Industrial Photography

Industrial photography is a commercial genre of photography concerned with documenting all aspects of a manufacturing and industrial business. It may include photographs of products, equipment, buildings and people working within the business.

There are a wide variety of industrial businesses that need photography including transportation, engineering, manufacturing, energy, construction, mining and technology companies. These businesses use photographs to showcase their work, operations and equipment to potential clients and to shareholders and investors via websites, reports and other marketing methods. It can be thought of as a behind the scenes look at the operations of a business.

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MANY INDUSTRIES REQUIRE GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY

Increased profile

This genre of photography is a commercial photography enterprise, and can be one of the most exciting areas of photography due to the hugely varied nature of products and compositions required to be photographed. Great industrial photography can boost the profile of a business immensely.

The brief of industrial photography

Upon first contact with an industrial business an assignment or brief should be determined. This is a list of expectations of delivery of photographs by the photographer. For example, a large engineering business may require a series of images that encompass all stages of manufacturing including engineers and management at the initial design drawing table, every aspect of the manufacturing line, through to delivery of the product to their client. It may also include board, management and employee at-work portraits.

This type of photography is the field of photography concerned with documenting all aspects of a manufacturing and industrial business.
Photography Reference

Safety is paramount

Industrial businesses have high health and safety requirements so the photographer should be prepared to arrive on site with the correct safety gear including safety boots, safety glasses, reflective vest, helmet and other safety requirements of the business. Some sites may also require a safety induction to be successfully completed before entry is permitted.

A walk-through should be conducted with compositions discussed with the client before beginning to photograph. This will ensure the client and photographer is aware of any additional safety and other photographic measures required before the assignment begins.

Value is high

The value of good photography to a business can be almost priceless as the imagery has the potential to win new contracts and clients. It is for this reason that many industrial businesses will highly value industrial photography. As such the monetary value of this type of work to an experienced industrial photographer can also be high. Industrial photography can be challenging but also very rewarding from an artistic perspective.

Equipment

Photography equipment that a photographer may require includes a quality full frame DSLR or mirrorless camera, sturdy tripod, a range of lenses from wide angle to zoom, macro lenses and tilt shift lenses, and of course full coverage business insurance. The genre of industrial photography crosses a number of other more specific genres such as adverting, corporate portraits, automotive and food photography.

Stock versus brand

Some businesses will use stock photography for all or part of their needs, however for a business to bring a realistic and accurate representation of their work to clients the importance and relevance of a full industrial photography assignment cannot be underestimated. The brand of a business is highly important and the use of genuine photography that accurately represents the business is imperative in upholding the brand to clients and consumers.

Experience and work

Obtaining work as an industrial photographer can be gained through a number of channels. The most common and effective way to gain experience is by becoming an assistant to an existing professional industrial photographer.

This will benefit by being exposed to all facets of an industrial photo shoot including the business side. Other ways to become involved is through expanding on an existing photography business into the industrial genre, formal studies in photography and business and by building a high-quality industrial portfolio by canvassing smaller industrial companies such as metal workshops, vehicle repairers and other small manufacturing companies.