You invest a significant amount of money in a commercial video production. Wouldn’t you like to kill two birds with one stone and get a full slate of still images for promotion alongside the video? Production stills are key to a robust marketing campaign. You get the most bang for your buck, with a diverse library of still images to support your commercial video production.

They don’t stand in the spotlight, but professional production stills photographers are as important as the cast and crew to the long-term success of a video production. Whether it’s movie stills on the set of a global production or still shots of a local video promo session, film still photography is a specialized art and valuable to any business working on a video project. 

If you don’t know what production stills are, don’t worry. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know for a basic understanding of film still photography. Read on to learn: 

• What still photography is 
• What production stills are 
• How they’re used
• Why you need them for your production
• How to make great stills, and 
• Frequently asked questions about production stills

What Is Still Photography? 

Still photography is another way to describe general photography. Digital and film photography are both versions of still photography. The term differentiates standard photography from motion picture photography, which is more commonly referred to as cinematography. 

Still photography is also separate from still life photography, which is a genre of photography that involves shooting small collections or groups of inanimate objects.

What Are Production Stills?

Production stills, also referred to as film stills or movie stills, are still images captured on the set of a commercial video production. Production companies hire professional unit still photographers to work on set. These photographers specialize in framing and capturing still images while navigating the set of a working video production.

While shots of the action are priority, production stills also pull back the curtain with behind-the-scenes pictures of actors, crew, and other staff. The photographer’s goal is to document the entire production in still images.

Major production companies, in-house creative teams, independent producers, or small businesses – production stills play a role in all sorts of projects. As long as there is a budget, any size production can hire a professional on-set stills photographer.

What Are Production Stills Used For?

Have you ever watched a commercial and later seen an ad with a still image from the same commercial? Or passed a movie still on a billboard from a trailer you previously viewed? That’s a great example of production stills in action! There are a ton of different uses for production stills, depending on the type of project and budget.

Some places you might see film stills include: 

• Website photos 
• Print and digital ad campaigns
• Social media marketing
• Other promotional materials

Why Do Productions Need Stills?

Still images are equally important to the promotion of a commercial as video. When it comes to advertising, marketing, and promo, do you really want to cut corners and use screengrabs? Trying to pull still images from video footage is a task, and often won’t have the same quality as a camera.

Even with the increasing quality of video cameras, a stills photographer is more than just a lens. Their professionally trained eye understands how to frame and capture lasting images. These images can increase the effectiveness and profits of a commercial in the long run.

Consider this example: 

• A pharmaceutical company hires a photographer to shoot production stills on the set of a commercial shoot for the launch of a new medicine. The photographer captures still images in a perspective unique from that of the camera videoing, behind-the-scenes shots of entirely separate scenarios, and can grab headshots and portraits. This robust library and wide range of images enable a consistent promotional rollout across all channels. 

How to Make Production Stills

If you’re an independent producer or a small business with a tight budget, you can produce your own production stills. However, I would recommend hiring a professional on-set stills photographer or at least someone trained in general photography.

Whether you hire a professional or take a stab on your own, here are some tips to help get quality production stills for your project: 

• Create a list of shots you need to fulfill all of your marketing and promotional requirements
• Try to capture the overarching story of a particular scene or production in one still image 
• Make sure no boom mics or other audio devices pick up the sound of your camera’s shutter 
• Steer clear of the production crew’s path – it should seem as though you aren’t even on-set

Should You Hire Someone To Take Film Stills?

Can you just toss your iPhone to the intern and expect a full slate of professional production stills? Probably not. Do you think it’s a good idea to take shortcuts at the heart of your marketing and promotion? Not so much. If you want iconic stills that will leave a lasting impression and increase your profits, hire an experienced production stills photographer.

As with so many components of business and production, there’s no one-size-fits-all. Every photographer and project has a different pricing structure. If you’re serious about your project, you can find a photographer within your budget. I promise it’s a worthwhile investment.

Production Stills FAQs

What is a movie still? 

A movie still is a still image from a film production, and another name for production stills. Still shots from mainstream film productions, small independent projects, and everything in between are more often referred to as movie stills, whereas those from television commercials or corporate video productions are more likely to be called production stills. 

What are film stills? 

Film stills are still images shot on the set of a video production, separate from the video footage.  Film still photography ranges anywhere from high-budget motion picture productions, documentaries, television commercials, video shoots for small businesses, or any other type of video production.

Work With Casey Templeton For Professional Production Stills Photography

Casey Templeton Photography has years of experience working on set with over 50 different production companies. If you’re in the Los Angeles, Nashville, or Richmond areas, give me a holler and we can take your video production to the next level.