Professional photoshoots are a hugely important part of a brand’s identity. Whether you’re booking one because you need to launch a product or you would like some new team photos, it’s always a great idea to use the photoshoot as a way of showing off your brand’s personality. And if you want to create a fun or exciting ambiance, what could be better than adding special effects in the studio to interact with.
Photographing people
Authenticity is key when it comes to photos of people. If you’re going to invest in a professional photoshoot for your team, the best way of showing their personality is to give them something to react to. We’ve all become used to the Gen Z selfie pose which looks great, but never actually shows the real person behind the lips-only grin. If that’s all you need for your shots, then great. But if you’re a brand that prides itself on authenticity or fun, then real smiles are going to be a hundred times better.
A great example of this is a team photoshoot that we were asked to help out with. The team wanted to show they were professionals, but also wanted to show their creative personalities. Working with the photographer, we designed and created a white set with large black balloons above and surrounding the team. First, the team was photographed in formal poses for the shots that would show them as consummate professionals, albeit against an intriguingly creative background.
The second shot was taken at the moment when we burst the balloons and released a lot of confetti. The team’s shock of the balloons popping and delight as they were covered in fluttering confetti produced the kind of facial expressions that cannot be replicated even by the actors giving an Oscar-winning performance – full of genuine surprise and heartfelt smiles.
A model reaction?
If you’re planning a photoshoot using professional models, it’s very important to show them with genuine facial expressions. Body language experts have found that adverts using images using models with expressions that engage people on an emotional level – as opposed to the neutral stare favoured by fashion brands in particular – are three times more likely to get attention. At a sub-conscious level, consumers can tell the difference between a professional smile and a genuine one, which is why it’s so important to be aware of that when you’re choosing which shots to use for your advertising campaign or website. If using something like confetti in your photoshoot can provoke an honest reaction, then so much the better.
Drop it like it’s hot
Another way of creating dramatic moments is with the aid of a kabuki drop. The kabuki is a device that helps you drop things from a truss above the action, such as opening balloons, dropping curtains for a big reveal, or unfurling banners or flags. This will help you capture the reactions on people’s faces as the action takes place. Kabuki drops also help brands add huge drama to live launch events.
Setting the mood with low lying fog
One of the staples of any photoshoot is a low fog that covers the studio floor helping to create a sultry, exciting, or shadowy atmosphere. Because of the way smoke flows, even in still photos, your brain tells you there’s movement going on. This means that having fog in the image indicates that something is afoot which draws your attention to it. No wonder low fog machines are very popular with car manufacturers! Low fog also separates the product from the studio/real life, putting it in a slightly ethereal setting which makes it seem slightly otherworldly and exciting – which can provoke aspirational feelings in the people looking at the photos.
Making a big splash
Water is a fantastic resource for making photoshoots more interesting and exciting, and there are a number of special effects you can use in the studio that will give your shoot authenticity at the same time as bringing your products (or people) to life.
What better way of illustrating the benefits of a waterproof jacket than using heavy rain special effects – which is exactly what we did for one client. The model was a rugby union player, so at least he was used to working in heavy rain – but in this instance, he stayed nice and dry.
Another client just needed a pool of water to provide a lovely reflection for the launch photos of a new car. Which isn’t as straightforward as you’d think! It involved constructing a shallow pond with just enough water to cover the floor area, but not enough to give the impression the car was stuck in a flood! The models who were part of the photoshoot also needed to walk without getting their feet wet. The final result was amazing, with the water gently mirroring the car and the models but without getting in the way.
When a manufacturer specialising in hair styling products launched a new range, we helped them with the launch photoshoot where they wanted to use running water at the same time as keeping the model’s hair dry and styled. We achieved this with a water blade, which is most commonly used in garden water features, where a sheet of water cascades downwards. As this wasn’t quite enough, we used vertical water jets which are operated from the ground up. The combination of water cascading down and jets shooting up created a great visual effect. And with the model standing behind the sheet of water, we helped them achieve the dual effect of someone washing their hair at the same time as showing how beautiful the hair will look after the person has dried and styled it using the products.
Sparkulars
If you’re looking for special effects that are less wet than water, you can’t beat Sparkulars. Also known as cold spark machines, Sparkulars will add bling to any photoshoot (or event) with a lot less risk than using a flame jet, which uses real fire at extreme temperatures. What you’ll get is a hugely photogenic plume of golden sparks – or a cascading backdrop if that’s what you’d prefer – that will light up the room and help showcase the person or product in the spotlight. Great for performer publicity shots or exciting and cheerful products that will feel the benefit from a boost of razzamatazz.
Sparkular machines can be used indoors, making them ideal for studio shoots. And because they’re a lot cooler than flame jets, people can stand a lot closer to them.
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Talk to us about your photoshoot plans
We have been creating special effects for photoshoots and product launches for more than 25 years. If you have an idea about special effects you would like to use but are not sure about executing it, our specialists will be more than happy to talk you through the process and help devise, install and operate the effects during your shoot.
Contact us now to find out more.
