industrial photography is indeed a common practice in various industries. The purpose of industrial photography is to capture the manufacturing process and the work being performed by the workers. This type of photography can be used for various purposes, such as documentation, advertising, training, and safety.
Two months ago, I was asked by a US company to photograph an industrial photography job for a furniture factory in Vietnam. This company has over 500 workers and 40,000 meters of industrial property; the headquarter is located in Binh Duong Province of Vietnam (25km from Ho Chi Minh City).
With many years of experience, the factory specializes in designing, producing, and exporting top-end furniture made of teak and other high-quality hardwoods for indoor and outdoor enjoyment. Within the expanding collection, they offer a wide range of products to accommodate every need of outboard clients.
Outdoor and indoor furnishings include tables and chairs, sun loungers for swimming pools and cruise lines, tea trolleys for gardens, swing sets, decors, and much more. The outdoor assortments are made with Teak wood from South America; this wood contains high natural oil that protects the products from termites and embraces harsh weather conditions.
Industrial photography may not have the same level of glamor as fashion or the same level of spontaneity as public relations photography, but it can be just as impactful and effective in conveying the message and showcasing the industrial process or facility. In fact, industrial photography can be quite compelling and dynamic, using techniques such as composition, lighting, and perspective to make the products, processes, or facilities look clean, dramatic, and appealing.
US company wanted to tell the story of how Teak products are made; they required the factory could provide them with photography that can be used for their online assets. But as most Vietnamese factories are not concerned about industrial photography, that was why they needed me there.
Initially, my task included farming and harvesting phototography, but Teak wood here is imported. So, my primary mission just focused only on the industrial revolution, including storing, measuring, loading, moving, milling, trimming, drying…steps.
Some images in this blog post were taken in September at the factory; the execution time was four days of shooting, five days of editing, and ten months of information exchange, and tried to make a shooting schedule (including the period 3 – 4 months affected by the Covis-19 pandemic). Finally, everything could be done, and I must thank my client – Mike Fretto/Co-Founder, Creative Director, who was very patient and understanding about the importance of industrial photography.
Industrial photography is different because it’s part of your marketing mix. You’re telling a story through images rather than words. Industrial photography answers the question: What messages are we communicating to customers, employees, and stakeholders? how can we make them visually interesting? So, if you are getting similar thoughts, you can feel free to contact me and I will be happy to shoot great visual stories about your industrial products.
