Style Shoots – table top camera system
The bell tolls for another commercial photography market as we know it.
A new camera system has hit the market that is not likely to produce squeals of excitement from the global community of professional photographers. If you are a product photographer shooting high volume catalog work, the writing is on the wall…you might want to start checking out the employment opportunities at closest LifeTouch near you.
“Style Shoots” is introducing a new copy stand/table top image capture system that looks like a cross between a iphone and a air hockey table… powered by a iPad (of course). Based on the promotional videos I reviewed, this first generation system appears to be easy to use and specifically targeted to graphic design studios needing high volume product photography for the fashion industry. The system is fast and flexible… scan the SKU, lay the product down (garment, shoes, purse, etc.) on the light table (Gorilla Glass?), adjust the overhead lighting (4 heads), take the shot (vertically mounted Canon EF 24-105, digital capture system is unspecified). The system then auto strips it, composites in drop shadows and/or digital backgrounds to taste, then renders and exports the digital file in real time. No pausing for capture as you can move to the next product on the shot list while the previous file renders.
What is conspicuously absent of course, is the professional photographer. Well, I guess that is debatable…practically speaking, the graphic designer is now the photographer…probably not even the designer…looks like a job for the designer’s intern. Kinko’s is gonna love this one.
Using a high profile endorsement from London’s Mark & Spencer (“We’re Happy!”), Style Shoots is claiming 300-400% cost savings (4 finished images for the cost of 1…sorry if my math is off) and immediate image fulfillment to the graphic designer. System is launching in multiple international markets.
And for all you fashion photographers shooting models for catalog…tick tock. Bad news on the horizon for you too. Stay tuned, more to come on this evaporating market.
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