The following is a batch of product shots I did for Milson Road at a Buckhead home we rented out for the day. It was a great shoot where everybody was on top of his or her job. The art director and designer were both there; they had a clear vision of what they wanted and knew how to relay that to me. Plus, my assistant was on top of things. These things can make my job so much easier. My basic direction from the art director and designer was to give the shots a “Pottery Barn catalog” type feel. I’m not a Pottery Barn shopper so I actually had to go to a store prior to the shoot date and ask to see a catalog, so I could get an idea of the style or look they were going for. After looking at it I realized that most all of the shots had a very natural light type feel to them, so that’s how I approached these shots. All of them are lit – but my goal while lighting them was to make it look like they weren’t lit at all unless directed otherwise. I accomplished my goal.

They were very happy with what I delivered. It was a great shoot, and it was nice changing things up by photographing a product rather than a person. This is a rare occurrence for me. When it comes to product / still life photography you don’t have to worry about catching in camera that split second that a person will give the expression you’re looking for out of them. Some people will only give it to you once – and literally only for a split second — so it creates a tension and sense of urgency for me that I try not to show to whoever I’m photographing. Products like this just sit there, though. They don’t change, and they don’t run out of patience. They’re not uncomfortable in front of the camera like many of my subjects can be. This makes for a very relaxed shoot for me. I like relaxed – but still love the challenge of working with people.