Products in Use
A Closer Look at Products in There Element
Welcome to The Carty Method Magazine!
In our latest photo assignment, we invited photographers to showcase a Product In Use Image that truly represents their unique niche.
Are you ready to be inspired by some stunning product photography from our talented photographers?
Let’s dive in!
Assignment Brief
CARTY gives a tight brief at the end of his photo review shows which tells us shooters what we have to shoot exactly for the following weeks review.
Here is this assignment exactly how he shares it.
“This weeks Assignment: A Product Shot in Use”
"Showcase a product within your niche being used in its intended environment.
Portrait shooters can focus on someone using the product.
Places shooters can integrate the product into the landscape.
Things shooters can concentrate on the product itself in action."
This is a Horizontal assignment.
Mike Lilly
What sparked your inspiration for this product in-use image? Can you share the unique concept and story behind the shot? What mood or message did you want to leave with your audience, and why was that important for this image?
I was inspired by the flight simulator itself. While shooting the infrastructure that makes this beast work,(for a local electrical contractor)I took some time to watch the students climb into the cockpit, go through their checklists, check gauges etc.
I had to capture this moment! I wanted to make the viewer feel as if they were in this "plane" and ready for take-off.
Could you give us a sneak peek into your creative process? From the initial idea to the final shot, what steps did you take to bring your vision to life? Were there any key techniques or personal touches that helped elevate the image?
The idea was to put the viewer IN the "plane" watching the pilots doing "pilot things" I knew I needed to capture the gauges , as well as the l.c.d. screens, and of course the "pilots".
So I needed a shutter-speed too slow to hand-hold (enter tripod).
Needed a field of view that wasn't so wide it showed all the parts that AREN'T the cockpit Gotta keep the ISO low for no/less noise.
Every shoot comes with its obstacles—what were the toughest challenges you faced here? Did any unexpected hurdles lead to a surprising result, and how did you pivot to overcome them?
Well, these were not "actors " or "models " they were "students " in class, training to be pilots.
Although we had permission to be there to make photos, we didn't want to be disruptive, so I went into stealth-mode & hid in the back of this contraption, camera on sticks.
What feedback did you get from your peers or professionals after submitting your image? How has that feedback influenced your perspective and approach for future projects, and in what ways has it shaped your growth as a photographer?
As always, my wife & partner in crime( who is also a shooter in Carty's community) gives me her best "Carty critique" then I submit for review.
Carty's reviews are always full of golden nuggets of truth..
I take those to heart, and apply accordingly.
How has being part of the Carty community fueled your creative development? What have you found most valuable about the feedback, support, or energy in the community that keeps pushing you forward?
Steve Carty and the community he's built, are directly responsible for the level of photography I currently produce.
What would you tell photographers who are thinking of joining the Carty community? Any key tips for how they can get the most out of these assignments and grow from the experience?
JOIN at submission level.
SUMBIT your work for review.
APPLY what you've learned.
BECOME a Pro!
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: mike_lilly_photo
Taylor Valentine
What sparked your inspiration for this product in-use image? Can you share the unique concept and story behind the shot? What mood or message did you want to leave with your audience, and why was that important for this image?
I had originally attempted a similar shot for the previous week's assignment, but had an unfortunate mishap with my camera (dropped it into a river!).
I was determined to go back and get that image, involving reflection and creative use of light, while nailing this week's brief in the process.
Could you give us a sneak peek into your creative process? From the initial idea to the final shot, what steps did you take to bring your vision to life? Were there any key techniques or personal touches that helped elevate the image?
Location and time of day are always important factors for how I shoot.
I needed a shallow, fairly still body of water, and near complete darkness.
A nearby park at 5:00 am did the trick this time around.
Every shoot comes with its obstacles—what were the toughest challenges you faced here? Did any unexpected hurdles lead to a surprising result, and how did you pivot to overcome them?
During my first attempt, the tripod sank into the mud, toppled, and dunked my whole kit into a river.
I used my backup camera on the second attempt, and rigged a lanyard system that physically connects the whole kit to my body.
If I'm too slow to catch a falling tripod (I was), it can only go but so far.
What feedback did you get from your peers or professionals after submitting your image? How has that feedback influenced your perspective and approach for future projects, and in what ways has it shaped your growth as a photographer?
Carty mentioned that shooting with my regular, full-frame camera would have yielded better dynamic range and resolution of the subject of the photo.
Agreed.
I am looking forward to getting my soggy gear back from the shop!
How has being part of the Carty community fueled your creative development? What have you found most valuable about the feedback, support, or energy in the community that keeps pushing you forward?
The community itself has been a great source of both inspiration and support.
The feedback from these reviews is actively giving me the guidance needed to meet my professional goals.
What would you tell photographers who are thinking of joining the Carty community? Any key tips for how they can get the most out of these assignments and grow from the experience?
I would encourage folks who are serious about doing the work to join.
The endless support and guidance is absolutely priceless.
BUT, one must diligently do the work to reap the rewards.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: taylortayphoo
Website: Taylorlvalentine.com
Mike Morrison
What sparked your inspiration for this product in-use image? Can you share the unique concept and story behind the shot? What mood or message did you want to leave with your audience, and why was that important for this image?
I'm happy to be able to make automotive product shots in addition to cars and expanding my portfolio in this area.
This photo will be helpful to racers looking for an antigravity battery and charging setup.
The product manufacturers could use this shot for sales.
Could you give us a sneak peek into your creative process? From the initial idea to the final shot, what steps did you take to bring your vision to life? Were there any key techniques or personal touches that helped elevate the image?
I used a new tripod with a horizontal extension arm to get my camera in position.
I primarily used a light wand to light the product.
I stacked two of the images in Photoshop and kept the best parts of the product lighting.
Every shoot comes with its obstacles—what were the toughest challenges you faced here? Did any unexpected hurdles lead to a surprising result, and how did you pivot to overcome them?
I originally shot with the lithium charger sitting on the shock tower, which is blue and has several bolts, which were distracting.
I decided to reshoot with the black battery cover over the shock tower, which made the product stand out much better.
What feedback did you get from your peers or professionals after submitting your image? How has that feedback influenced your perspective and approach for future projects, and in what ways has it shaped your growth as a photographer?
Feedback was mostly positive. I'll continue to experiment with different lighting techniques.
The main take away is to keep coming up with ideas and getting new portfolio shots.
How has being part of the Carty community fueled your creative development? What have you found most valuable about the feedback, support, or energy in the community that keeps pushing you forward?
Watching photographers complete assignments and seeing Carty's reviews really push you to do your best.
I learn something new every week.
What would you tell photographers who are thinking of joining the Carty community? Any key tips for how they can get the most out of these assignments and grow from the experience?
Join and post some pics in peer reviews to get community feedback.
Join YouTube member submissions to get your work professionally reviewed.
Listen and make adjustments and your work will improve.
Social Media Handles:
Behance: Mike Morrison
Facebook: Mike Morrison
Instagram: Mike Morrison
Website: Mike Morrison
Ana K
What sparked your inspiration for this product in-use image? Can you share the unique concept and story behind the shot? What mood or message did you want to leave with your audience, and why was that important for this image?
This assignment turned out to be more challenging than I expected, and I was grateful for the extra time.
The concept for the product in-use photo came to me one morning while drinking my coffee.
I wanted to create a lifestyle image with product placement and decided on Starbucks as my focal product.
Could you give us a sneak peek into your creative process? From the initial idea to the final shot, what steps did you take to bring your vision to life? Were there any key techniques or personal touches that helped elevate the image?
Starbucks is such an iconic brand that its logo is instantly recognizable, even when slightly out of focus.
For this shot, I aimed to highlight the café experience and the warm, inviting atmosphere.
After experimenting with various angles, I chose this particular composition because it draws the viewer into the scene, evoking a shared moment over a hot, delicious coffee with a close friend.
Every shoot comes with its obstacles—what were the toughest challenges you faced here? Did any unexpected hurdles lead to a surprising result, and how did you pivot to overcome them?
Capturing a natural, unposed moment in lifestyle photography is key, and it can be tricky.
I had to rearrange some furniture to achieve the best lighting while incorporating the café interior.
Minimizing background distractions was also a challenge, but it helped refine the final image.
What feedback did you get from your peers or professionals after submitting your image? How has that feedback influenced your perspective and approach for future projects, and in what ways has it shaped your growth as a photographer?
Carty's community is incredibly supportive.
Every assignment is a learning experience that teaches me the importance of preparation.
I’ve found that the more I prepare for a session, the better the results, and that often leads to positive feedback.
How has being part of the Carty community fueled your creative development? What have you found most valuable about the feedback, support, or energy in the community that keeps pushing you forward?
We have amazing photographers who submit each week, and the standard of quality is always high.
It's a friendly competition within a welcoming and supportive community.
Seeing the incredible work submitted by my peers truly inspires me to push my own creative limits.
What would you tell photographers who are thinking of joining the Carty community? Any key tips for how they can get the most out of these assignments and grow from the experience?
Carty’s community offers a wealth of knowledge, challenges, and encouragement for photographers at all levels.
If you're serious about improving your skills and pushing your creative boundaries, it's the perfect place to learn and grow.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: @AKphotography.2020
Instagram: @my.ottwa.photos
Website: Anak.Photography
Samuel Saling
What sparked your inspiration for this product in-use image? Can you share the unique concept and story behind the shot? What mood or message did you want to leave with your audience, and why was that important for this image?
To be honest, this picture was a bit of luck, it happened during a portrait session, I saw the model wear a nice shiny purse and realized I could make it work also for this assignment.
Could you give us a sneak peek into your creative process? From the initial idea to the final shot, what steps did you take to bring your vision to life? Were there any key techniques or personal touches that helped elevate the image?
I want to submit review photo every opportunity I get and that week I wasn't very lucky.
But opportunity comes if you do things, you just have to believe.
The key here was trying a few different spots and looks.
We had about 90 minutes for doing portraits and here and there I asked her to try different poses with the purse.
Every shoot comes with its obstacles—what were the toughest challenges you faced here? Did any unexpected hurdles lead to a surprising result, and how did you pivot to overcome them?
The toughest challenge was timing, we started at 1:30pm, so we did not have the best sun placement, but I took the final closer to the end and it worked well.
What feedback did you get from your peers or professionals after submitting your image? How has that feedback influenced your perspective and approach for future projects, and in what ways has it shaped your growth as a photographer?
I received possitive feedback this time, so I feel that this is something I can try more often.
It is good to be rewarded for your work, makes you want to do more..
How has being part of the Carty community fueled your creative development? What have you found most valuable about the feedback, support, or energy in the community that keeps pushing you forward?
The support is great, especially now it is quite interactive, having 2 review options, Géran giving extensive support, 1 on 1, wow.
I feel the system is constantly improving, makes me want to take part in it even more.
What would you tell photographers who are thinking of joining the Carty community? Any key tips for how they can get the most out of these assignments and grow from the experience?
If you want to grow faster and not repeat trial and error coaching systems, this is the one for you.
Go grab it!
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: samuel_saling
Nick Johnson
What sparked your inspiration for this product in-use image? Can you share the unique concept and story behind the shot? What mood or message did you want to leave with your audience, and why was that important for this image?
This was "extra credit" from a recent model portfolio session after we had gotten the planned looks we were after.
I had been wanting to increase my use of products in frame in beauty shoots and just happened to have a couple of new unused lipsticks on hand that closely matched the color she was wearing.
It's always important in beauty advertising to associate the product with the results, and in this case so the mood here was to draw that correlation.
Could you give us a sneak peek into your creative process? From the initial idea to the final shot, what steps did you take to bring your vision to life? Were there any key techniques or personal touches that helped elevate the image?
I was using natural window light here for this look, with a V-Flat camera right for fill, and used a warm beige rolling wall as the background.
I wanted to have a somewhat monochromatic theme that integrated with the skin tones, with the lip color, the silver tube of the lipstick, and the eye detail being the main components that jump out at the viewer.
Every shoot comes with its obstacles—what were the toughest challenges you faced here? Did any unexpected hurdles lead to a surprising result, and how did you pivot to overcome them?
Since I was using window light and I wanted to maintain a specific depth of field falloff behind the eyes and lips, I knew there was no way I could keep the hands and lipstick in focus at the same time in a single shot.
I decided to incorporate focus stacking - most frequently used when shooting products and places - in this shot to combine the necessary elements in post.
I ran through several cycles of taking the main shot, and having the model hold the look/pose while I racked the focus to the hands and took a second shot.
What feedback did you get from your peers or professionals after submitting your image? How has that feedback influenced your perspective and approach for future projects, and in what ways has it shaped your growth as a photographer?
As I am always guilty of, this shot is a bit biased toward the center, and although it leaves the gutter clear if ran double page, here eyes could be a bit further to the let to be centered on the single page.
This is one of the hardest habits to break as someone who has for more than 20 years been a "fill the frame" guy.
How has being part of the Carty community fueled your creative development? What have you found most valuable about the feedback, support, or energy in the community that keeps pushing you forward?
Community and collaboration is key in so many aspects of being a creative professional.
The community behind the Carty method is an incredibly positive yet unfiltered source of collaborative discussion about the thing we're all after - a life of both creativity and prosperity.
What would you tell photographers who are thinking of joining the Carty community? Any key tips for how they can get the most out of these assignments and grow from the experience?
If you're open to both sharing and receiving feedback and information, do it.
If you are looking for a transformation in your photographic journey and willing to get out of your own way, do it.
Get the most out of it by being a participant vs a spectator.
Social Media Handles:
Instagram: nickjohnsonphoto
Website: Nick Johnson Photography
Best In Show
Kyle Gagne
Instagram: @kylegagne_photography
Website: Klyegagnephotograpy.com
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Carty is a Pro Photographer, Director, and Educator based in Toronto, CA.
His goal is to educate and connect a global network of visual creators.
👉🏾 Mindset Shifts and Immersive Pro Education on YouTube 👈🏾
Learn more about him and see his work at 👉🏾 SteveCarty.com
Join his photographer’s community 👉🏾 TheCartyMethod.com/community
Work with Him 👉🏾 theCartyMethod.com
The Carty Method Instagram @TheCartyMethod