Unit 90: Studio Photography

Assignment Brief

Student Name/ID
Number

Unit Number and Title Unit 90 | Studio Photography

Academic Year 2023

Unit Tutor Jim Twomey

Assignment Title The Product Product Photography Shoot

Issue Date 24/02/23

Submission Date

Submission Format

Written Report: History & Evolution of Photography (600-800words)

Practical Project:
Pre-Production: • Written Proposal (Hard & Soft Copy Document)
• Pitch/Presentation of 2 X alternative stylistic approaches
Production: • Digital Submission of all project source imagery
Post-Production: • Library (Catalog) of source image editing (synced to source media)
• Digital Exports of Completed Product Images (12–16 images)
Presentation & Evaluation:
• Audio Visual Presentation Evaluation of final images
• Written Evaluation (PDF / 600 words)

Unit Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit students will be able to:

1. Discuss the historical and contemporary development of studio photographic

practices and techniques
2. Explore studio practices and techniques to realise photographic outputs
3. Produce a range of studio-photographic outputs to meet a given brief
4. Present a body of studio-photographic outputs to an identified audience
Vocational scenario

A marketing and advertising agency has invited you to join their team of content producers.
This production team have been assigned the task of creating a package of marketing
content that will serve to promote the sale of a new product that a client of theirs is
preparing to introduce in the marketplace. While the production team will produce a broad
range of content that includes video, photographic and design collateral, you are invited to
join the team as a Photographer. In particular, you have been requested to develop and
produce a collection of studio-based photographs of the new product. This collection must
be diverse and comprise of between 12-16 images

This final collection should be diverse and comprise of between 12-16 images. The agency’s
client has been in business for many years. The company are a well-established brand and
already have a number of existing products in the marketplace. They are, however, keen to
increase their market share by expanding into new areas of the marketplace with this
product. To this end, they have expressed a keen interest in exploring a fresh and
contemporary approach to the marketing of this new product. While the Client is open to
exploring new ground, they are also conscious of the need to remain faithful to their
existing brand identity and brand story.

Before awarding this contract, the marketing agency would like to ensure that you are the
Photographer that is best suited to the undertaking this work. With that in mind, they have
requested that you would research examples of two different stylistic approaches to
product photography and to then present examples of each to their creative team. While
doing so, you are asked to advocate for the approach that you consider to be the one that
is best suited to the needs and objectives of the client in this particular context. Further
information regarding the Company, the product and the industry will be provided to you in
advance of commencing the project.

Assignment activity and guidance

Written Report: History & Evolution of Photography (600 -800 words)

Produce a written report that compares historical and contemporary studio
photographic practice with respect to the technology & techniques used. When doing
so, contrast both the restrictions and opportunities of each and evaluate their
strengths and weaknesses. Use the following headings when writing this report.
Type Conventions: Font | Calibri | 12pt | 1.25 spacing

Headings
• The Camera
• Composition and Movement
• Lighting
• Image Output
Practical Project

Stages of Production:

Pre-Production

• AV Presentation
Prepare a presentation and personally pitch your research and proposed ideas to a
defined audience. (Duration 5-6 mins approx.)

Your presentation should include the following:

Working Title | Aim | Background & Context | Target Audience | Examples of Stylistic
Approaches | Your Proposed Approach.
Note:
(The continued development and production of this project will be based upon the fitness for
purpose of your proposal and the approval of your instructor)

•Written Proposal
On the basis of the approval of the project that you have proposed
Produce an expanded written pre-production proposal that supports the production the
imagery that you intend to create.

Your proposal should include the following:

Working Title | Research | Aim | Background & Context | Ideation & Concept
Development | Target Audience | Stylistic Treatment | Structure | Budget | Project
Schedule | Technical Equipment List | Mood Board (sample imagery) | Lighting Diagram
| Shot List | Production Schedule & Costs |Releases & Permissions (where applicable) |
Risk Evaluation
Note:
(The continued development and production of this project will be based upon an evaluation of
your pre-production proposal and approval of your instructor)

Production

- Undertake practical experiments that explore the lighting techniques and

practices that support your proposed stylistic treatment.
- Identify and prepare all of the technical resources required to undertake your
planned photoshoot
- Set up and operate appropriate equipment to capture all assets for your
production to a professional standard
- This collection should comprise of 12-16 images
- All photographic assets should be originated in a RAW format
- The source imagery captured should evidence diversity and fully explore each
photographic set-up
Post-Production

- Define and implement a professional data management workflow.

- Undertake processes image editing using professional tools and techniques in

order to match the specific requirements of the brief provided.
(incl.: tonal correction, colour correction, structural correction where appropriate)
- Export the final edited images to 3 different technical specifications:
- JPEG | 3500px (Long Edge) | Minimum Compression
- JPEG | 2500px (Long Edge) | 75% Compression
- PNG | 1500px (Long Edge) | 60% Compression

Presentation & Evaluation

- Present your completed collection of product images to a defined audience. Discuss

and justify the fitness for purpose of your work in relation to the given brief.
Following the presentation of your work, you will outline the processes and
techniques that you used and self-evaluate the final collection in relation its quality
and fitness for purpose for the client.

- Write a report that is a critical analysis and evaluation your technical performance
as you engaged with the production process. (Word Count: 500 words)
Please adhere to the following headings when writing this report.
• Workflow & Data Management
• Camera
• Lighting
• Post- Production

While you will not be penalised for exceeding the word count, you should keep in
mind that precision and clarity are features of professional writing. Documents that
are too long reflect a lack of professionalism.

Recommended Resources
Please note that the resources listed are examples for you to use as a starting
point in your research – the list is not definitive.
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Pass Merit Distinction

LO1 Discuss the historical and contemporary development

of studio photographic practices and techniques

P1 Discuss historical and M1 Compare historical and LO1 LO2

contemporary genres in
relation to studio
photographic practice.
P2 Describe studio
photographic lighting
techniques in relation to
different photographic
products.
contemporary genres, styles
and techniques used in
studio photographic
practice.
D1 Evaluate historic and
contemporary precedents
to inform exploration of
techniques and processes
in realising photographic
outputs.

LO2 Explore studio practices and techniques to realise

photographic outputs

P3 Use studio lighting, sets M2 Assess studio

and equipment to capture a photographic experiments to
range of photographic identify potential techniques
subjects. for future application.
P4 Analyse studio
photographic outputs
based on experimentation
with lighting techniques and
practices.

LO3 Produce a range of studio-photographic outputs to

meet a given brief

P5 Select studio lighting, M3 Analyse the outcomes of LO3 LO4

equipment and techniques studio photography to D2 Justify a body of work
to meet the requirements identify images for further that meets the
of a given brief. development. requirements of a given
P6 Create photographic brief through the
studio outputs in response application of studio
to a give brief. photographic techniques
and processes.
LO4 Present a body of studio-photographic outputs to an
identified audience.

P7 Use post production M4 Evaluate the

techniques to finish
photographic products.
P8 Present a body of studio
photographic works to an
identified audience and
gather feedback.
effectiveness of chosen
studio-photographic
practices and techniques in
meeting a brief.