VIRTUAL LOCATION PHOTOGRAPHY
Whether it's because of budget or logistics, often shooting products on location isn't an option. For this reason, I have worked out a solution for recreating the look and feel of a location image done in the studio. The hybrid approach allows for more time and control over the lighting and styling than is generally possible when working on location.
The Task
Faubourg Brewing Company was going through a major rebrand and needed hero product still of their new packaging as well as lifestyle images. The client wanted the images to go along with their tag line of “The Neighborhood Beer of New Orleans’. To achieve this they had identified 11 locations around the city to use as the background for the hero product images. The locations were all high traffic areas and businesses to doing the actual photography in these areas was not logistically possible.
The Solution
Using this virtual location method we captured the background plates, along with lifestyle imagery, then finished up the product images back at the studio in Santa Ana, Ca.
A reference images is taken on location to supply proper focus fall off and cues for studio lighting.
In the studio an LED display is used to allow details and colors from the background environment to pass though the glass and liquid.
The reference product is removed and a clean background plate is captured.
In post production the studio image is clipped out and placed on the original background plate for a seamless blend of product and background.
Abstract Backgrounds
Intricate patterns, colors, and textures also work to add some excitement to an image.