WritingAboutCommercialPhotography
- GeneralPurpose
Commercial photographers take photographs for commercial use, for business, sales, or other monetary purposes. Commercial photography is often associated with advertisements, sales pitches, brochures, and merchandising and is also used to create business cards, corporate brochures, leaflets, menus, advertorials (editorial advertisements), and press photos. A successful photographer will be technically and visually literate with problem solving skills, insights into current styles and practice, and strong communication skills. Photographers may work in a variety of areas: as photographers, videographers, producers, stylists, re-touchers, and photo editors. They may also be skilled in commercial digital imaging, digital workflow, studio lighting, small medium, large format cameras, and lab/studio management, and may work in the fields of portraiture, fashion, catalog advertising, location lighting, studio lighting, documentary, video production and narrative construction.A commercial photographer may be required to sell a product or to promote a business, anything that requires persuasion through photographic arguments. Commercial photography often involves many different parties working together—businesses, photographers, printers, and clients—and effective communication among all parties is important.Many professional photographers are also small business owners, so they should be skilled in accounting and management of finances.
- TypesofWriting
- PhotographyProposals (an estimate of photographic services)
- ArtistStatements (personal statements discussing and advertising work)
- PhotographyBriefs (requests for photos for a commercial purpose)
- PersonalCorrespondence (emails, memos, etc.)
- TypesofEvidence
- QuantitativeResearch(specific information about clients and work, such as what type of camerato use for the occasion; how many photos are needed; and financial research, such as pricingand equipment rental)
- QualitativeResearch (evaluating the work of other photographers for strengths and weaknesses, which is helpful when working with other photographers)
- WritingConventions
- Specific, technical information should be included when communicating about a job or assignment.
- The purpose of photographs should be clear and transparent.(What will the photos be used for? How many will be needed?)
- Proposals may include detailed, thorough budgets for time and labor.
- Artist statements(for a gallery or exhibition) should avoid “explaining” the work, but
should answer the question, “What about your work could be interesting to people?”
- Common Terms
- Art
- Visual Rhetoric
- Photojournalism
- Advertising
- Visual Design
- Film Photography
- Digital Photography
- Editorial Marketing Technology
- DocumentationStyle
Citation style will vary depending on the class and the professor.
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SourcesConsulted
“Commercial Photography at Appalachian State University.” Appalachian State University,
2017,
Colberg, Jörg M. “How To Write About Your Photographs.” CPHmag.com, 21 April 2014, http:
//cphmag.com/how-to-write/.
Colberg, Jörg M. “On Statements.” ConscientiousExtended, 28 June 2010, .com/weblog/extended/archives/on_statements/.
Doherty, Susi. “Writing a Photography Brief.” Vervate.com, 27 July 2015,
Com/10-tips-on-writing-a-photography-brief-corporate/.
Foster, Kelsey. “How to Write a Photography Proposal.” PinholeProMagazine, 2017, https:/
/pinholepro.com/magazine/2014/02/how-to-write-a-photography-proposal/.
London Photographers. “What Is Commercial Photography?” LondonPhotographers.org,
2015,