Did some work today, for the other side.

[Aaron Otto]

So, the deal is, today I took some shots for convetional gear companies.  Considering I picked up a DSLR 1.5 years ago, I’m a bit insecure about my resutls.  They paid me to produce, and I don’t want to deliver crap.  Looking for some honest feedback; the more constructive and realistic the better. Please tell me what I should ditch and keep. I’m prepared for the worst so let it rip.  I’m sorry in advance for those of you who do this for a living professionally, I don’t mean to insult you with lack of talent.

thanks,
a

[dusty montgomery]

Aaron,
I am by no means a qualified photo critic; I ‘ll leave that to the present pros. However, I have always enjoyed your images and try to learn from them myself…you are far too hard on yourself bro. You are not one whom needs to concern himself w/ lack of talent. Be proud Man! Own it and be damn proud!

It is just like walking up to a bank and already having a defeatist attitude: these fish won’t bite; I don’t have the right fly; etc. But, if you walk up and own it inside, there are better stories at the end of the

[lee church]

So I take it you don’t have to highlight any brandnames or anything?

[Eric DeWitt]

If we knew what the planned end use is, it would help to narrow in the feedback…

One thing i would look at is some selective vignetting to isolate the subject from some of the backgrounds.

[Aaron Otto]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback.  I’m going to have an opportunity to reshoot stuff on Sunday if I like. I’m going to have to try and figure out the reflector and vignette pieces I think.  I’ve never shot with a reflector before, I get the concept – but will need to practice at home before I show up.  

Thanks again guys – appreciate the help here – I’m totally winging it and don’t want to deliver garbage to the client.

A

[Corey Kruitbosch]

I dig them! Nice sharp stuff … So, take anything I say as simple opinion. I have a long way to go myself, but these are some of the things that I would think about if i were commissioned to shoot them.

#1 Jumps out at me … I like all of the lure shots … I’d correct the horizon line and crop the edge of the glass almost out. Id play with the highlight in PS and see if it looked better with it toned down.

#2 Personally, I find the reflections distracting.

#3 Cool shot. I like the reflections. I might set it (lure) upright and push the whole shot back away from the edge of the glass.

#4 I’d also try some very tight shots to get the mechanics, colors, and reflections in a little closer…

#5 again I’d push it away from the edge of the glass.

#6 I like the perspective and I don’t care for the white clothing on the left.

#7 Cool to see everything together.. I’d also try this wide shot level with the shelf

I don’t know if a fisheye is to cliche or not … but I might try renting a fisheye for the shoot to see if you come up with anything cool. I have taken some (what I think are) cool closeup shots with my fisheye.

I might also try some colored surfaces under the glass to compliment the lures or reels your shooting. You might even get something nice with textured and/or reflective surfaces.

I’d play with some macros of the lures.

I know you’ve prob gone looking for inspiration… but a little more cant hurt, right?

http://flickr.com/groups/product/
http://www.photosig.com/go/photos/browse?id=25
http://photo.net/gallery/caption-search/search?query_string=product

[Ben Cochran]

Aaron, I am still a bit confused, what are these shots going to be for and what are they suppose to accomplish?

The first thing that a commercial photographer “MUST” do is, capture images that not anyone else could shoot. The other consideration is the fee structure as this is the point of decline or take the job and how much time and energy will be put into it. I don’t need to know your fee but thought that I would throw that in for you. If we knew what the clients wants the images to do, for them, then we could better critique. A good picture is not always enough.

[Aaron Otto]

Sorry didn’t mean to be confusing Ben. They’re needing shots to put in add both web and paper based for high end Bass gear & tackle.

does that help?

[Author]

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