Our team has come upon some interesting statistics on how AI is transforming the product photography market.

Source: EveryPixel Journal

To give more context…

• The AI in photography market is projected to reach $4.58 billion by 2024;
• Post the launch of DALLE-2, people are creating an average of a whopping 34 million images per day;
• AI boasts a 25% productivity boost for photographers through smarter cropping and object recognition;
• The Asia Pacific region is experiencing the fastest growth, with China leading the charge (79% of photographers use AI!);
• 77% of photographers see AI as a valuable tool to enhance their final product;
• AI-powered photo editing allows faster turnaround times and the ability to experiment with creative edits at scale.

Source: Precedence Statistics

Simply put: AI is not just automating tasks, but providing access to valuable time and resources photographers of the past would have only dreamed of. We are in an era of collaboration between human and AI capabilities, in which AI is not to overpower the market, but enhance human creativity.

On Traditional Methods:

Image: Pre-requisites for a product photoshoot.

Let’s talk about the old-school way of doing product photography (or rather, the only way we could have done it before 2022):

• Studio Setup: That includes the camera, diffusers, backdrops and the manpower to handle all of this is a real time-consuming process. You also need skilled artists to create the specific light effects for the perfect shot.
• Photo Editing: remove the background, color correct, retouch, or enhance the image if you are just working on 10 products, still it’s a big task to maintain the same quality. But when it comes to a huge set of products photographers rely on Photoshop tools which is time-consuming, and requires software knowledge.
• Photographer's Skill: Everything can be corrected but the perfect composition, lighting, and feel of the product depend heavily on the photographer’s skills.

Breaking down the total expense for a traditional product photoshoot, we may add...

• Professional studios may charge from $400 to $1,000 per day, depending on location and types of equipment included... Some studios even charge by the hour.
• Of course, that comes with all the equipment you need, so if you don’t own any equipment, renting light setups, backdrops, or props(depending on the outdoor or indoor shoot) can increase the overall shoot cost.
• Photographer rates vary based on their experience in the field. They might have their own studio preferences, and the team required for light setup and editing.
• Post-production costs include image editing and editors' costs, which can amount to hundreds and heavily depend on client approval.

Here is How AI Makes a Difference in Product Photography:

Image: Diagram showcasing some of Unstudio's capabilities.

We've already discussed the original ways and costs of product photo shooting. Now, with the aid of AI, let us sum up the benefits:

Effortless Efficiency

• Automated Edits: It’s like having editing software on autopilot. AI helps you with object selection (no more frustrating object selection with a cursor), and background removal and you can also experiment with many other templates available which makes your product outshine any other product available.
• Smart Cropping and Composition: AI does all the magic work for you and crops every minute detail which is often difficult to achieve in traditional editing. Visually appealing and perfectly composed shots are now achievable through AI and not just for a single image, you can create unlimited product images, while maintaining the same quality.
• One-Click Enhancements: AI analyzes the image first and then enhances the image, providing the best version, no more figuring out whether to adjust the contrast, the shadow, and whatnot.

Cost Savings

• Reduced Studio Needs: No more countlss backdrop fabrics, different shades of colors and other details needed… With the help of AI you can either pick what you want, or say what you want. Either way, the result will come out as desired.
• Faster Turnaround Times: Having your images almost instantly generated means that you have more time to refine the final outcome, and deliver your shoots in a timely manner.
• Quality Images: There are numerous free AI tools available in the market to get started with. Some of them are paid, yet affordable in their price. In addition, startups can easily experiment with these cloud-based tools, maintaining the quality of the product photography.

Only In Your Dreams

Image: initial setup vs. final product layout, provided by Unstudio AI.

With the current constraints in mind, Unstudio is here to make a difference: individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises now have the power to access endless possibilities with the help of Artificial Intelligence.

Photographers, once more susceptible to circumstances out of their control, now can experiment with compositions and angles that were once much harder to come by.

Unstudio has joined the AI race to provide you with AI product photoshoot services for a fraction of the cost, a seamless platform, and a realm of possibilities. It is our duty to make your job a bit easier, without compromising your creativity.

Explore our services now!