Photography

Young woman immortalised kissing lover in Paris in 1950 dies aged 93

Young woman immortalised kissing lover in Paris in 1950 dies aged 93
  • Le baiser de l’hotel de ville (Kiss by the City Hall) showed Francoise Delbart 
  • Was kissing Jacques Carteaud in scene set up by photographer Robert Doisneau

It was an image of romance which defined an era in the city of love. 

What became known as Le baiser de l’hotel de ville (Kiss by the City Hall) showed young Parisienne Francoise Delbart in a clinch with her lover Jacques Carteaud. 

The picture was taken by photographer Robert Doisneau in 1950, as France was recovering from the horrors of the Second World War.

Now, more than 70 years on, it has emerged that actress Ms Delbart, whose married name was Bornet, passed away on Christmas Day at the age of 93. 

Doisneau, who became famous for his chronicling of Paris street life, had initially spotted a pair of drama students embracing in a Left Bank cafe in April 1950.

What became known as Le baiser de l'hotel de ville (Kiss by the City Hall) showed young Parisienne Francoise Delbart in a clinch with her lover Jacques Carteaud. Above: Ms Delbart holding the famous picture in the same spot in 2005

He then got Ms Delbart, then aged 20, to re-enact the kiss for a shoot commissioned by American magazine Life to show the return of romance to post-war Paris.

The black and white shot subsequently appeared in the popular magazine but was then forgotten until 1986, when a poster company re-discovered it and turned it into a global hit.

By the 1990s, it adorned hundreds of thousands of posters, as well as postcards and even tea towels and chocolate boxes. 

The identity of the subjects remained a mystery, with many believing that they were snapped at random by Doisneau.

A series of couples came forward to claim they were the lovers in the image.

Among them were Jeal-Louis and Denise Lavergne, who filed a suit in 1992.

That claim prompted Ms Delbart to come forward with a signed original print from Doisneau, proving she was the woman in the photo.

The picture was taken by photographer Robert Doisneau in 1950, as France was recovering from the horrors of the Second World War

Furious, she also took legal action and demanded Fr100,000 as a share of the profits generated by the use of the image.

Although a court rejected both suits, Doisneau confirmed that Ms Delbart and Mr Carteaud had been the lovers and that they had willingly posed for him.

He said before he died in 1994: ‘I would never have dared to photograph people like that. Lovers kissing in the street, those couples are rarely legitimate.’ 

In 2014, French-American man Marc de Mauregne claimed that he was one half of the pictured couple. 

‘I recognized myself, my hair,’ the then 87-year-old said. 

‘I think we were going to the movies. The lady was a friend who used to live in my street in Paris. Her name was Rolande Dupuis.’

However, his claim that the image was taken in 1945 or 1946 was at odds with the verified date of the photo.  

Ms Delbart’s romance with Mr Carteaud did not last long. She later said: ‘Jacques looked a bit like Burt Lancaster. We split up when he met someone else and we lost touch.’ 

He went on to become a wine producer and died in 2006. 

Ms Delbart, who appeared in several France films in the 1950s and 1960s, married Alain Bornet, a director and screenwriter, in 1962.

The couple had no children and Mr Bornet died a decade ago. 

Ms Delbart, who appeared in several France films in the 1950s and 1960s, married Alain Bornet, a director and screenwriter, in 1962. Above: The couple in 2005

Ms Delbart sold her original print of the famous picture for €155,000 in 2005.

She said in 2022: ‘I was with my boyfriend. We didn’t stop kissing … Robert Doisneau asked us to pose for him. 

‘We did a series of snapshots. They appeared in Life magazine but no one paid attention.’

She died at her home in Evreux, Normandy. 

How one photographer captured a year of chaos on Capitol Hill

How one photographer captured a year of chaos on Capitol Hill

US Rep. Kevin McCarthy, right, speaks with Rep. Matt Gaetz after Gaetz voted “present” during the 14th round of voting for House speaker in January 2023. McCarthy was elected speaker after the 15th vote, but 10 months later Gaetz would force a vote that would oust McCarthy from his position. “I feel like the photo kind of shows the friction between those two people and also kind of foreshadows what we know now,” photographer Haiyun Jiang said.

Haiyun Jiang had no idea what was in store for her at the start of 2023.

She was in Washington, DC, starting the second half of her photojournalism fellowship with The New York Times. She got her feet wet in 2022 covering Congress alongside fellow New York Times photographer and mentor Doug Mills.

“He taught me so much about what you look for, where you should stand and when to take risks and do something different,” Jiang said.

Then the 118th Congress convened on January 3, 2023, and the House — with its newly elected slim Republican majority — failed to elect a speaker.

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Rep. Barbara Lee, center, tallies votes for House speaker in January 2023.

“What I thought would be just a one-day election turned into a weeklong power struggle with Kevin McCarthy having to go through 15 rounds of voting,” Jiang said. “Eventually on Friday after midnight, he (was elected speaker). That was not how I planned my beginning of 2023.”

Jiang has spent the past year capturing the chaos of Capitol Hill, documenting lawmakers navigating everything from the debt-ceiling crisis and government shutdown threats to McCarthy’s ouster as House speaker and Rep. George Santos’ expulsion from Congress.

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Rep. George Santos gets into an elevator outside of his office at the US Capitol in April. The Republican from New York pleaded not guilty to 23 federal charges, including allegations of fraud related to Covid-19 unemployment benefits, misusing campaign funds and lying about his personal finances on House disclosure reports. In December, the House voted to expel him in a historic vote.

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Construction materials surround a statue of US President Theodore Roosevelt outside the Senate floor in January 2023.

But she’s also challenging herself to cover the Hill a little differently. She’s looking beyond the press gaggles for those in-between moments that paint a larger picture of what’s going on.

“I’m very lucky in the sense that the Times has a different mission in terms of photo coverage,” Jiang said. “We’re trying to do something a little different, bring more variety to the coverage. That’s very, very important to me — that they encourage me to be a little different, to take risks.”

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Shadows of House Republicans are cast on empty chairs during an October vote for speaker.

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A House aide stores smartphones in a cabinet for House Republicans during a party conference meeting in October.

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Light shines on Gen. Horatio Gates in John Trumbull’s painting “Surrender of General Burgoyne” as visitors tour the US Capitol rotunda in May. “I really want to give the audience the visual option to look at what’s happening and get a better sense of the context and environment,” Jiang said.

Looking for those in-between moments — and being at the right place at the right time — has led to some memorable photos. After Rep. Matt Gaetz voted “present” and killed McCarthy’s attempt to become speaker during a 14th round of votes, McCarthy confronted Gaetz.

“That was such a serendipitous moment. I didn’t think they would actually meet up and talk that close,” Jiang said. “There were a lot of photographers on the balcony in the gallery, but I think in my angle you can see both of their faces. That’s a storytelling photo for me. It summarizes the dynamic of that speaker vote.”

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Reporters stake out McCarthy’s office in October, ahead of his ousting from his position as House speaker.

Jiang, who interned with CNN Digital’s photo team in 2019, has always been interested in covering politics — partly because she grew up on the southern coast of China.

“I came from a country that doesn’t necessarily have political freedom,” Jiang said. “I think that enables me to look at American politics in a different way. I really cherish the fact that we get to witness all these historical moments because I think that’s what democracy intended — to have a free press to document what’s happened.”

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US Sens. Lindsey Graham, left, and Cory Booker arrive at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in January 2023.

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The Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on the nomination of federal judges in January 2023. “We want to work hard and bring the best pictures to our editors because they put a lot of trust in us,” Jiang said. “I don’t ever want to let them down.”

Despite spending so much of her time at the US Capitol, Jiang doesn’t let the monotony get to her.

“I know that some people covering politics think about day in and out, it’s the same stuff, same place, same people, nothing has changed,” Jiang said. “But I don’t think every day is the same. Every day is different. The power shifts, the staff changes — but also, the context changes, too.”

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Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in October, a week after he was ousted.

Not every day is perfect. There are days when Jiang feels like she missed “the” shot, or times where she feels out-of-sync.

“When you have a rough day, you doubt yourself. Am I good enough? Am I doing enough? What can I do better next time?” Jiang said. “Doug (Mills) always tells me, ’If you don’t do well, tomorrow is a new day.’ Think about what you can do better next time and prepare yourself for that the next day, because there’s no sense of dwelling on your mistakes.”

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Spectators show signs of fatigue during the third round of voting for House speaker in October.

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The Longworth House Office Building is seen during the speaker race in October.

For Jiang — and many journalists — her job is more than just a job. It’s a responsibility that she doesn’t take lightly.

“It’s really a privilege to be working in that place,” she said. “It’s such a magnificent building. It’s historic. There are so many crazy moments that happen over there, and I get to see that.”

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Young visitors gather on the Capitol steps in April.
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks to reporters about a proposed debt limit deal in May.

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Republican members of the House meet in October to select a new candidate for speaker.

Jiang says she’s looking forward to covering the 2024 election and the events leading up to it.

“As we all know, the stakes are high,” she said. “There’s a lot of uncertainty going into next year, and I’m excited to see how that plays out. And as a photojournalist, I’m very curious to see how the American people eventually decide on what matters the most to them.”

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Rep. Matt Gaetz, who led the effort to oust Kevin McCarthy as House speaker, speaks to reporters outside the Capitol in October. “I feel like I’m on the right path” Jiang said. “I’m doing the right thing. I’m doing my job to a degree that people find informative. That’s all I wanted to do.”

She will likely be spending less time at the Capitol over the next year. She’s already booked to cover the Iowa caucuses later this month. But she will be back.

“I feel like it’s so important for journalists to stick with it, to be able to see beyond the obvious and bring the audience — which is the American public who reads the news — the best information we can present,” Jiang said. “I think that’s so important, and I don’t take it for granted. I don’t think I would ever want to leave Capitol Hill behind.”

IDF officer’s photographic chronicles of war in the north

IDF officer’s photographic chronicles of war in the north

Guy Shmueli is a reserve mental health officer serving at an IDF base somewhere in the north. As the weeks pass and the war continues, Shmueli, who normally works as a social worker, keeps serving and assisting soldiers while simultaneously documenting the daily life on the base through his lens.

“Photography for me is a kind of therapy amidst the ongoing tension of the period and helps me find the ‘human’, the ‘warm’, and the beautiful aspects amidst and alongside the complex feelings,” Shmueli said in a conversation with Ynet. “I hope that through my photos, I manage to convey at least part of my experience.”

Shmueli’s works from his war journal are currently on display at the Artura Gallery in Emek Hefer, and next week he will launch an exhibition titled “Details from a Photographed War Journal” at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque.

Encore: Photographer and writer Kirsten Hines on her new book “Wild Florida: An Animal Odyssey”

Encore: Photographer and writer Kirsten Hines on her new book “Wild Florida: An Animal Odyssey”

This episode originally airedon November 14, 2023.

Kirsten Hines started out as a wildlife biologist, but pretty early on found herself drawn to telling stories with images and words about the natural world, rather than collecting data about it.

After grad school she went on a wander around New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia, China and the Bahamas, and before departing was gifted her first camera by her fellow students and from that moment forward found herself looking at the world on another level.

Kirsten Hines

Her photographs and writings have since appeared in numerous exhibitions and publications, including eight books — the latest of which is “Wild Florida: An Animal Odyssey.”

It features more than 200 of her photographs, alongside her personal stories about how she got the images, and interesting natural history insights.

It’s like a conversational field guide that explores ecological concepts like the “why” behind Florida’s animal diversity, and its blending of critters from the tropics with those from North America.

WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. Keep public media strong and donate now. Thank you.

The Simple Trick to Getting a Pure White Background for Photography

The Simple Trick to Getting a Pure White Background for Photography

Getting a pure white background doesn’t require post-production at all. Sure, you’ll shoot photos, but you don’t need to spend a whole day or two editing them just right. You can do it easily in-camera. But trust us when we say it’s a lot easier to do with flash than it is with LEDs. LEDs will mean that you’re more or less just spending more time editing in post-production.

You can view this article and much more with minimal ads in our brand new app for iOS, iPadOS, and Android

What You Need

  • A white background with a lot of lighting control. Ideally, you’ll use a box with a white interior
  • A flash with a large diffuser like a softbox, a beauty dish, or something
  • Another flash, possibly

How to Do This

Getting this done is pretty easy, but it will change depending on what you’re using.

  • Set up: your white box on a hard, stable surface
  • With the white box’s opening towards you, cut the top of it so that you can put a flash over it.
  • Shut all the blinds and curtains in the room to kill ambient lighting
  • Place the light modifier with the flash inside over the top
  • Meter the scene. If you’re using TTL flash, set it to be one stop extra of power. TTL works by looking at the ISO and the aperture. The faster your shutter speed, the more ambient light you’ll kill. The slower it is, the more will come in.
  • If you’re just using a white background, you’ll need a second flash. With your subject in front of the white background, meter them and photograph them with a flash accordingly. Have the second flash firing at the white background and make sure that it is a stop more powerful than the main light.

“When you use your light meter to check the output of the lights, your main light should be weaker while your back light should be stronger. For the image above, our main light (which was next to the camera and in front of our model) was metered to f8 at ISO 100. The back light (hitting the background and positioned off to the side) was metered to f11 at ISO 100. Therefore, the light in the back is brighter and therefore gives the effect of a seamless white.

It would have also worked if my main light was set to f5.6 and my back light was set to f8. Same with my main being set to f2.8 and my back being set to f4.”

Getting a background to go pure white

The Idea

The idea here is that you’re trying to make the background bright white. This is more complicated to do with LEDs and also doesn’t give you the crisp quality a flash can. To get the background to appear purely white, it needs to be brighter than the subject you’re photographing. That’s how you make it stand out. And it makes sense. If you were photographing a portrait subject with bokeh balls in the background, the bokeh balls will stand out because they’re brighter than your subject. The same idea is being applied here. 

If you don’t have all these, you should take a look at our tutorial on how to do it with a window, a reflector, and one flash. Of course, you’ll have to do some post-production. And if you’re like me, you want to avoid post-production as much as possible and get it right in-camera.

Loraine K Studios Offers Portrait Photography Services

Loraine K Studios Offers Portrait Photography Services

Loraine K Studios Offers Portrait Photography Services

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January 2, 2024 9:40 PM EST

The renowned brand offers portrait photography services for its customers.

Loraine K Studios, a leading photography studio, is proud to announce its exceptional portrait photography services that are captivating clients. With a commitment to excellence, creativity, and personalized customer experiences, Loraine K Studios has emerged as the go-to destination for those seeking remarkable portrait photography.

The representative at the firm stated, “We are delighted to offer portrait photography services for our customers.”

With a mission to capture the essence and personality of each client, Loraine K Studios has a team of skilled portrait photographers in Payson, AZ. The studio’s dedication to preserving cherished memories and creating timeless images is evident in every frame they produce.

Loraine K Studios offers a wide range of portrait photography services to cater to the diverse needs and preferences of their clientele. From family portraits to individual headshots, engagement photos to maternity shoots, Loraine K Studios specializes in capturing the beauty and uniqueness of every individual and moment.

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One of the hallmarks of Loraine K Studios is its commitment to a customized and client-centric approach. Before each session, clients are invited to discuss their vision and preferences with the studio’s team of experts. This consultation allows for a collaborative effort to ensure that the process is completed with ease. The studio’s photographers possess a remarkable ability to make clients feel comfortable in front of the camera, resulting in natural and genuine expressions that truly reflect their personalities.

The studio boasts state-of-the-art editing techniques that enhance and refine each photograph, ensuring that every image is a work of art. The team’s meticulous attention to detail, combined with their creative flair, results in stunning, high-quality portraits that clients cherish for a lifetime.

Loraine K Studios is dedicated to creating stunning portraits and to ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience for their clients. Their professionalism, reliability, and commitment to exceeding expectations have earned them a stellar reputation in the industry.

The representative added, “We go above and beyond to create portraits that are both stunning and meaningful.”

With their dedication to quality, creativity, and customer satisfaction, they are setting a new standard in the world of portrait photography.

About Us: Loraine K Studios is a leading photography studio specializing in portrait photography services. With a commitment to excellence, creativity, and personalized customer experiences, the studio captures the essence and personality of each client, creating timeless and memorable images. Their dedication to quality and affordability has made them a trusted name in the industry.

Contact Info:
Name: Media Contact
Email: Send Email
Organization: Loraine K Studios
Phone: 480-744-3662
Website: https://www.lorainekstudios.com/

Release ID: 89117680

If you encounter any issues, discrepancies, or concerns regarding the content provided in this press release, or if there is a need for a press release takedown, we urge you to notify us without delay at [email protected]. Our expert team will be available to promptly respond within 8 hours – ensuring swift resolution of identified issues or offering guidance on removal procedures. Delivering accurate and reliable information is fundamental to our mission.


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Help wife of surf photography legend Sean Davey fight stage 4 colo-ovarian cancer

Help wife of surf photography legend Sean Davey fight stage 4 colo-ovarian cancer

“They say that Lobsters mate for life. Lane is my Lobster. Please, please, please help me save my lobster.”

One of the more likeable figures in the loosely strung together world called the surf community is the Australian photographer Sean Davey.

I met Sean when I was a junior editor at Surfing Life magazine many orbits ago.

And, then, long before the eyes became jaundiced, the limbs weary, the marrow cold, I would thrill to his submissions, which were noted for their vivid colour and a fanatical attention to detail in his exposure of transparency film that made technicians weep for their beauty.

Later, when I got the reins to the magazine, I made a point of throwing every bone I could at Sean Davey, enjoying his company on myriad trips. This included a wild sortie to the Philippines as we hunted the ghost of Mike Boyum.

During this time, Sean met and fell head-over-heels in love with an American gal who was one of the few women who would ride Pipeline. Pretty soon they married and carved out a life on the North Shore together.

Fast forward twenty seven years and Sean and his wife Lane are dealing with the two-pronged horrors of cancer and America’s cruel healthcare system.

As Sean explains in a message to his friends, fans and surf family,

Friends and family all over this beautiful world of ours, I have some crushing news to share with you all. My wife of 27 years ; Lane has been recently diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic cancer. She is in the fight of her life right now.

Lane had her first infusion of chemotherapy yesterday. The procedure went better than expected but she was awake all night with nausea, which I guess is to be expected.

Though we both have had decent health insurance, Lane’s is about to finish due to the fact that as a professor, she is only employed on a semester by semester basis, and so Lane’s insurance might run out any time now. On top of that is the very likely scenario that Lane will need to go to the American mainland to get specialized care. She would have left on New Year’s day, but her condition has been deemed too serious to fly right now. So hopefully the chemo can shrink the cancer to a point where we can reach the next step in this process. Meanwhile, we are looking at some pretty major expenses coming up.

Some of the specialized care that Lane requires is not covered by the insurance and so it’s looking to be very expensive. Given the need for the specialized care, flights and upcoming operations, we are looking at an initial figure of $90,000. We really need all of your help to make this happen. Those of you who can contribute, please go to Lane’s GoFundMe page to donate, if you are able to. Any amount helps. For those of you who can’t afford to, PLEASE do what you can to spread the word to others. We really, really need ALL of your help right now to help Laneski beat this insidious disease. From the bottom of my heart, please know that we appreciate each and every one of you. Please help save my Laneski!

In the subsequent GoFundMe, Sean goes into a little more detail.

My wife, Lane “LaneSki” Davey is in the fight for her life against a Stage 4 colo-ovarian cancer associated with a 6cm mass that is blocking her intestine, causing a lot of pain and making it hard for her to eat. In the 6 months it took us to get a diagnosis, the cancer spread to her liver and lungs so at this point the only option for treatment is chemotherapy which she will start on Dec. 26, but since it is unlikely to cure her cancer, Lane is researching cutting edge facilities such as City of Hope (Az), the Burzynski clinic (TX), and the Turtle Band Clinic (NV) who specialize in advanced cancers. Costs of treatments at some of these centers run up to as much as 140,000 plus travel costs. We are also looking for a reasonably priced rental close by in Kahuku so Lane’s Mom can come and help out which will free up more time for me to work especially since Lane isn’t able to work at this time.

Lane and I met back in 1995 and were inseparable from the get-go. We married in late 1996 and I moved to Hawaii in 1997, where we’ve remained ever since. We were a great match with Lane being a pro surfer/ clothing designer at the time, while I was photographing for surf magazines all over the world.

The news has been so devastating to Lane who has spent the last 12 years serving as a full-time college lecturer and also acting as a part-time caretaker for her father with dementia while earning her Ph.D. that she finally completed last May. Lane is so dedicated to her students that she will stay up into the wee hours of the night grading resubmissions from students to make sure everyone has a chance to succeed in her class. This past semester, she spent a lot of time curled up in a ball on the floor before she would transition back to her computer to grade papers, answer emails, and prepare her lectures which often proceeded each worsening scan and diagnosis. You may have seen her out surfing with a smile on her face but that was after being up crying all night in pain. I know if anyone can beat this, my wife can.

Lane is a courageous and devout woman of faith who has always followed God’s call despite enduring a lot of opposition and difficult circumstances. I remember her paddling out to second and third reef Pipe when no one had ever seen women go anywhere near that. We would all sit on the beach and gasp as her 115-pound frame feathered on top of 12-foot sets and sometimes we watched her get annihilated by them but somehow she always found her way back to the beach. I remember Lane traveling the pro circuit with a surfboard under one arm and a sample bag under the other which contained her one-of-a-kind women’s surf line that she sold to 50 stores across the U.S. and Japan. Of course, everyone told Lane that women’s surfwear was a ridiculous idea and then they all eventually followed suit anyway, laying the groundwork for the amazing opportunities that women surfers enjoy today. In the 90s, Lane also began writing about the female surfing experience for a range of international magazines that I was shooting for and this eventually led her back to school because she wanted to document local legends in a lasting way. Her doctoral dissertation is one of the most extensive works on he‘enalu (surfing), detailing epic swells at Pipe and Bowls that Lane surfed daily for over thirty years and documented rigorously for about 20 in a blog she wrote for the Honolulu Advertiser and Oceanic Cable. She hopes to continue her research and publish them as books.

The cancer diagnosis has been a shock, to say the least since Lane, just 53, has no family history of cancer, eats healthy, exercises daily, and doesn’t drink, smoke, or do drugs to the point where she will rarely even accept an Advil. According to statistics, Lane is currently looking at a 2-9 month life expectancy if she doesn’t get help quickly. I can’t conceive of losing my soulmate and the mother of our three beloved dog babies Paumalu, Tazzy, and Kai Boy.

We just celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary just last week. I remember telling Lane way back in the mid 90’s that we would grow old together as a couple and I intend to stand by that pledge.

To be honest, I know Lane feels let down because she gave up a life of material gain to serve as a teacher and community activist for over 20 years, and in her time of need, neither the education system nor the health system has been there for her. Similarly, the surf industry largely refuses to recognize her contributions. So we sincerely ask for your prayers and your support. Any amount, big or small, not only funds Lane’s chances at life but fuels her fight to live because it shows her that people care and appreciate her service.

They say that Lobsters mate for life. Lane is my Lobster. Please, please, please help me save my lobster. 

Jump here if you want to kick the Daveys a shekel or two.

Packaging Photography 101: Taking the Perfect Shot

Packaging Photography 101: Taking the Perfect Shot

Packaging departments have always been a “Jack of All Trades,” responsible for various tasks that might seem tangential — but end up on your To Do list anyway. Taking photos of packages — for promos, ads, and, more recently, ecommerce sites — is one of the latest additions.

There’s no doubt about it: a compelling image can make all the difference. A well-captured product photo could be the deciding factor between a potential customer scrolling past your item or clicking “Add to cart.”

A whopping 90% of Etsy buyers say that image quality significantly impacts their purchasing decisions. That’s even higher than other significant factors, like item costs, shipping costs, and product reviews.

But there’s more to driving sales with product photography than positioning your camera and clicking away. This article provides a guide to doing it the right way.

The guide to packaging photography.

As long as you’re in the business of selling products, package photography has to be considered one of your tools for sales enablement. But first, you must lay the stage for it. Here are the elements that will empower you to capture the right side of your goods, from using the correct equipment and controlling the lighting to staging the setup and perfecting the finished product with expert editing.

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1. Use the correct equipment.

Camera and lens.

You need expensive cameras to capture the best images, right? Well, that’s not necessarily the case. Sure, high-end, professional-grade cameras offer advanced features and superior image capabilities. However, it’s important to remember that the camera is just one component.

Many mid-range DSLRs (digital single-lens reflex cameras), mirrorless cameras — and even smartphones — now offer impressive features, making them perfectly suitable for product photography. They let you experiment with camera settings and compositions. Plus, they can optimize your photos for lighting and environment differences.

A standard lens with a focal length between 35mm and 50mm is a good starting point.

Tripod.

Even the steadiest hands can introduce subtle vibrations as you press the shutter button. That’s why you could use a $5,000 camera and still end up with blurry photos, especially in low light or when dealing with slower shutter speeds.

So, while a tripod may look like a nerdy piece of equipment, you should invest in one. It lets you lock in your composition and shooting angle, ensuring that every shot aligns perfectly.

You don’t need an expensive tripod. Just look for one that’s sturdy and stable and can support the weight of your camera. It should be adjustable and let you achieve different shooting angles.

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2. Control the lighting; natural vs. artificial.

Natural lighting is a free, easy solution that relies on the ambient light present in the environment where you are shooting, typically sunlight. It can be soft and diffused, creating a flattering and inviting look for your products. It also provides accurate color representation.

Artificial lighting is what it sounds like. It involves using specially designed lighting equipment, like studio lights, strobes, or continuous lights. What you get here is consistent and controllable lighting, which is great for achieving uniformity in your images, especially when capturing a series of products or maintaining a specific product branding look.

A rule of thumb is to stick to one or the other. Your choice depends on the type of product you’re capturing, the mood you want to set, and your skill level. For instance, natural light is a go-to choice for food photography. At the same time, artificial lighting usually works better for product packaging.

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3. Stage the setup.

Displaying your products is an art form. Do it right, and you’re on your way to making more sales. Drawing insights from social media trends, customer intelligence software, competitor analysis, and photography trends, you can tell a compelling story about your products that captivates your audience.

Choose the right background.

Sure, the package is the main focus, but the entire area around it can help you sell. After all, it sets the stage for your product and influences its visual appeal.

You may be tempted to use them, but it’s usually better to avoid busy or cluttered backgrounds. When in doubt, consider the classic white/black minimalist look — but textured backgrounds, like wood or fabric, add depth and character. Play around with contrast to help your package stand out.

Alternatively, set your product as the background.

Try different angles.

Working with different angles is one of the best ways to make your package more interesting in photos. Angles offer different perspectives and provide a dynamic dimension to your product photos. They can also show off elements of your product packaging.

Consider high and low angles, close-ups, and overhead shots. And to offer that brick-and-mortar experience, you can provide 360-degree images. Don’t be afraid to get creative and try unconventional perspectives.

Keep in mind any after-effects or edits you may want to make to the photo too, such as adding your customized logo or overlaying text. This may impact the product angle or how much empty space you leave around it.

Use props.

Props are great because they provide context and convey the product’s real-world use. So, how do you use them? Choose relevant props. For instance, herbs and fruits make excellent props if you’re taking photos of a natural skin care product.

Keep in mind that the real focus is your product. Props should enhance its visual appeal without overshadowing it.

Be flexible.

Be ready to adapt your styles and presentation to different products and desired outcomes. It’s like running ideas through a domain name search before finalizing your website’s name. Test different approaches to discover what resonates most with your audience. It can help determine which presentation setups result in better engagement and conversion rates.

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4. Perfect the finished product with expert editing.

At this point, you’ve put in a ton of effort and taken what should be the perfect photos. Except they seem to fall just short of the flawless images you see online. Don’t sweat it — editing is where the magic happens.

Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom provide a range of editing capabilities. But you can go the free route with Fotor or GIMP. If you prefer to use your smartphone, lots of apps in the major app stores can handle the tasks.

Maintain a consistent workflow.

Develop a workflow — stick by it. It keeps you from missing necessary processing steps. Plus, it increases efficiency, reduces errors, and upholds a uniform visual style for your images.

Use templates, style guides, and editing presets. Tools like a remote desktop connection manager can help you handle your editing across devices so your processes remain standardized across all product images.

Packaging photography 101: Key takeaways.

The quality of your images can significantly sway the buying decisions of your customers and audience. According to Etsy’s customers, it’s even more influential than the price of an item. That’s why you need to get it right.

Product photography may seem daunting for a beginner, but it’s an acquirable skill. Start with the basics. Learn about the different types of lighting, composition, and editing techniques. And practice makes perfect. The more you take photos of packages, the better you’ll become.

Troy University design professor’s photography featured in solo art show in China

Troy University design professor’s photography featured in solo art show in China

Last summer, Associate Design Professor Chris Stagl took his first teaching abroad trip to the Changzhou Institute of Technology in Changzhou, China. Six months later, 30 of the thousands of photos he captured during his visit are on display in China in a solo exhibit titled, “Facades: Changzhou.”

The relationship was established by Art and Design Department Chair Greg Skaggs in 2019 on a visit to Changzhou. Stagl said this trip was like the metaphorical passing of the baton as Skaggs accompanied him to make a proper introduction. 

“Greg Skaggs was the driving force that got me to believe in the power of international education, and this show exemplifies how much I have bought in to that mindset,” he said.

In 2020, Stagl filled the vacant position of Director of the International Center of Collaboration and Creativity in Art & Design, though he said he never felt fully engaged with international education due to the travel restrictions caused by COVID.

“I would hold online seminars for international students, including the University of Zaragoza in Spain and CIT as well, but until now I had never been afforded the opportunity to travel abroad and teach students,” he said. “It was an amazing experience and I highly encourage everyone to consider their own options when it comes to teaching abroad. I recently presented about this same topic during the College of Education’s Annual Research Conference.”

A photo of Changzhou, China by associate professor Chris Stagl.
A photo of Changzhou, China by associate professor Chris Stagl.

While in China, Skaggs and Stagl taught art and design to 22 Chinese students, and 16 of those students will soon be coming to Troy University in the Spring of 2024. Skaggs taught the students how to make sculpture art with tactile found objects, and Stagl taught video production and editing. 

“Traveling to China with Chris was a trip I will not soon forget,” Skaggs said. “The two of us had an incredible journey and integrated very well with the community, students and faculty at Changzhou. Chris’ photos tell a wonderful story of their new, expansive campus and the local community business owners and patrons. I’m happy he’ll be having his first international show in Changzhou.”

Stagl also paid special thanks to Xiaojuan “Silvia” Li, Director of Chinese Operations.

“This trip would not have been possible without her,” he said. “She is truly the key that unlocks and connects our two countries for international education.”

Li added, “Chris plays such an important role in our collaboration with Changzhou Institute of Technology, both for our partnership and for our mutual students. This exhibit will greatly motivate the students to join this exchange program and deepen our partnership with CIT in the years to come.”

The exhibit opened on Christmas Day in the exhibition hall on the first floor of CIT’s School of Art and Design and will be on display through March 2024. The photos feature the CIT campus expansion, the business owners and community members of Changzhou.

“Warm congratulations to Professor Stagl for hosting a photography exhibition at our school,” said Peng Wei, CIT School of Art and Design Vice President. “Thank you for giving us the opportunity to re-examine our city and campus and discover new perspectives and scenery that we have never noticed before. My colleagues and students, as well as myself, really enjoy these stunning works.”