Designer Art Bags Photography has Come of Age
If bags can be designer accessories, then why not their visuals. After all the visuals, entice the buyers to pick up the bags. It is a tough job to shoot them and make them buy-worthy.
Handbag aficionados are always prowling online shopping stores for tempting bag offers…glossy pictures of classic crocodile leathers, clutches, glam purses glittering with diamantes and rhinestones, a pop of color, a hint of gold, some animal prints, silk and lace… and yes those swanky designer Fendi’s, Marc Jacobs, Chanel’s, Hermes and Birkin’s!
The Internet portals have given opportunity to the new breed of digital photographers. They click the designer pictures to keep vendors in business and keep those online shopping carts always full! Bags photography has finally come of age. With tabletop shots, product shots using textured backdrops and those carried by high fashion models, the Internet is screaming with pictures of bags! For such shots, the genius lies in the lens and the light. Due to the importance of detailing - patterns, prints, textures, ornamentation, shape, form and fall as well as finesse, macro lensing is a key aspect. A good macro lens will capture the sheen of silk or the rawness of canvas or the fuzziness of suede. Hence, for both texture and for structure the lens to be used makes a big difference. This in turn will make the product much for enticing for the consumer. Due to the gloss and the shine, apart from the diffusing lights / spotlights, special dazzle lights or sparklers are also used to enhance the effects, especially for studded bags and those draped with gemstones. Usually a 2-point or 3-point set up with medium sized soft boxes works out well. Solid one color acrylic sheets or glass is often placed beneath for pretty reflections. Yes, itis light, science and magic!
In truth, bags photography is a lot tougher than one can imagine. Often fabrics or canvas can get creases or the handles or strap may look limp. Hence, art direction is equally important. Invisible thread and double-sided masking tape come handy for propping up bags or lighting up straps. Otherwise it's the old Ninja trick of stealing in a quick shot, while the ill prepared assistant lifts it up for a moment! Seamless paper of different contrasting or complementing colors goes well with bags as a background. Sometimes the backdrop can also be a gradient scale of the same color in different hues or intensities.
When it comes to shoot with models again the set up will definitely vary. This has to be captured in such a way that it complements the bag and not take away attention from it. Hence, how the models and the bag is portrayed plays an important role. The framing and angle is pivotal to display the bags in the most distinct way. Sometimes the shot could only be with a hand model or an abstract concept. Again, a shoot plan must be prepared for the same. Composition, lighting, lensing hold key importance. The use other props then the rule of odds must be used for balance. Color blocking the model costumes, backdrops or sets with reference to the main piece i.e. the bag is also very important.
Handbag aficionados are always prowling online shopping stores for tempting bag offers…glossy pictures of classic crocodile leathers, clutches, glam purses glittering with diamantes and rhinestones, a pop of color, a hint of gold, some animal prints, silk and lace… and yes those swanky designer Fendi’s, Marc Jacobs, Chanel’s, Hermes and Birkin’s!
The Internet portals have given opportunity to the new breed of digital photographers. They click the designer pictures to keep vendors in business and keep those online shopping carts always full! Bags photography has finally come of age. With tabletop shots, product shots using textured backdrops and those carried by high fashion models, the Internet is screaming with pictures of bags! For such shots, the genius lies in the lens and the light. Due to the importance of detailing - patterns, prints, textures, ornamentation, shape, form and fall as well as finesse, macro lensing is a key aspect. A good macro lens will capture the sheen of silk or the rawness of canvas or the fuzziness of suede. Hence, for both texture and for structure the lens to be used makes a big difference. This in turn will make the product much for enticing for the consumer. Due to the gloss and the shine, apart from the diffusing lights / spotlights, special dazzle lights or sparklers are also used to enhance the effects, especially for studded bags and those draped with gemstones. Usually a 2-point or 3-point set up with medium sized soft boxes works out well. Solid one color acrylic sheets or glass is often placed beneath for pretty reflections. Yes, itis light, science and magic!
In truth, bags photography is a lot tougher than one can imagine. Often fabrics or canvas can get creases or the handles or strap may look limp. Hence, art direction is equally important. Invisible thread and double-sided masking tape come handy for propping up bags or lighting up straps. Otherwise it's the old Ninja trick of stealing in a quick shot, while the ill prepared assistant lifts it up for a moment! Seamless paper of different contrasting or complementing colors goes well with bags as a background. Sometimes the backdrop can also be a gradient scale of the same color in different hues or intensities.
When it comes to shoot with models again the set up will definitely vary. This has to be captured in such a way that it complements the bag and not take away attention from it. Hence, how the models and the bag is portrayed plays an important role. The framing and angle is pivotal to display the bags in the most distinct way. Sometimes the shot could only be with a hand model or an abstract concept. Again, a shoot plan must be prepared for the same. Composition, lighting, lensing hold key importance. The use other props then the rule of odds must be used for balance. Color blocking the model costumes, backdrops or sets with reference to the main piece i.e. the bag is also very important.