World Chess - Product Photography in Berlin
World Chess wanted classic product photographs of its chessboards and pieces ahead of an anticipated sales peak around the World Chess Championship. The task was to make the products look their best while showing the quality of the solid wood, professional hand carving and hand painting.
- ClientWorld Chess
- LocationBerlin
- Year2024
- FocusProduct photography
The brief: show the craftsmanship
For me, the important thing was to show what makes these objects worth looking at closely. Colour, wood texture and carved detail all had a part to play.
Balanced light for lacquered wood
The main challenge was the lacquer. Reflections could distract from the surface and hide the details the photographs needed to show. I worked towards balanced lighting that controlled those reflections while keeping the colour, texture and shape of the boards and pieces visible.
That balance was central to the brief: a flattering product photograph still needed to communicate the material and the work that had gone into it.
Where the photographs appeared
My product photographs appeared in the World Chess catalogue and on the homepage of the World Chess website.
A separate project for the same client
This product assignment was separate from my interior photography for the World Chess bar and lounge. There, the emphasis moved from objects and craftsmanship to the warmth of a place to spend an evening.
What was the main challenge in this product shoot?
Controlling reflections from the lacquer while showing the solid wood's colour, texture, hand carving and hand-painted finish. Balanced lighting was the key photographic decision.
Have something you want to show properly?
Tell me about the product, the details that matter and where you plan to use the photographs.
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