Commercial FAQs

“Commercial photography” probably sounds intimidating and technical, but really it just means anything that relates to your business, whether it’s strictly professional or incorporates a little more personality! 

A few examples are:

• Headshots
• Professional portraits
• Lifestyle photography 
• Brand photography
• Product photography
• Food photography 

I’m not exaggerating when I say EVERYONE! 

We live in a very visual world, and no matter what industry you’re in - from engineering to food service to being a social media influencer - you need eye-catching images to stay relevant to your customers. 

Here are just a few (of many!) examples of people who could use commercial photography.

• Professionals looking for an updated headshot or professional portrait for their resume or LinkedIn profile picture.
• Restaurants who need appetizing food photos for their menu. 
• Local shops who want to show off their products on their social media or sell them online.
• Companies who want to show clients what they do - not just tell them! 
• Businesses who want to attract eyeballs to their social media or website. 
• Actors, musicians, models, and dancers who need professional headshots for auditions or comp cards.

My answer to this question is always “YES!” - but as a brand photographer, I might be a little biased. 

If you’re on the fence about whether you need commercial photos, here are a few questions to ask yourself: 

• Do you want to elevate your business’s look and feel?
• Are you trying to establish your brand’s clear, unique visual identity?
• Is your goal to make a lasting visual impact - online or in print?
• Do you want to replace stock photography on your website or social media with personalized images?
• Are you wanting to better portray your brand’s vibe, aesthetic, or “feel” to your customers?
• Are you struggling to stand out from the competition in a crowded industry?

If you answered “yes,” to any of these, then you could benefit from a commercial photo session!

Give me a call or shoot me an email, and we can work through your goals and the details of what you’re looking for to figure out what type of commercial session you need. 

I hear this from so many people - and it’s valid! But my job isn’t just to capture the best photo of you - it’s also to help you feel your best in front of the camera so your confidence shines through in your pictures. 

Whether we’re in my studio, at your office, or somewhere else, my goal is to put you at ease and make sure it doesn’t feel like a daunting, capital P “Photoshoot.” I want it to be relaxing - and maybe even a little fun. 

I also believe in making all of my sessions collaborative. I’ll be showing you the back of the camera as we go, so I can get your in-the-moment feedback and make sure you’re loving it!

Yes, you will get the rights to the images you choose to keep. The number of images you keep depends on the package you purchase. You can always purchase extra images ala carte, too! 

The short answer is: as long as you’ve purchased them, you can use them anywhere! 

The long answer: in the early stages of the planning process, we’ll discuss what you plan to use the photos for. Together, we’ll figure out how many final photos you’d like based on your goals, intended use, and budget. 

Once the images are taken and you’ve selected your favorites, I’ll optimize and size the images for print or web - whichever you plan to use them for.

The props and backgrounds you’ll need for your session will be very different depending on what type of commercial photography you want. 

For headshots, I can provide endless background options! White, grey, black, and the exposed brick wall in my studio in downtown Cedar Rapids are the most popular choices. I also have several color options, plus a green screen for “extractions” - in other words, I can remove the green background and replace it with any type of image or setting! 

For many types of commercial photography, like professional portraits or branding photography, it’s best to shoot on location. This should be somewhere that’s relevant to you or your business, so the background helps tell your brand story.

Because these photos are meant to tell YOUR brand story, I leave it up to you to provide the majority of the props (it’s probably stuff you use on a day-to-day basis!) During the planning phase, we’ll brainstorm what props you need based on what we plan to shoot. 

I do have plenty of chairs, sofas, and stools available in my studio that work well for professional portraits. There are 20+ options for you to choose from (I shop for prop furniture the way other people shop for clothes!).

I do both! It all depends on what type of commercial photos we’re taking, and what kind of “look” you want your customers to see. We’ll determine the shoot location(s) during our planning discussions. 

Headshots and professional portraits can easily be done in my studio in downtown Cedar Rapids, or we can do them at your office. 

For most other types of commercial photography, we’ll want to be on-location to capture you in the place where your customers would most likely be interacting with you. Showing your space also helps your customers get a “feel” for your company. Your space is part of your company’s aesthetic and vibe! 

On-location shoots can happen almost anywhere. I’ve shot commercial photography in offices, dairy cow barns, dance studios, homes, doggy daycares, gyms, and more! 

I’m also flexible when it comes to shooting food and products. I’ve done styled food shoots on location (at the restaurant) or in my studio. 

For product photography, I prefer to shoot small products in my studio, where I can better control the lighting and shot setup. However, I’m more than happy to shoot on-location if your products are too big to be easily transported!

For every type of photography I do, I operate in “twos.”

After the photo session, I’ll take two weeks to edit the photos and send you proofs. I give you two weeks to review and choose your favorites. Then I’ll take two weeks to optimize the images you pick and deliver the final product!

During my busy season (April - August), it may take a little longer than two weeks. If that happens, I will communicate that to you! You’ll never be left wondering where your photos are.  

Need it faster than two weeks? I’ll do everything I can to make that happen! Just let me know, and we’ll determine the best solution to meet your deadline. Please note this may involve a rush fee.

I am easy to get ahold of! I respond to text, phone, or email - but the fastest way to reach me will always be text. (Seriously, don’t be afraid to text me!)

Phone: 319-366-8689

Email: jillchristinephotography@gmail.com