The Client and Their Brief
We helped local creative agency GAIN deliver a large-scale photography project for well-known British watch brand Accurist.
The brief was to photograph a large proportion of the current range, spanning both ladies’ and men’s watches, in a variety of formats. The photography needed to show the detail, quality and timeless design of the London-based brand, while working across e-commerce product pages and a hero campaign centred around the streamlined “It’s About Time” message.
With a large number of products and multiple image requirements for each, consistency was just as important as the quality of the individual photographs.
What We Did
For a project like this, consistency is critical. When photographing a large volume of products across several angles, every watch needs the same considered lighting treatment and carefully controlled highlights.
That’s an important benchmark for an international brand, and one we take seriously at DE Studios.
Across 14 watch models, we produced 90 professional studio photographs covering front-facing, elevated three-quarter, flat lay, side-of-case, shallow dial macro and strap detail shots.
Getting the watches ready for camera was an important part of the process too. Each piece was carefully prepared by setting the time, adjusting the strap and removing dust using lint-free cloths and an air compressor. We used custom clamping systems and rigs to hold each watch at exactly the right angle, with soft protection around the clamps to avoid marking the delicate finishes.
In the studio, we used professional Nikon cameras with premium polarising filters, a fixed shooting position on a Cambo studio stand and Profoto flash lighting. Shooting at 64 ISO gave us clean, high-resolution files, while layers of diffused and controlled highlights were created using colour-neutral scrim frames and cascade diffusion rolls.
Layering the different shots in post production (aligned pixel perfect from being in the same fixed shot position) allows us to blend and choose, almost sculpt, the dissed look and feel of the lighting. This is achieved with layers, masks, blend models, gradients and brush tools.
The result is clean, premium product photography with accurate colour, controlled reflections and plenty of detail to draw the eye in.
Additionally, the images were carefully retouched, clipped to a clean white background while retaining natural shadows. Once approved by the agency and client, the finished images were ready for use across Accurist’s e-commerce and campaign materials.
How It Looks
The Results
The agency were very pleased with the commission, with the client particularly complimenting the consistency and resolution of the finished photography.
But a project like this is about more than producing a large quantity of high-quality images. The photography needed to work within a much bigger creative brief.
The images were integrated into graphic artwork, and wider graphic design, helping bring the “It’s About Time” campaign to life across several different digital applications. Balancing the rhythm of our days with the extra attention needed to make sure several key watches were perfect for a different creative route wasn’t always easy!
Being part of that wider campaign, and seeing the photography work alongside the creative direction and design, is what makes projects like this particularly rewarding for the team at DE Studios.
Need a product photography partner you can trust?
Large product photography projects demand more than good images. They need planning, consistency and a clear understanding of how every image needs to work within the wider brand.
From the first shot to the final image, we bring the same care and attention to detail to every product, angle and variation.
If you’re planning a substantial product photography project, we’d be happy to talk it through.
