Product Photography – How I Shot This Hand Sanitiser; Circuit Breaker Edition

Author: Andrew C.

This blog post was written by Andrew, Photographer at Mount Studio.

Welcome to 2020 – there’s an epidemic going around, people are told to stay at home, and hand sanitizers are trending. Totally the future I imagined as a child.

In all seriousness, however, as a tribute to our new best friend, boring, but life-saving bottles of hand sanitizers, I decided to take up the challenge of photographing one; at the comfort of my own home. I’m pretty satisfied with the outcome, so follow me through this article to learn how to replicate your own version.

You’ll Need:

• 4 Elinchrome lights
• 3 standard reflectors
• 1 honeycomb grid
• 1 snoot with honeycomb grid
• 2 Lee filters diffusion paper

Hello hand sanitizer, my new best friend!

As shared previously in my first article, Product Photography in 4 Simple Steps, I started off the process by studying the product, and gaining an understanding of it. Hand sanitizers are rather tricky, coming in two components – the bottle, and the pump, both made up of different materials – and therefore I knew I had to use two separate methods of lighting.

After understanding the nature of the product comes the step of choosing the right equipment to bring out the best of the materials used.

Firstly considering the bottle, which features a large, matte cylindrical surface, I made a point to emphasize the curvature of the bottle from the side; otherwise, the bottle will end up looking two-dimensional, and unattractively lacking of character.

For this purpose, I figured that using a Lee filter with Elinchrome standard reflector will satisfy the requirements, with the Lee filter effectively serving as a giant soft box, covering the entire surface, while giving me the control over the harshness of the light without having to change the position of the filter – moving the light closer to the filter will produce a harsher light, while moving it away, vice versa. With this in mind, as you can observe the striking impression of the light in the picture, you can deduce that the light was close to the filter.

Gotta show them your curves!

 However, I ran into a problem when I tried replicating the same method for the front of the bottle, as I realize that it was spreading too much light, making it less “contrasty” as I would have wanted. To fix this, I decided to use a snoot, giving me extra control and producing a small spread of light on the front of the bottle, as shown.

Now, time for the pump – a complex piece of material, being small, but rather reflective. As you would’ve seen from my previous article, small surfaces require smaller light, bringing me to use a narrow honeycomb grid, positioning it close to the side of the pump to avoid light spilling onto other areas of the product itself.

Looks like they didn’t get the social distancing memo

Due to space constraints, unfortunately, it was impossible to add another light to illuminate the front of the pump, and instead I had to experiment with using the snoot’s modelling light (used for the front of the bottle, as mentioned above) for both the bottle and the pump – which I was able to achieve after a few minutes of playing around.

Shoot, and voila! The beauty of the product’s different textures, which can be easily missed, captured in one simple photo.

The biggest charm of product photography, I believe, is the effort you put into making possibly “boring” products look attractive – hard work that requires a mix of your technical skills and creativity, but extremely rewarding. Product photography, as seen from this experience, can even be done outside the constraints of a studio, given you have the right equipment!

As part of Mount Studio’s circuit breaker promotion, we are still offering product photography bookings, starting at only $25 per photo. If you were looking for ways to capture the beauty of your products to appeal to your customers surfing the web at home during this lockdown period, please feel free to contact us at hello@mountstudio.com.sg for more information.

Product Photography in 4 Simple Steps (With Real-Life Examples!)

Author: Andrew C.

This blog post was written by Andrew, Photographer at Mount Studio.

Ever wondered why your product photos seem to take up so much effort, but end up in less-than-appealing outputs?

This product was shot using only four simple steps!

One of the most common mistakes that many young product photographers make in their work is that they rush into setting up the lighting, and dive right into shooting. And in most cases, while the lighting may be something that the photographers are comfortable with, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee that it is best suitable for the product. To make things worse, they may not be fully utilising the equipment they have— resulting in not only subpar photos, but also spending time on processes that are more complicated and lengthy than they should be.

Trust me, I know how frustrating this can be, because I was stuck in the exact same loop until only a few years ago. Through countless photoshoots and painful self-reflection, I have learnt (the long way) a simple approach to create amazing product photos in just four steps, which helped me drastically improve the quality of my performance as well as efficiency at work.

So now, scroll on to find out how the product photo above was created using my four simple steps, which can possibly change the rest of your career.

1. Understanding the product

21 Best Photography Places in Singapore

Mount Studio has collated a comprehensive list of Photography Places for your photo and video shoots in Singapore. We have personally shot at these locations and we highly recommend them.

Singapore is a tiny red dot in the world map. However, there are plentiful of good looking locations to shoot in Singapore and we hope that this list gives you a better idea. We will be adding more locations to this list.

Photographs by Lyn Averson and Zack Dilaroca of Mount Studio.

1. Coney Island (Pulau Serangoon)

Address: Nearest MRT, Punggol

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: 7am-7pm daily

It’s a solitary island with its own unique appearance. Suitable for an outdoor fashion shoot.

2. Gallop Stable

Address: 100 Turf Club Road, Singapore 287992 & Carkpark C, 61 Pasir Ris Green, Singapore 518225

Admission:

Opening Hours: 8am to 8pm Daily

Gallop stable has lush greenery and nature. Have a unique photo shoot with the ex-racehorses and have your photos and videos stand out!

3. Upper Seletar Reservoir Park

Address: Mandai Road Track 7

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: 24 Hours

Located within the Central Water Catchment area of Singapore Island, this park is where we shot for our fashion online store client, Blair Wears. The natural outdoor environment complements the simple yet classy outfit by the brand. It helps bring out the color and simplicity of the outfits.

4. East Coast Park

Address: E Coast Park Service Rd

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: 24 Hours

Located on the East side of Singapore. Suitable for outdoor fashion photography and catalog shooting.

5. Lakeside Garden, Jurong Lake Gardens

Address: Yuan Ching Road

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: 24 Hours

Lakeside Garden is a beautiful and chill garden located on the west side of Singapore. It is newly built and the attractions available will definitely catch your eye in one way or another. The grassland especially is a famous photo spot for fashion photography, family shoot, portrait, or even sports photography.

6. Botanic Gardens

Address: 1 Cluny Rd, Singapore 259569

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: 5am to 12 midnight Daily

Singapore Botanic Gardens is a park filled with greeneries and many types of plants. The location is suitable for a family or outdoor fashion photoshoot. The area is so wide and is able to fit as many people as we can especially a large group of families. Botanic Garden is suitable for all types of shoots such as portraits, family or outdoor fashion photography.

7. Hort Park

Address: 33 Hyderabad Rd, Singapore 119578

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours:

6am to 10pm Daily

Hort Park is a recreational park that brings together all kinds of activities under one roof. Surrounded by nature and away from the urban buzz of Singapore, it is easy to lose yourself in the tranquility of your surroundings. This location is exceptionally suitable for shooting outdoor family portraits, commercial,  or even outdoor fashion catalog. It has all the elements of nature, relaxation, and freedom to express what you want to express.

8. Japanese Cemetery Park

Address: 22 Chuan Hoe Ave, Singapore 549854

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours:

8am to 630pm Daily

The outer appearance of the Japanese Cemetery Park may not look that eye-catching but what’s inside will definitely make your photos pop up and shine. Located in Hougang, Singapore, the park has aesthetic looking floral archways that could instantly make your photos look pictorial. This location is suitable for shooting fashion photography and catalog.

9. Marymount, Foo Wah Industrial Building

Address: 45 Jalan Pemimpin, 1st Floor and Roof Top

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: 24 Hours

Jalan Pemimpin is also where Mount Studio’s located at. It is easily accessible, within 5 mins walk from Marymount MRT. Shoot around level 1 as well as our Rooftop level for different vibes.

10. Merlion Park

Address: 1 Fullerton Rd, Singapore 049213

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: 24 Hours

The landmark for tourist attraction and also a famous place for many commercial shoots. Mount Studio shot these commercial photos for Bossini, in commemoration of Singapore’s 53rd birthday. The Merlion Park is a representation of Singapore and the Merlion itself is our country’s mascot and national personification of Singapore.

11. Marina Bay Sands

Address: 10 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018971

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: 24 Hours

Located just outside The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, it has a wide outdoor area suitable for outdoor fashion shoot. With various stores such as Louis Vuitton located nearby, this area has a classy and uptown feel to it. Not far away from the area, the tall CBD buildings would also be a perfect spot to shoot at. Overlooking the buildings would be the beautiful river accompanying the tall skyscraper, which helps complement the overall feel of the photo.

12. National Museum

Address: 93 Stamford Rd, Singapore 178897

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: Mondays to Sundays from 10am – 7pm

Suitable for a wide range of photo and video shoots, National Museum gives off a classy vibe.

13. National Gallery

Address: 1 St Andrew’s Rd, Singapore 178957

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours:

Monday to Thursday, 10am – 7pm

Friday, 10am – 9pm

Saturday & Sunday, Closed

This place gives off a classy vibe, similar to National Museum. Suitable for any outdoor fashion photography shoot, e-commerce, commercial and portrait shoots. It is a photography hotspot as the outlook and interior of the building is aesthetically pleasing. It showcases both modern and historical landmarks of Singapore. With different exhibitions going on, you can expect your photos to turn out creative and pleasing to the eyes.

14. Gardens by the Bay, Flower Dome and Cloud Forest

Address: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953

Admission:

TWO CONSERVATORIES

Standard Rate
Adult: $28
Child (3-12 years old): $15

Singapore Resident Rate:
Adult: $20
Senior Citizen (≥60 years old): $15
Child (3-12 years old): $12

ONE CONSERVATORY
Adult: $12
Senior Citizen (≥60 years old): $8
Child (3-12 years old): $8

Opening Hours: 9am to 9pm Daily

Last ticket sale and admission: 8pm

Peak hours: 4pm – 7pm Daily

MIST TIMINGS
10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm Daily

If you’re looking for a green environment to shoot at, Flower Dome and Cloud Forest is the perfect place to do one. This Indoor Forest is the home to many rare plants and also a well-known spot for those interested in nature. The bright and picturesque plants are definitely the key to making your photos pop-up.

15. Central Business District (CBD) Area – Esplanade Waterfront

Address: 1 Esplanade Dr, Singapore 038981

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: 24 Hours Daily

Esplanade Waterfront is located around the central business district area. With a view of the city of Singapore, this location is suitable for outdoor fashion photography, commercial or even e-commerce. It gives off the modern and city vibe to it.

16. OUE Downtown Gallery

Address: 6A Shenton Way, Downtown Gallery, Singapore 068815

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: Mall Opens from 10 am to 9pm Daily

OUE Downtown Gallery is located in the central part of Singapore. It is a bustling city filled with places to shop and most importantly an area filled with photogenic places to shoot at. The urban exterior gives off a modern feel to the photos. This location is mainly suitable for outdoor fashion, e-commerce.

17. City Hall Area (Near Old Theatre)

Address: 17 Stamford Rd, Singapore 178907

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: 24 Hours Daily

The City Hall area is a place filled with both modern and historical landmarks. Along the road, you’ll be able to see a stretch of street shops while on the other hand, you’ll be able to find shopping malls, etc.  This place is most suitable for an outdoor fashion shoot, sports shoot or even an e-commerce shoot.

18. Arab Street

Address: Singapore 199745

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: 24 Hours Daily

Arab Street is one of the hipster hoods and Singapore’s very own creative hub. Filled with indie boutiques in the alley of Haji Lane, it is home to many young Singaporeans who finds the place as a creative and chill spot for them to hang out. This place is famous for its photogenic alley filled with street arts and graffiti. If you’re intending to shoot for an outdoor fashion, commercial or fashion catalog, this place is the right one for you. Not only it will add life to your photos but it will also give off the grunge vibe.

19. Chinatown Complex Rooftop

Address: Chinatown, Pagoda Street, Trengganu Street, Sago Street, Smith Street, Singapore 050005

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: 24 Hours Daily

Singapore’s Chinatown is full of gems and places we have never discovered before. Amidst all the busy crowd and traditional shophouses, there are many cool and picturesque places that are suitable for a photoshoot. Places such as the Chinatown complex rooftop gives off the urban and sporty feel. If you’re looking into shooting for an outdoor fashion, commercial or sports shoot, this location is definitely a must to go to. Since it is located on the rooftop, the view of Chinatown is clearly visible. The high-rise buildings add structure and dimension to your photos.

20. Under Marina Coastal Expressway (Near Marina Bay Fire Station)

Address: Nearest bus stop: Opposite AXA Tower/Shenton Way

Bus number: Premium 531, Premium 588, Premium 590, Premium 735

The fire station is a 5-minute walk from the bus stop

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: 24 Hours Daily

Located at the Central side of Singapore, this location is home to many young photographers as it gives off that modern and urban feel to the photos taken. The location itself provides plenty of photo options such as for portraits, fashion, e-commerce or even commercial.

21. Pasir Panjang Railway

Address: 392 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678046

Admission: FREE

Opening Hours: 24 Hours Daily

Pasir Panjang railway used to be a place for commute but after news of it being discontinued, the location has been a place of attraction for photographers. Definitely ideal for fashion photography, sports, e-commerce.

7 Tips To Bring Out The Best Poses For Your Family Photo Shoot

We live in an age where we want to share the things and people that mean the most to us. More often than not, that means our families and children. Photos of children can turn out super cute, but it’s not always easy and can take hundreds of shots before you get the perfect one. The photos may look too posed or the children may be uninterested and impatient. At times like this, parents often don’t know how they can make the children pose more naturally or how they can make the family look their best. This article provides tips on how to encourage your family for the photoshoot and help them pose as comfortably as possible.

1. Begin with a pep talk

Keep it light and fun. Explain what you envision and that in the future the family will be able to look back on these special memories. Stay positive and try to insert some funny jokes to keep everyone on the happy train. If everyone is in a good mood, the range of great pictures is easier to achieve. Children especially, pick up on negativity quickly, and it will be very difficult to get them to cooperate if they do not like the environment they are in. To avoid this, bring your biggest smile to a shoot and try to have an easy going and happy attitude while communicating with your family.

2. Bring a friend

If your child is still a bit shy at the beginning of the photoshoot, it’s always nice if they are allowed to have their buddy nearby. This can be a pet, stuffed animal or perhaps their favorite toy. This is not only easier for the children but can turn a dull photo into one with glee and excitement. In addition, children often pose more casual, because they are actually more focused on their friends than on themselves. Once they have gotten more comfortable in front of the lens, then you can remove the stuffed animal if you want photos with the child without any toys.

3. Pre-plan your group poses

One way to decrease time wasted and prioritize your best pose options is to pre-plan how your family looks best. For example, there are lots of specific groups you can organize; whole family, mom and dad, dad and kids, mom and kids, kids by themselves. Is there a new baby in the family? Make the baby the sole focus of the photos with the rest of family circling him or her. Or get creative and think about different positions and perspectives your family can stand in. Pose with your hands, feet, ears and noses together. Comparisons can show just how unique each family member is in that moment.

4. Different poses

Do you have specific poses you want your child or yourself to be in? It makes it more fun if you can ask your children questions like, how does daddy sit/stand, how do your hands like to keep warm, what makes you laugh, etc. You can also ask them to play copycat, where you move in a certain way, freeze, and then they have to copy your moves. If you know what you want from the photos but keep it fun, then your family should be able to follow your lead.

5. It’s vogue time

Do you have specific poses you want your child to be in? It makes it more fun if you can ask your children questions like, how does daddy sit/stand, how do your hands like to keep warm, what makes you laugh, etc. You can also ask them to play copycat, where you move in a certain way, freeze, and then they have to copy your moves. If you know what you want from the photos but keep it fun, then your family should be able to follow your lead.

6. Family hobbies

Think about your family and what sort of hobbies or sports they may like. For example if your family likes to play tennis, you can bring rackets and their athletic outfits. Or perhaps your children love to paint, so bringing along some artist supplies and a smock could be a very cute theme. Personalizing your photoshoot also engages your family members so more authentic photos can be captured. Some other options for themes could be thinking about what your children want to do when they get older and harness their dreams. A photo of a toddler dressed as a pilot has the potential to inspire them in the future.

7. Costumes or accessories can add a special touch

Does your child have a favorite costume, socks or a hat? Do they have a flowery headpiece that was made by their best friend? Maybe they have a costume from Halloween they just haven’t allowed you to put in the storage closet yet. Allowing kids to wear things that make them happy can bring out their enthusiasm, thus adding energy to the photos. Maybe that costume gives him the strength of 20 men and he wants to prove it, that would be a stellar picture. Props and costumes allow you to have a lot of fun and if you are a creative thinker, the ideas are infinite.

These handy tips are sure to increase engagement while trying to capture family photos. Remember to keep a fun attitude and being a little goofy goes a long way in a photoshoot.

On a side note, we have been featured at Best in Singapore for Best Family Photography and Best Photo Studio!

This article was written in collaboration with Babysits, a platform that connects families with babysitters in Singapore and around the world. If you are looking for a babysitter in Singapore or childcare job, join them!

Author: Christine Sabol

8 Tips to Prepare You for Your Family Photo Shoot

Let’s just say you have decided to do a family photo shoot with Mount Studio, what do you prepare prior to the shoot and how do you dress up accordingly?

Deciding on an outfit for a family photoshoot can be challenging and confusing as there are many elements that require thought processes. These are the images that you’ll cherish for years to come or even send out as holiday cards. You definitely can’t get your outfits wrong, but it can be a little bit overwhelming deciding on what to wear and how to make sure that everything is in place.

This post will cover tons of tips and information to help you with styling and also most importantly how to prepare in advance before a family photoshoot!

1. Arriving on time 

Get all family members involved to arrive 10-15 minutes early to settle down and relax before the shoot.

2. Make yourself look good!

Bring along necessities such as makeup to touch up. You can even opt for a professional makeup artist to be there to do up your hair and makeup. Mount Studio works closely with highly experienced makeup artists from the same industry. For further inquiries regarding our Hair and Make Up Service, do check with us!

3. Get hydrated and have a little bite!

Do not show up to the shoot on an empty stomach. It is always good to have a little snack before the shoot so as to make sure that everyone is cheerful and hydrated during the shoot itself. We offer complimentary coffee, tea and water at our studio!

4. Coordinate colors, not outfits

Coordinating colors are a lot easier than matching outfits. Not everyone has the same style and preference in terms of the outfit that they wear. By deciding on a color scheme, everyone in the family has the freedom to come up with whatever outfit they want to wear.

Coordinating with each other is better than matching as the photos taken would not turn out stagnant or dull. It is best to have a variety of outfit that has patterns as solid color outfit may turn out too monotonous. It is good to have a balance in the outfit where some of the family members can turn up wearing pattern outfit while the other in a solid color outfit.

5. Use of accessories

Accessories add life to your outfit and can be fun to use in photos. Feel free to pop on those favorite jewelry or even a classy watch of yours to add some interest to the images. Textures are also great in photos. The use of textures from scarves, hats or belts adds more to the image.

6. Use of props

We have families who turn up for our photoshoot bringing their own props such as their kid’s favorite toy or stuffed animal. Props like these add fun and color to the shoot. Kids tend to be more comfortable and at ease with their toys around.

7. Be creative!

You don’t always have to turn up in formal wear! If you’re into sports or any other kind of activities, bring along props or attire that matches with the activity that you do as a family! We would love to see you don your baseball or badminton attire during the shoot as it helps bring life to your photos.

You can bring as many outfits as you like as long as the shoot is kept within 60 minutes. It is always good to have a variety of choices in your clothing such as both formal and casual. There is definitely no restriction to what you have to wear to a family photoshoot. It all goes down to about having fun!

8. Lastly, be comfortable

All the tips given would be of no use if you’re not comfortable in what you’re wearing! Being comfortable is important as a family photoshoot is supposed to be a relaxed and happy event. Wearing clothes that are comfortable will help you ease into the shoot without worrying about your heels hurting while in high heels.

If you’re more comfortable with wearing casual clothes over formal, go ahead! Choose clothing that gives you freedom of movement and won’t require constant maintenance throughout the shoot.

We hope that these tips could help you in better styling your outfit for your upcoming family shoot. At the end of the day, it is also important to choose outfits and color that compliments your family.

We want you to feel proud and happy upon receiving the photos. You can always purchase more photos on top of your family photography package.

If you have not booked your Family Photography Session with us, Contact Us now!