| Commercial photography is one of those careers | | | | One of the biggest errors made by amateur portrait |
| where a skillful portfolio is more important than | | | | photographers is a fussy or unsuitable background. |
| academic qualifications. There are a large number of | | | | Commercial photographers shooting in a studio will |
| commercial photographers across the UK, covering | | | | often shoot against a white, non-reflective |
| shoots for both corporate and private clients. | | | | background to get perfect results. Another technique |
| A commercial photographer is one who uses his or | | | | is chroma keying. Usually associated with TV and |
| her skills in a professional capacity. This can range | | | | movie film making, this involves the compositing of |
| from taking simple pictures of "for sale" properties on | | | | two images into one by the use of a blue or green |
| behalf of local estate agents, to elaborate photo | | | | screen background. On a smaller scale, light boxes |
| shoots for advertising companies. Wedding albums | | | | (the "studio in a box") are often used for |
| and pet and family photography are another | | | | photographing small objects, such as products for |
| important area. | | | | advertising shoots. |
| Some commercial photographers specialise in one | | | | A commercial photographer does far more than |
| area, while others offer a more generalised service. | | | | skilfully create an image. Whether it's an advertising |
| The former is more common where the | | | | shoot or a wedding, the photographs must convey |
| photographer is employed by a company, for | | | | real feeling and emotion. Photojournalists and |
| example - an events or advertising agency. Freelance | | | | advertising gurus work hard at creating an image in |
| commercial photographers tend to cover several | | | | the viewer's mind, striving for immediate impact that |
| areas. For example, a commercial photographer in | | | | will stir the emotions. This is very different to school |
| Leeds may be called upon to cover graduations, | | | | and graduation photos, where everything circulates |
| football matches, tourism and photojournalism shoots, | | | | around a perfectly posed centrepiece creating an |
| as well as pets, weddings and school photos. | | | | image of style. |
| Nonetheless, many still specialise in a certain area, | | | | When people book a wedding or family portrait |
| investing in special equipment, lenses and software. | | | | photographer, they're often looking for something |
| For example, advertising agencies invest a great deal | | | | memorable, something outside the usual brandy glass |
| of money promoting products, and are unlikely to use | | | | mock-ups and fixed poses. Canny photographers |
| freelance photographers who haven't invested | | | | working in the private sector use the same |
| likewise. | | | | techniques that advertising photographers use, with |
| Whatever the style, most commercial photography | | | | zany studio images, digital effects and props that |
| involves advanced techniques and professional photo | | | | reflect the fun of the occasion. |
| equipment, often worth thousands of pounds, to | | | | There's an endless range of unconventional ways to |
| create images which are beyond the scope of what | | | | parade your art if you're a photographer, In |
| the clients could achieve. Under this umbrella is a | | | | Yorkshire, for example, you will see banner ads, |
| whole plethora of specialised areas. Sports events, | | | | rotating advertising boards, flyers and large-format |
| local news, school photos, cookbooks, astronomy | | | | displays, adorning everything from shop fronts to the |
| magazines and travel brochures; all these use | | | | sides of buses. Commercial photographers have |
| commercial photographers to one degree or another. | | | | never been more creative - or more busy. |