On-location Archives - Studio 3, Inc.®

Drones: Bringing you the Bird’s-Eye View

Posted on March 15, 2019May 22, 2019 by Studio 3 Inc

Studio 3, Inc. provides a different perspective with our drone photography and videography in Portland, Seattle, and surrounding areas. With our in-house creative team and drone specialists, we can surely turn your vision into reality.

Studio 3 drone photography and videography — Photo by Josh Romberg

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.

Show Don't Tell: How Commercial Photography Changes the Game

Posted on May 18, 2018May 22, 2019 by Studio 3 Inc

We have a mantra here at Studio 3 Inc: Beautiful Photography Sells Product.

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…
Nike Features
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.
Screen Shot 2018-05-16 at 12.28.07 PM
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.
Danner 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.

Tis The Season For Client Comfort

Posted on December 18, 2017May 22, 2019 by Studio 3 Inc

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season; To-do lists unroll to the floor, coffee is taken through IV drips, and the studio always vaguely smells of cookies.

Tray Of Cookies
During the holiday season we understand you would rather be at home with a book and warm cup of Stash Tea, so we have done what we can to bring the cozy here.
Cue the elves (aka Studio 3, Inc.’s production team,) sit back, relax, and let us make your photographic dreams come true.
Holiday2
We have decked the halls, strung the ornaments, and lit the client area with holiday cheer.
The Studio 3 Inc. creative team not only does whatever it takes to make your project a success, we do it while feeding you cookies and telling you jokes.
…We have even been known to have Fashion Santa drop by every now and then (We know him!)
Production Stills_9024VL_197
Our studio is equipped with ample snacks, coffee as strong as our wifi connection, tea, any magazine you could dream of, and a crazy amount of crayons for the kid in you.
There are multiple conference rooms available for those times when you just need to be alone. Client meeting, business call, or impromptu dance party; We’ve got you covered.
Production Stills_9024VL_178
We pride ourselves in providing a comprehensive client experience. Not only can you expect top of the line photography but also a welcoming work environment, great food, and even better company.
Drop us a line, let’s talk photography! We’re here 24 hours a day, it feels like, but let’s say 9-5. We can’t wait to work with you.
Happy Holidays!!

Let's Unpack This: A Look Inside Studio 3's Location Lighting Kit

Posted on November 16, 2017May 22, 2019 by Studio 3 Inc

When shooting lifestyle or product photography on location in the Pacific Northwest you rarely know what you’re going to get. The rain gods in our home states of Oregon and Washington are prevalent and powerful. Deluge or mist, the Studio 3 team arrives on location prepared for anything.
How do we juggle variously lit environments, keep a tight timetable and budget, and still exceed our client expectations? Experience. We have perfected our method in the madness that is this glorious industry. Now, thanks to the Internet and the power of social media marketing, we are able to share some of that wisdom with you.

What does the Studio 3, Inc. team need to create beautiful photography on location, you ask?

Be it a location shoot for Danner Boots, ShedRain Umbrellas, Amazon, or Kaiser Permenante our fail-safe location lighting kit includes;

3 Canon Speedlites

Radio Slaves

3 Lighting Stands

3 ft. Soft box

Medium Umbrella

AA Batteries

CTB Gel

CTO Gel

Light Meter

PRO Bar

This minimalistic kit is best used for atmospheric, lifestyle, and commercial work.
“[This lighting kit] is best used in situations where your key light is the light already available. When working on location you’re supplementing available light with the strobes you bring with you. An important part of that is to match the color temperature of that available light—we do this using gels [CTB or CTO]. This allows you to separate your subject from the background and really focus the viewer’s attention on the product. ” – Joshua Romberg, Photographer
In need new lifestyle photography for your next campaign? Give us a shout; we’ll get the gear.

Digital Retouching, Can you Didg’ it?

Posted on October 17, 2017May 22, 2019 by Studio 3 Inc

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”
― Mark Twain

The million dollar question: What sets us apart from all of the other photography studios in the PNW? Well, quite a few things. But it’s hard to talk about them all in 500 words, so I am going to focus on our in-house digital department.
Not only are our digital artists pixel-perfect, they have the ability to turn photos around faster than I can type this sentence. No, we’re not a marketing agency, but we love working with them. We are photography pioneers. We look past the norm and find answers to questions you have yet to ask. How? Magic. Or Intuition, as they call it nowadays.
DA_Seaplane-red-dress-fragments-digital-art_1500
Our award-winning photographers work closely with clients and the digital artists who render our images flawless. Communication is our biggest secret for success.

“Without each other, the quality standards we achieve here would not be possible.” -Craig Wagner, Photographer

[image-comparator left=”https://studio3.com/our-blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/DA_toyota-scion-penguins-digital-art_1500.jpg” right=”https://studio3.com/our-blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/DA_toyota-scion-penguins-source-imagery-digital-art_1500.jpg” width=”100%” classes=”hover”][/image-comparator]

“Having an in-house [digital department] allows me to have face-to-face conversation before, during, and after a shoot. Whether we’re discussing how we should approach a job, or what my intention was in how I shot it, I have the asset of having a digital team that feels like an extension of myself.”
–Craig Wagner, Photographer

Our digital team not only makes photos look better in post, they help the photographers shoot more efficiently. It’s photography plus.

“I have the opportunity to talk directly with clients, nipping problems in the bud, saving everyone time and money. We remove a step for the client without compromising the photos.” –Michelle Smith, Lead Digital Artist

[image-comparator left=”https://studio3.com/our-blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/DA_electrical-work-truck-digital-art_1500.jpg” right=”https://studio3.com/our-blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/DA_electrical-work-truck-source-imagery_1500.jpg” width=”100%” classes=”hover”][/image-comparator]
Working with a vast array of clients, we have shot some behemoths over the years; trains, planes, and automobiles to name a few. That’s a lot of surface area to make drop-dead gorgeous, which is why we keep stylists on the ready to spot check, scrub out smudges, and make sure each vehicle’s best side is showing. But we don’t have favorites. Whether it be a fleet for Freightliner, or a detailed shot of a Leatherman tool, each job gets the same level of attentiveness and digital mastery.

“It all breaks down to textures and tones. Fifteen minutes of proper styling and lighting prep during a shoot can save an hour of digital retouching.” –Michelle Smith

So what’s next? We are dreaming up bigger and better ways to make you look fabulous. Stay tuned, we’re 40 years young and constantly evolving.
[image-comparator left=”https://studio3.com/our-blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/DA_15197T_RedApple_After_FB_1500.jpg” right=”https://studio3.com/our-blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/DA_15197T_RedApple_Before_FB_1500.jpg” width=”100%” classes=”hover”][/image-comparator]

I Have a Therapist, Her Name Is Nature

Posted on July 7, 2017May 22, 2019 by Studio 3 Inc

Studio 3, Inc. has commissioned a new tourist attraction in the shadow of the Space Needle. When we’re not moving mountains for clients, we are painting them. With artist and mountain-man Trace Gough’s mural, we have brought a bit of the PNW beauty to our own backyard. How is that for the highest quality visual solutions? Come by, check it out, and while you’re here let’s talk photography, videography and retouching.
“The mural is my interpretation of a photo taken while climbing in the Cascade Mountain Range. The photo was taken very early in the morning, from a high camp near the Neve Glacier in North Cascades National Park. I’ve been all over the Cascades, and this is hands-down one of the prettiest places, though laborious to get to. There was a layer of haze hanging in the valleys to the north. “ – Trace Gough, Artist

10540694_861590417184306_9110136454327137472_o (1) — Inspiration Image photographed and painted by Trace Gough @Studio 3, Inc.

Transforming a storage container into a mural in 7 easy steps:
Step 1: Power washing and prepping the storage container, or “the can” as we at Studio 3, Inc. fondly refer to it.

Step 2: Use the Grid Method to enlarge the reference image onto the scale of your surface.
Outlining Mountains

Step 3: Outline the mural in sharpie or paint.
Mountains Outlined

Step 4: Start from the back, painting first the sky, then the mountains.

Step 5: Gradually get darker as you paint your way forward, creating depth of field.

Step 6: Save the details for last, enhancing the “wow” factor with textured ridges and moody clouds.

Step 7: Step back and admire your work, you’ve just created a masterpiece. (Now if only we could paint that house in the background).

Stop, Prop and Roll!

Posted on October 10, 2016May 22, 2019 by Studio 3 Inc

How’d you make it look so GOOD? Well, my dears, it takes quite a bit of searching to find just the right prop. Ask our producers and stylists, they’ve got TONS of hilarious stories about finding the perfect prop for the job!

Stepping into our prop library, you’ll see that we have multiple racks with bins filled with fabric, sport helmets, fruit, tech supplies, mortars and pestles, and pretty much any object you can fathom. We keep it so organized, Martha Stewart would cry with pride.

Oh haiiiii, welcome to the prop library =^.^=

We keep a hefty inventory of household items on hand to recreate life-like sets. Cups, picture frames, hand towels; we’ve got all the odds-and-ends to spruce up a set. Of course we have a plethora of other homestyle necessities too: luggage, bird cages, mannequins and a gas mask.

prop-room-9-of-9 — No prop library is complete without a gas mask.

The prop library in our Seattle studio even has a fully functional shop attached to it, for when we need to build things for a shoot. What kind of things do we build for shoots? Kitchens, bathrooms, tables, even this beautifully lush “front yard.”

You can almost smell the fresh cut grass.

Need fruit, flowers, pie, towels, perhaps a stethoscope? We’ve got it! All sorts of items are constantly being added to our prop library and we are happy to add more to meet your needs. Give us a call and let’s get started on your photoshoot today.

Building Buzz with Product Photography

Posted on February 24, 2016May 22, 2019 by Studio 3 Inc

Stung Fermented Drink Mate & Die Mead in glass on table with meat and cheese party appetizer board
When Stung Fermented wanted to modernize their look and make their photography competitive in the marketplace, they called on Studio 3 to deliver. We were able to go on-location at Stung Fermented’s Portland meadery and execute a shoot designed to build excitement around the up-and-coming brand.
Photographer Craig Wagner positioning Stung Fermented mead bottle on barrel for product photography shoot on location Bringing mead back from the past (with a hip, modern twist!) is no easy feat, so the Stung crew relied on photographer Craig Wagner‘s expertise in lighting, sets, propping, angles, and positioning to make their product shine.
Row of stainless steel Stung Fermented mead jars on shelf in meadery Assistant photographer Jonny Brandt adjusting lighting umbrella at the Stung Fermented photoshoot behind the scenes
Photography Assistant Jonny Brandt attended to the hundreds of details on set that were crucial to a successful shoot – so the Client could relax knowing their brand was in experienced hands. Photographer Craig Wagner shooting drink photography of Stung Fermented on tabletop
StungFermented-MeadPhotoshoot-DrinkPhotography-Photography-Studio-3 When you have a buzzworthy product (like Portland’s next favorite libation!) you want to make sure your launch – with fully rebranded website – goes off without a hitch. It’s Studio 3’s exceptional results and professional handling that keep the process humming. Give us a ring and see. Stung Fermented 3 mead flavors, bottles on barrel with glass at meadery

Lifestyle Photography – Darth Vader Ride

Posted on June 9, 2015May 22, 2019 by Studio 3 Inc

People in Darth Vader masks riding carousel ride at amusement park on location having fun No matter what we do, if it involves visual imagery, WE love it. We just do. Studio 3 excels at answering any brief, any client need with rockstar photo and video that delights and amuses. We guarantee that you’ll love it too.
Shot by Studio 3 co-founder Jim Felt, this lifestyle photography shoot aimed to capture the giddy fun of an amusement park at dusk, with a dose of complete silliness. Produced on-location at Oaks Amusement Park in Portland, OR, it was an project that posed a number of technical challenges. Jim strove to specifically showcase the motion and movement of the carousel ride in-camera, without relying on any digital techniques. The car carousel ride was scouted to play up the “Star Wars” theme and create “a warp drive-ish effect” with motion and lighting. Jim utilized his expertise in motion photography to pan with the people riding the carousel, simultaneously shooting on a low shutter speed with a strobe on a low setting to light his foreground subjects. In this way he was still able to retain the brightness of the carousel lights and the vivid colorization in the frame without losing anything to washing out. Jim notes, “I love the nuttiness that it represents – almost like early Star Wars before everything was digital!”
The image that resulted was not Photoshopped or retouched in any way; it was, in Jim’s words, “100% pure photography. WHY? Because it’s great FUN!” His love of photography and the fun of the craft is embodied in every photo he takes – as is every project done at Studio 3 by our experts. You’ll see our love of images shine when you drop us a line to produce yours.