Composition in commercial photography can be a tricky landscape to navigate. It’s not as straightforward as personal or editorial work.
Coming to you from Scott Choucino with Tin House Studio, this insightful video breaks down the nuances of commercial photography composition. Commercial work involves creating images that can adapt to various formats and platforms, from billboards to social media. Unlike personal projects where you have complete creative control, commercial shoots require versatility. Your images need to work across multiple media formats. This adaptability is essential because brands often cannot afford separate shoots for each platform.
Choucino explains that one of the reasons his work is popular is due to its flexibility. He often shoots on clean, plain backgrounds, allowing for easy adjustments in post-production. This method means that the same image can be used in different formats, such as a landscape, portrait, or even an animated graphic. By ensuring that the background is uniform, elements can be moved around without compromising the image’s integrity. This approach highlights the importance of planning for post-production during the shoot itself. It’s about thinking ahead to save time and resources later.
Choucino also addresses the need for high-resolution cameras in commercial photography. Using a 100-megapixel camera isn’t just about achieving more detailed prints; it’s about having more options during post-production. High resolution allows for significant cropping and resizing without losing image quality. This flexibility is invaluable when you’re not sure what the final output will be. Whether you need a close-up shot for a billboard or a wider crop for a social media post, high resolution provides the necessary versatility.
When composing shots for commercial use, Choucino advises centering the subject with ample breathing room around it. This technique ensures that the image can be easily adjusted to fit various formats. He also mentions the importance of even lighting across the background, which simplifies the post-production process. If you’re shooting against a busy background, the composition becomes more complex. However, clients typically won’t expect the same level of adaptability in these cases. Busy backgrounds are often reserved for editorial work rather than commercial advertisements. This distinction helps you tailor your composition strategies to the specific needs of each project.
Choucino’s approach to composition is about more than just the rule of thirds or other conventional guidelines. It’s about understanding that your photograph is one element in a larger composition that includes text and graphic design. By planning your shots with this in mind, you ensure that the final advert is cohesive and effective. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Choucino.
