta]

Indeed! I’ve got a video using some cgi software coming soon to show where the industry is going 🤫

[@peter_shadow7559]

@@ChrisPieta Excellent, I'll keep an eye out.

[@PLANETWATERMELON]

Fantastic video. I have been in the running/athlete industry for 20+ years and have always enjoyed photography, making YT videos and blogs. I recently have become interested in doing product photography. Your videos have been very helpful. After 20+ years of running businesses I am use to being pretty confident, but been nervous going into doing small product photography that I can do from my home with my little photo experience, especially with photo editing part which I very little experience. I have just been using Mac photo editor. LOL! Thanks again for your helpful videos.

[@ChrisPieta]

Thanks for watching Jeff! If you;ve got the business side of it down, the photography should come easy! Most people have the opposite problem. You probably know this already but it's just about putting in the work every day and practicing photography

[@PLANETWATERMELON]

@@ChrisPieta Really appreciate your feedback, I’m looking at your educational program. In the meantime I have a camera and debating on either keeping my MacBook 14 which I just got and getting the Studio Display with 12 month interest payments or switching both out for an iMac 24” and not have to deal with payments. My exchange date is coming up soon. Any thoughts?

[@ChrisPieta]

@@PLANETWATERMELON 14 inch macbook pro with the m1 Pro chip? Keep that for the power. The screen size will be nice but not necessary. Mabye try out just the laptop for a few months and then get the studio display :)

[@PLANETWATERMELON]

@@ChrisPieta Great advice. I’ll check out your course tonight after work. Thanks!

[@ChrisPieta]

@@PLANETWATERMELON Happy to hear that Jeff!

[@bryanladdphotography]

I also believe the market determines the star rating. "Big fish in a little pond" mentality. A 2 star photographer in Chicago, might be 4 stars in Ohio, or other small-town comparison. Being the best you can be is all that matters.

[@matrixphotodesign]

I been in this for 8 years I would agree, When you first start working a lower level works , but if you want to build a business you should always be looking to produce images that above your pay grade.

[@ChrisPieta]

Awesome to hear that from an industry vet!

[@IJV-X1]

Hi everyone, I would like to ask, I love my 9-17 job and dont want to give it up. I'm starting an after work and weekend business. Photography is untill now a hobby. Is an 2-3* goal real for this time conditions? I still need to learn a lot, so I'll start with 1-2* for the first part. But the 3*, wow, I would like to get there! What do you think? Thanks!

[@ChrisPieta]

Great goal to have, you're on the right track

[@nolzy3906]

I just got my first camera which is a canon power shot g16 and I’m wondering if it’s a good camera?

[@ChrisPieta]

Good place to start!

[@victoroluwaseun44]

As a beginner with low budget, what camera can I start with in product photography. Thanks.

[@ChrisPieta]

A6000 Sony

[@ChrisPieta]

Link in description for recommendation

[@victoroluwaseun44]

Thanks 🙏

[@larissabullen264]

I’m concerned that I’m losing clients because of my pricing. I’m basically charging $50 a photo right now. I reach out through emails, get clients to say they’d love to work with me just to find out my prices and totally ghost me. I’m not sure where to go from here, but I feel like my work is worth the price I’m charging! Any advice?

[@ChrisPieta]

Your price is very reasonable. What size companies are you talking to? Do you follow up a few times after they ghost you? It’s strange they say they want to work and then ghost. Sometimes people get busy and just forget to respond but if there’s a pattern there’s some other issue

[@larissabullen264]

@@ChrisPieta they’re small shops but established! I have had it happen to me 3 times now and it’s so discouraging. I follow up once but I’m not sure if I should do so a second time.

[@noelmarcantel8927]

Hey, Larissa! Master negotiator Chris Voss has a great trick I use for unresponsive clients. You send them the one-sentence email, “Have you given up on this project?” Nine times out of ten, it’ll invoke their loss aversion reaction just enough to send you a response saying why they have or that they want to resume the process.

[@larissabullen264]

@@noelmarcantel8927 I never thought of that. I should try this the next time it happens. I appreciate it!!

[@hellolau]

👏

[@ChrisPieta]

Thank you! :D

[@jordanjoestar8839]

Reassuring to know I considered myself a 3 star photographer, even though I've been shooting for a decade in all forms, and have a good amount of editing and experience. I'm good, but its hard to ever say you're excellent if you wish to remain humble and professional. Perhaps I'm a 5 star man, cloaked as a 3 just because I want to be fair with pricing, even at my own expense 🤕

[@wastedtalentusa]

There are a lot of "coffee shops" that when they look for a photographers, they show expectations of the 5 stars images. Sometimes, bigger budget clients are way easier to work with than some low budget clients.

[@ChrisPieta]

I will say bigger budget clients are definitely less of a headache to work with

[@motonejc]

Thats the same how i start with website developer. Anyway for me the video it’s too long i wish you will tell the price for 1 picture from 1⭐️ to 5⭐️ because a lot of new business with no real knowledge want to get too much and than you don’t know what is true. Otherwise video is good 👍

[@ChrisPieta]

Yeah very relatable! I wish I could make it more concise - hard to pack in all this info into that haha. I have other videos on the topic - check out my pricing video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXOnqpZtfZqnppY Pricing is very complicated and there isn't a set number - but this will give you a great starting point!

[@compostdave]

But what is good enough? It's hard to tell as a beginner.

[@ChrisPieta]

Reach out to people who need your services and if someone says yes, you're good enough.

[@compostdave]

​@Chris Pieta I guess thatsxmy biggest issue, im scared to reach out becausexi don't know if I'm good enough. Also most of my work looks the same.

[@miamited69]

What are you thoughts on fiverr?

[@ChrisPieta]

Can be a great place to start. If you don’t care about any of the business stuff, then fiverr is a good option. The downside is you end up competing on price within that space

[@eccentricsmithy2746]

Product photography is becoming worthless. No money in it. Today people flood companies and tag companies with their shots so much that companies these days have absolutely no reason to pay anyone for it. They have so many sending them free shots that they get their product shots for free. I literally inquired several companies that gross over $20 Billion a year and they all said they dont have a advertising budget because there are thousands willing to let them use their shots for free. You go to the IGs of NIKE, BMW, Folgers coffee and hundreds of other big box companies and all their posts are fan submitted, Less then 1% of their content was paid for.

[@ChrisPieta]

I'm sorry that's been your experience. There is a lot of money in this industry. Aim to be that 1% you mentioned in the last paragraph.