This week we are spotlighting Scott Davis, a utah-based commercial photographer specializing in product and architecture. Holding a BFA in Photography from Utah State, Scott has seamlessly blended his technical skills with a love for mentoring and studio development. Currently, he is spearheading his third in-house studio project at Pattern Inc., an e-commerce accelerator. We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Scott to discuss his journey, insights, and the creative processes behind his stunning work.
Give us some insight into your journey to becoming a commercial photographer specializing in product and architecture photography.
My dad was an electrical engineer and my mother an artist, so photography was a good blend of the technical and artistic traits I inherited from them. I got into photography through the high school newspaper, since there were no photography classes in the art department. I kept that photojournalism work going through college, while working on a BFA in photography from Utah State. I learned so much by being fully immersed in photography for those years.
After school I knew I wanted to do commercial work, and also stay close to the recreational opportunities that I love in Utah. Somehow I found a few places that would take a chance on me, often doing jobs that didn’t always lead to the best portfolio material. Still, I learned a lot during those first 10 years and made some great connections.
A high school friend became a master tile craftsman, so we started photographing his projects, and that led to more architectural work. I built out an in-house commercial product studio for a craft company that led to me doing the same for Overstock, and now Pattern. There have been as many rough years as smooth ones, but I still consider myself lucky to be getting paid to do something I love, in this amazing part of the world.
What is typically in your bag when you go out to photograph architecture?
- Sony a7r V camera body
- Canon 17, 24, and 50 mm tilt-shift lenses
- Tripod/Camera support with a geared head (I use a lightly modified Manfrotto 231 Column Stand instead of a tripod)
- Battery powered Godox monolights
- iPad or tethered laptop for image review
What are some common challenges when shooting architectural and product photography?
I feel like the primary problem to solve is the lighting. For product photography, that usually means knowing how to light transparent or reflective products. For architecture, it’s knowing how to deal with the differing intensities and color temperatures of each source of light. For architecture I do a custom blending of different exposures and a layer for color accuracy to achieve a clean, but naturally-lit, look. Everything beyond that is planning, and being prepared enough so that you can focus on the unpredictable challenges that come up on set.
What has been the biggest takeaway you've learned from your photography career?
As I’ve tried to make a career out of photography, I realized that any photo gig or job you can land is an opportunity to learn and grow and to make connections. Photographers tend to get hired for projects that are similar to work they’ve already done, or by people they’ve worked with in the past. When my portfolio didn’t match what I wanted to be shooting, I’d go make images that matched what I wanted to do. That always led to other gigs that were more interesting to me.
What does the planning process look like when preparing for a shoot?
My experience is that any successful shoot needs a few basic steps. First a handoff of information from the client to understand the project scope, objectives, timelines and budget. I love commercial work because I get to build relationships with returning customers, and this part gets easier the longer you work together. Next I’ll have at least one pre-production meeting with the crew and client to make sure our vision is aligned and everyone has their part ready for shoot day. Having a good producer working with you makes this coordination so much easier. When we’re not scrambling because of poor planning, all the mental energy goes towards creativity and having fun together.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Scott Davis for sharing his valuable time, expertise, and insights with us. His dedication to the craft and passion for mentoring others are truly inspiring. We look forward to seeing more of his remarkable work and the impact he continues to make in the photography community. Thank you, Scott!
Get to Know Scott:
Scott Davis has had a camera glued to his hand, since discovering photography as a teenager. After finishing a BFA in Photography at Utah State, he specialized in product and architectural photography. He’s also developed a passion for mentoring others and building out in-house studios, which he is currently doing for the 3rd time in his career, for the e-commerce accelerator, Pattern Inc. Scott is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and can be found at scott-davis-photo.com or @scottdavisphoto on instagram.