Calligaris reached out to us here at C&I Studios with a specific set of instructions to follow. First, they wanted us to quote them on a photoshoot, one which would take place indoors, ideally in a photography studio, and it would involve nothing other than a white background.
It was simplicity they were after, and we did not flinch at the challenge.
The endgame for Calligaris, a designer and manufacturer furniture of furniture who offer a wide range of products and made-to-order pieces, was to walk away with a set of well-refined still images featuring a select number of items lifted from their vast, high-end catalogue. These images would be used for online purposes; on their website and other digital market-place portals as thumbnails to foster ease in the online purchasing environment.
The purpose of the white background was not only a brand-guideline, something to follow in order to highlight the modernist style and simplistic designs which are characteristic of much of the Calligaris catalogue—it was a calculated strategy that would, if done correctly, draw the eye of the prospective customer.
In order to compete successfully in the already crowded online marketplace—particularly a field as saturated as that of high-end furniture—first impressions matter. In fact, they are paramount to driving sales and moving revenue. And we were no strangers to that. It is an imperative of many of the clients with whom we work, that their products come over easily in a visual setting, especially one as straightforward as a 2-D photograph; one glimpsed as but one item in an online market index that might seem to scroll on forever.
If you want to stand out from the crowd, the overall dimensions must be clear, and the product itself must be seen in its best and most flattering light. You might say this was in our wheelhouse…