GUMMY HUGS

Name:
GUMMY HUGS
Client:
GUMMY HUGS
Role:
PHOTO, VIDEO, TESTING, AND SO MUCH MORE

Introduction

This was a test shoot to explore catalog-style photography and videography for Gummy Hugs.

Here’s what you need to know about this test:

    • This was not editorial work (no real-life scenarios or people).
    • The focus was on showcasing the prototype, understanding that the final product will be smaller, seamless, poreless, and may reflect light differently.
    • The shoot was completed quickly, with minimal time invested. Future work will allow for more refinement and speedier deliverables.
    • Product photography like this involves working with unique textures, reflectiveness, and other specific characteristics. Having the prototype was invaluable in planning and execution.

Shoot Specifics

    • Photography:

      • All imagery was captured with professional cameras and lighting against a white seamless background.
      • Retouching smoothed out seams and pores in the prototype and replaced the background with colors inspired by mood boards, and the aesthetic of Harsh Light Photography. Note that the imagery within the Mood Boards was almost certainly Photoshopped to enhance the sharpness, clarity, and shadow depth.   

PHOTOS

Please do not publish

Key Insights from the Shoot

    • Backgrounds:

      • Replacing white backgrounds with color in post-production worked but highlighted the need for colored seamless backdrops, especially for videos, to avoid keying challenges and inconsistencies in shadowing.

    • Angles:

      • Eye-level shots of the bear delivered the best results for character and presence. However, angles can be adjusted to reflect the unique personality of each SKU.

    • Shadowing:

      • Deepened shadows brought out the bear’s form and added visual depth.

Additional Thoughts

  • This shoot was strictly catalog-focused, but there are exciting opportunities for editorial work:
    • Sven, the bouncer at Berghain in Berlin, holding the bear for an unexpected juxtaposition. (I’ll be in Berlin in March and could explore this idea if we have a working model.)
    • A woman wearing a tank top and low-cur jeans, facing away fro the camera, so we see her back, with the Gummy Hugs logo visible in the “tramp stamp” position under harsh, direct flash.
    • Many more creative ideas with proper planning and direction.

VIDEOS

Video Keying Test 001

Video Keying Test 002

Process and Results:

    • Videos were shot with the same setup, though with continuous lighting.
    • Keying (background replacement) presented challenges like artifacting and shadow inconsistencies. For future shoots, colored backdrops will provide better results, reduce post-production time, while still allowing for fine-tuning the color.

Gummy Bouncy Test

JUST FOR FUN (coming soon)

MISC THINGS

Anecdotal Marketing Research, Jan 12, 2025