The industry does not stand still, so high-quality industrial photographs are becoming more and more in demand for business development. Industrial photography can be carried out at various locations, both indoors and outdoors.
Despite the fact that at first glance, for many, photographing such premises may seem like a boring process, this is not at all the case. The specifics of the work of enterprises can be very different – from steel factories and scientific laboratories to confectionery factories and furniture factories. In addition to the fact that photography of industrial facilities has become a necessary and integral part of advertising production, this activity inspires photographers themselves with its unusual locations and the ability to simultaneously capture the realism and romance of the production process.
For businesses, professional photography is a great way to create a positive image of the company and become more understandable to ordinary people. Therefore, this type of photography should include a panorama of the territory, detailed pictures of equipment, finished products, as well as personnel at the workplace. Also important is the preparatory process for taking photos, which we will talk about further.
How to Prepare for an Industrial Photoshoot
So, you are determined to get new experiences and images in your portfolio, now is the time to decide where exactly you will take photos. If you look at your options in general, it can be an abandoned location with no longer operating facilities or operating enterprises that can be found in small towns. Especially as a novice photographer, you don’t have to aim at huge industrial sites. Small factories are great sources of industrial photography. So you shouldn’t have any difficulties in negotiating with clients since small businesses are happy to use your photos for their advertising.
Moving on, the next thing you need to take care of is your safety. Photographing industrial sites is not a New Year’s photoshoot and can be quite dangerous. Some sites may be difficult to access and be in a semi-emergency condition. Therefore, you should not neglect safety measures and immediately go to work with all necessary equipment.
If we are talking about an operating enterprise, be sure to agree with the owners of the object about your arrival. You can independently study the peculiarities of the work of people in this area and choose the appropriate clothes for the day of the shooting. You will most likely be given some protective wardrobe items already on the spot. In addition to the fact that you will most likely get dirty, you need to be extremely careful when photographing employees directly in the process. In no case distract them with conversations and be as focused as possible to make your perfect shots.
Industrial facilities, even if you visit those that are not very large in size, still look impressive due to their production processes, an abundance of equipment, products, and other details. It is important to remember here that your shots should capture both the general view of the enterprise and focus on the details, so the shooting angle is critically important. Exit the facility and look at it globally, do not forget to capture the general panorama, nature around, and so on. Contrasting the scale of an industrial object with the macro shooting of small details and objects will make your footage contrast, bright, and lively.
What Kind of Equipment to Take with You?
Of course, in order for industrial photography to be perfect, you will need to take a lot of equipment with you. But if you are alone and your goal is not to fulfill the customer’s order, you can only get by with the most important tools. Remember that lighting in factories can be dim, and you have to wait for the right moment and get creative with, for example, flying sparks. To work in poorly lit rooms, you will need long exposure equipment, as well as a tripod, zoom and macro lens, and an off-camera flash.
Industrial photography is an alluring activity that allows the photographer to convey the mysterious atmosphere of abandoned factories and capture them at different visits depending on the time of day. This type of photography is very popular as stock photography, and high-quality photos will allow you to promote yourself as a photographer and get good money. Besides, many businesses themselves are happy to invite photographers to capture the status of the organization, the hard work of employees, and impress future buyers. Such a photoshoot will definitely be remembered for a long time, and in order for this to have pleasant memories, take the necessary precautionary measures and find out all the information about the location.
