GIFs and 360 product photos put a unique twist on photography and videography. Not only are they fun, but they are an effective tool. As we all know, human attention spans are getting shorter. Therefore, content is getting shorter. GIFs and spins provide customers with a short visual tour of your product/company which strengthens your brand and marketing strategies.

GIFs have been around since 1987. That may surprise you considering they are the star of the show on Twitter. In 2016, Twitter debuted the ability to search and send GIFs in tweets and direct messages. The impromptu #GIFparty started and companies such as NASA, GoPro, and IHOP all joined in the fun. It was a BYOG (Bring Your Own GIF) kind of party.

GIFs are perfect for social media.

Creativity is limitless with GIFs. GIFs tell a quick story or convey a relatable emotion or moment by highlighting a key occasion from an event, offering a behind the scenes view of your office, or showcasing how a product works in an engaging way.

If you’ve read this far but secretly have no idea what a GIF is…

GIF stands for graphics interchange format. They tell a bite-sized story in a few seconds by storing multiple images or still frames from a video in an image file, bringing the image to life with animation, and accentuating key features.

Our latest spin on product photography was for Gerber Gear – highlighting the features and angles of the tool from all sides.

Spin photography is used to give viewers a more realistic impression of your product which is linked to increased sales and increased visual information.

According to Adobe Scene 7, “91% of individuals surveyed want the ability to turn products around in full 360-degree spin and zoom in on any perspective”.

Photography can make or break a sale, but research shows that spin photography, in particular, is shown to decrease product returns. A better-informed customer will less likely be unhappy with their purchase.

“Within the first couple of weeks of adding 360 spin images to their product pages, the company saw a 6-8% lift in conversion rates.” –Amazon Spokesperson

What’s next? VR and augmented reality shopping

Ikea and Amazon now have virtual stores. Furthermore, with e-commerce sales rapidly rising, it is crucial to provide the consumer with detailed product photography – giving the viewer the additional confidence needed to buy your product. The days of relying on a customer to see your product in person to make a sale are long gone.

Contact the team at Studio 3 today to put a spin on your product or bring it to life with an animated GIF.

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Earth Day is the world’s largest environmental movement, celebrating sustainability, environmental protection, and the green movement across the globe. Today, we celebrate the earthy efforts of our team and clients- highlighting six clients who put their green foot forward.

Working to reduce our ecological footprint our team jogs to work, takes the Tri-met and Metro Transit systems, and runs errands on our bikes.

Many members of our team have adopted an eco-friendly plant-based diet, positively impacting the planet with each meal. Here are a few of our favorite neighborhood eateries: Sudra, the Slice Pizza Company, and Providore.

Studio 3 Service Day

Each year our team decides on a service day to honor our community and environment. This year we volunteered at the Oregon Food Bank’s Eastside Learning Garden to dig in and work together on seasonal gardening projects. We prepped, weeded, and cleared garden beds to then plant rows of swiss chard. Go, team!

In alignment with our office values, many of our clients strongly believe in and practice social and environmental responsibility.

Stash Tea reuses and recycles packing materials in their shipping department while investing in renewable energy through the purchase of green power through Portland General Electric.

Have you heard of Ecoroofs?

We captured Portland’s Ecoroof Program for Portland client, Environmental Services. These Ecoroofs replace conventional roofing with a living, breathing vegetated roof system. They save energy, reduce pollution, decrease erosion, and significantly lower stormwater runoff.

Other Studio 3 clients such as Costco, Amazon, Adidas, and Nike do their part to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

“Costco understands that it has a responsibility to source its products in a way that is respectful to the environment and to the people associated with that environment. Our goal is to help provide a net positive impact for communities in commodity-producing landscapes, by doing our part to help reduce the loss of natural forests and other natural ecosystems, which include native and/or intact grasslands, peatlands, savannas, and wetlands.” – Costco Spokesperson

Amazon has installed rooftop solar on distribution warehouses and has implemented wind and solar farms in Ireland, Switzerland, and the United States.

Adidas recently unveiled Futurecraft Loop, a running shoe that was made to be re-made. Adidas designed the shoe with 100 percent reusable TPU and it’s constructed with no other added chemicals or adhesives.

Nike started a Reuse-a-Shoe program which encourages its customers to recycle their shoes. The program accepts any brand of athletic shoes and grinds them into new sports surfaces. So far, 28 million shoes have been tossed in the shredder box.

We have entered the era of conscious consumerism.

In need of photography or videography for your farm, production, recycling, or shipping methods to demonstrate your eco-friendly side? Studio 3 will capture the greener side of your company. We’ll bring cameras, drones, and herbivorous snacks.

Happy Earth Day from Studio 3, Inc.

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Drones have become a standard in photography and videography. The innovative use of drones can be seen in all types of media, marketing, and advertising. Brands such as Red Bull, Coca-Cola, and GE have turned to aerial imagery on their campaigns. Likewise, a Budweiser commercial took to the sky recently to showcase their switch to 100% renewable electricity from wind power. A message portrayed powerfully by flying above the turbines.

As the use of drones has evolved, so has photography. The technology has advanced rapidly in recent years making it a highly sought-after service. The creativity of drone photography and originality of drone videography leave a lasting impression. From above, everything and anything takes on a different shape, color, and texture.

The drone market has grown tremendously. Now more than ever drones allow access to artistic landscapes and imaginative angles. These creative heights would otherwise be difficult to photograph without cost prohibitive, and somewhat dangerous methods. (Cranes, planes, and ladders…yikes.)

Do you need a sky-high shot of your product, building, or winery? We’ve got a drone specialist for that.

Drones offer a new perspective and create eye-catching imagery. Something that seems so familiar can be transformed by our creative team and camera with wings. Adding value to your mix of content, Studio 3, Inc. provides expert images and video drone services. Leave it to our skilled photographers to create pristine aerial images and video for your creative needs.

“In the confluence of flight, camera, and the harnessing of light lies a magical perspective of the gravity-bound every day that surrounds us. This view is at once powerful and humbling, truly the stuff of dreams. That is the excitement I try to bring to my images every time I put a drone in the air.” Josh Romberg Studio 3, Inc.

Take advantage of the creative opportunities drone technology offers and the know-how from the team. As a result, the finished product will astonish your clients and customers. Drone photography is a powerful tool and resource for your campaign to stand out.

Let us take your photography and videography to great heights.

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Our amazing team brings sunshine and warmth to the office every day. Likewise, we bring sunshine solutions to your product photography with lighting, props, backdrops, and our digital media team. You bring the product, we’ll bring the summer-location your budget approves.

Lighting and backdrops and props, oh my!

The most important technique our team applies to create sunshine for a photo is lighting. For example, one of our photographers, Craig Wagner, modifies and utilizes lighting at different angles to create specialized shadows and ambiance for your creative projects. Just call him walking sunshine. The key is properly spaced lighting to obtain the perfect shadow every time. High ceilings are used to our advantage for room sets creating that needed distance for a large subject like this shot for Marquis Spas.

Our photographer’s crisp shadows and dramatic sunlight are not all we can provide in-studio. We also have amazing props and backdrops. The color and texture of the background add a sentiment to the photo evoking a mood. Backdrops can range from subtle soft colors to a crisp white or a seamless backdrop to create that sunny day.

In this photo, you can see how the backdrop, lighting, and various props tell a summer story on their own.
 

 Our Digital Media team:

Along with our photographers, our digital media team create sunshine and warmth even on the rainiest days. For composite images, they combine multiple layers to create one beautiful and flawless scene. When putting together a composite image, one has to consider many different variables. The most obvious are the colors, placement, and size of different elements. As a result, these decisions will affect how, where, and in what order the viewer focuses their attention. 

‘For this piece, I played a lot with the placement of the surfboard and boombox to make it feel natural, organic, and compositionally pleasing. Light and color also play a critical role in how a viewer responds to a piece and whether an image looks “realistic”. I wanted this particular piece to have a nostalgic, yet timeless vibe, and I think the long shadows and warm tones created by the sunset help convey this feeling.’ –Lucio Barbarino Digital Artists at Studio 3

Rain or shine, the team at Studio 3 have your back to create that perfect photo you visualize for your brand. Give us a call. We would love to add a little sunshine to your day.

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1. Choosing the right background for the food at hand

Not all surfaces and backgrounds are photogenic. And while others might be beautiful on their own, they still may not necessarily complement the food/beverage at hand. So, what are some factors to consider when selecting a background? Color is a big one. Ideally, you want to avoid overly-bright colors or busy patterns that will distract from your subject. A shiny surface probably wouldn’t be a good choice either. Using neutral or pastel color palettes can go a long way in making your food/beverage ‘pop’- in a similar way that a certain color might bring out a person’s eyes. For instance, if most food contains warm color tones, it might be a good idea to shoot against cool-toned surfaces to create a pleasing contrast. If you want to learn more about how to create ‘color harmony,’ check out this helpful article on the subject, which also includes some useful guides.
You can also use the background to express character, suggest a mood, or establish a sense of place. Here’s a photo taken by Studio 3’s very own David Bell, which showcases a delicious chocolate cake placed in a rustic environment. The flooring suggests farm-style, naturalism, organic ingredients etc., while the rich brown tones in the wood compliment the chocolate perfectly.     

2. Knolling style – to use or not to use?

You may not be familiar with the term, but you’re definitely familiar with the style. ‘Knolling’ refers to this style of photography:

Bright + even lighting, Birds-Eye point-of-view, and a meticulous arrangement of items. First popularized in 1987 by a janitor who would fastidiously arrange the various construction tools he found around the warehouse, ‘Knolling’ photography has recently taken over Instagram as one of the most prolific trends in recent years – and has also found a strong niche in food/beverage photography. It’s easy to see why: if executed correctly, Knolling photography has a unique way of making any subject look bold and dazzling – even if it’s just some popcorn. Right angles, clusters of color, and clean/crisp lines are the name of the game. An appreciation of image composition, as well as the spatial relationships between objects will help your Knolling photography soar.

3. Using mist, glycerine, and other fakery

Want that ultra-fresh, dripping condensation look? Simply hit your glass with some mist! Or even better yet, many professionals will use Glycerin to the same effect. It gives your food/drinks a cold, fresh look, which in turn makes them appear more delectable. This is especially true of foods like fruits and veggies. If you see food in photographs looking wet or frosty, then you can bet your top dollar that glycerin was used! Think of your classic vending machine: can you picture those big water droplets rolling off a cold can of Coke on the front image? Yup, that’s either mist or Glycerin.

If your image requires ice, we highly suggest the use of fake ice cubes. Obviously, real ice melts, thus requiring frequent re-sets, which can take time and money away from your project (and also make a mess!). If you happen to be using glass, real ice will also cause significant fogging, obscuring your subject even more. These are just a few of the reasons professional photographers have embraced the use of fake ice and other perishable food prop replacements.   

4. Styling: Paint, pins, and putty

It takes a fine touch. There are countless cosmetic steps food stylists can take to improve the overall quality and composition of your food/beverage photography. Remember, we’re not actually serving the food, so no need to shy away from using un-edible items to get the necessary shot. Metal pins, for instance, can be used to hold food in place if you want to display the perfect balance of ingredients without them falling over. Photographer and food stylists will also use non-stick putty to the same effect, like so:

Ultimately, it’s about arranging and styling your subject to maximize it’s photogenic potential. Is your food stackable, or should it be fanned out, serving style? Does your subject have green stems? Should a side dish be included? What about some unique serving flatware? You can even utilize acrylic paint to boost colors, cover up blemishes, and even create patterns if desired. Get creative here! Like any good dish, there is a lot more to the finished product than merely the sum of the individual parts. It’s about how they all interact!
Here at Studio 3 Inc., we not only specialize in food and beverage photography, but also portraiture, lifestyle, sports, and product photography. Since 1974, we’ve been making your photography dreams come to life! Partner with us for your next creative endeavor, and see just how we stay inspired.
 

The post A Focus On Food: Our Tricks And Tips Behind Food + Beverage Photography appeared first on Studio 3, Inc.®.

Being independent is good! Nimble businesses thrive on independence, and also talented individuals who can wear multiple hats. That being said, media and marketing is all too often a department where corners are cut, and projects which would otherwise be performed by professionals are either outsourced to ‘one-size-fits-all’ services like Fiverr.com – or handed off to someone conveniently in the office, who may only have a vague understanding of Photoshop. Here’s an example:        


The first image is passable. But the other has that ‘Wow!’ factor, which is so essential to standing out amongst the overload of images we’re exposed to online on a daily basis. And that’s just one of the many reasons why investing in original, quality content always pays off in the end. Working with professional studios/photographers has countless other benefits: They use higher quality equipment, have more experience, work with insurance policies, can work with deadlines – the list just goes on and on!
So why do so many companies still choose to skimp out on their product/brand photography?
For some, it’s a quantity-over-quality decision. Like, more = better. After all, in today’s climate of fast-paced Social Media trends and the 24/hr news-cycle, there seems to be an ever-increasing demand for immediate, topical content. For example, it only took a few days for marketers to seize upon the latest Banksy demonstration, creating content like this:
It’s so easy to get caught up in this social media zeitgeist, and feel compelled to post away, every single day – regardless of the quality of the content. But there’s a difference between producing a consistent stream of quality, brand-elevating content – and simply overcrowding your feed with memes and amateur images in a bid to stay top-of-mind. This difference is borne-out in the return-on-investment our clients see when they partner with us time and time again. Here’s a Social Media-minded ad we put together for Leatherman Multi-Tools which did extremely well.

Producing content like this is where Studio 3 comes in! With professional photography, videography, and digital GFX services available throughout the Pacific Northwest, we specialize in helping brands promote and display their products in the most outstanding way possible. We believe in quality – and doing what is necessary to achieve the highest caliber of style / design for our clients. Whether you need product, food, beverage, or lifestyle photography – when you team up with Studio 3, you’ll have your expectations blown out of the water!

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We have a good time on set

Lastly, our Digital Team steps in and works their magic.  The processes of Color Grading and Digital Retouching are extremely intricate – just ask Sean Yates, one of our in-house Graphic Artists:

“Color and clarity are of central importance when retouching images. …We always strive for and deliver accurate color.”

In reality, the Digital Team does a lot more than just retouching:

 
Finished product:

And that’s not the end! Studio 3 partners with the same clients year after year because they love the end result, and appreciate the creative relationships formed. We take the utmost pride in these collaborations and are always striving to bring something new and exciting to the table for the next shoot. Give us a call today, and find out how Studio 3 can help elevate your brand with the coolest+catchiest photography in the Pacific Northwest.
 

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1. HOOK THE AUDIENCE

Let’s be honest: attention spans are short. It’s crucial to stop people in their tracks; whether through quick editing, bold colors, or an outrageous premise. You want to be eye-catching and unique from everything else people see in their feed. Adopting a  ‘think-outside-the-box’ mentality will increase your odds of pulling a scroller into your world. Cute animals dressed as people never fails. In a sense, we’ve become the speed daters of storytelling. (shout-out to the amazing folks at the The Pixie Project!)

2. INCLUDE CAPTIONS

Did you know that 85% of videos on Facebook and Instagram are watched on mute? This creates a unique challenge for marketers and videographers, demanding a more visual storytelling style be used. So whatever dialogue IS included, it is absolutely essential to use captions in order to get your message across. Neglecting this step will cause an enormous number of potential viewers to scroll right past your video, simply because they are unable or unwilling to un-mute their sound. That’s why Studio 3 always recommends including captioning. It’s an important step not to be neglected!
 

3. USE PEOPLE, TELL A STORY

People are interested in people! Including a person (or groups of people) in the first few seconds of your video will double the audience retention rate. It also presents an opportunity to tell a story, or set up an obstacle for your character to overcome. Storytelling is another useful tactic that holds people’s’ attention, as long as the sequence of events is easy to follow.

4. FLASH YOUR LOGO AND USE BOLD GRAPHICS

Often a few choice words in bold graphics are all it takes to stop a scroller. If they have an idea of what they are getting into – and your logo or choice of colors intrigues them – then they are more likely to give your video their precious time. Animation, slideshows, and gifs are great options!These 4 techniques are just the tip of the video-marketing iceberg. And due to the ever-changing nature of social media, keeping on top of these fluctuating trends and marketing-methods is a full-time job all it’s own. That’s why so many companies and brands choose to partner with Studio 3! Not only do we have an entire department dedicated to social media marketing here in the studio, we’ve also got you covered on everything from creative production meetings, to music selection. At Studio 3, YOU are the creative agent, and WE are here to be your partner – developing your concepts and making your video+photography ideas come to life.

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What colors are consumers loving this month? Season? Year?

What does this mean for you? How can we help?

The most exciting part of the rainbow world in which we work is getting to put our skills to good use. Our commitment to client satisfaction and beautiful photography is unmatched in our field. From styling – to shooting – to retouching – to bragging about our clients – we love keeping life colorful. DO HUE?
 
 

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Yes, stock photos are easy to get in today’s culture of immediacy.
Yes, it’s also easy to take your own photos due to the evolution of smartphone cameras. What’s not easy is making the decision to invest in advertising photography for your company. But let’s face it – you will absolutely use ALL those professional photos. Commercial photography – complete with a photography studio, lighting, styling, and retouching- legitimizes your business and propels your online exposure. Here’s why…

YOU GET AND KEEP THEIR ATTENTION: Did you know that posts with featured images are 120%-180% more visible online? That means simply having a photo available TRIPLES your clientele and sales. If you are trying to hook clients without photos, you’re doing it wrong. And if you’re trying to hook buyers with amateaur photos, again – you’re doing it wrong. You want your photos to reflect your kick-ass products, right? Well then it might be time to turn to a kick-ass studio – shameless plug.
We are all subject to the algorithm. Social media platforms measure how long visitors stay on a website, and if it’s less than a minute, your links drop to the bottom of the feed. Make sure you’re fostering customer relationships and enticing shoppers to click “add to cart.” Having stellar product photography drives sales up by 60%, and allowing shoppers to see a life sized image of the product – or at least zoomed in – again DOUBLES the purchase potential of the client. The more they know the more they buy. A great photography studio like Studio 3 can tell the story of your product from beginning to end.

YOU’RE EDUCATIONAL: SHOW your clients, and then TELL them what they’re seeing. Process photos are all the rage. To be honest, it’s probably because reading is NOT all the rage. We don’t want to follow instructions, we want to follow a picture. We don’t want to read a menu, we want to see a picture of what could shortly be on steaming plates in front of us. Well give the people what they want! Create a video of your product in use or a photo menu for your restaurant with killer food photography. Photo stories allow people to envision themselves using your product, visiting your location, eating your food, or feeling the emotion of your models. Clients need the reassurance that you are supporting their need to understand the process. Seeing a product “in-action” solidifies client trust and increases purchase percentage. Building your customer’s confidence in their ability to utilize your product is a necessary step in brand evangelism. SHOW them it’s not too good to be true.
YOUR IMAGES ARE VARIED AND INTERESTING – YET CONSISTENT.
E-commerce and Instagram business accounts are looking more and more like twins these days. Have you noticed? Both are feeds of new products with a consistent tone, lighting, colors – Brand Identity. If a product image looks out of place in the feed, it stands out as a flaw. Clients view branding inconsistencies as a lack of quality and could lose trust in the website. ONE IN FOUR clients are lost because of brand inconsistency. Having consistent and quality branding practices make companies 20% more successful than companies who make their clients unsure or untrusting of their brand.
What does this mean for you? In order to consistently provide impactful branding and quality content for your clients you must be consistent in the look of your products. Working with Studio 3 Inc means working with photographers and designers who are dedicated to your brand identity and consistency, ensuring that your products always look amazing. Because Beautiful Photography Sells Product – and Consistent Quality Builds a Brand Empire, my friends. It’s as simple as that.

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