Creating a sense of place through scene-setting

At Equator, our ethos revolves around transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. Through meticulous prop styling, lighting and photography, we don’t just capture images; we tell stories. In this post, we explain how to create a scene that evokes a specific location, using a recent project to showcase how our in-house team pushes the boundaries of what’s possible within a studio setting.

Bringing the outdoors in

Our team pulled out all the stops for one well-known wine brand with a test shoot to demonstrate how we could create something truly special for their new range of summer wines. Keen to showcase them in an authentic, outdoor environment, we created an idyllic park scene in our studio. Our prop stylists delved into their extensive collection, meticulously placing artificial foliage and fake grass to craft the perfect summer day in the park, complete with models to bring the scene to life.

The attention to detail went as far as ensuring that the lighting mimicked that of a sunny day, making it almost indistinguishable from being outdoors. This park scene was not just a background; it was a setting that welcomed viewers to imagine themselves enjoying a glass of wine under the sun. But why stop at a park? We also designed a poolside setup, adding another layer to the story we were telling for the brand. Having discussed their objectives and familiarised ourselves with their identity and aesthetic, we were able to incorporate elements such as the brand colours into the shoot.

Mimicking nature with light

Lighting plays a fundamental role in our work, especially when replicating the natural conditions of outdoor settings. It is a process that brings its own unique challenges. As Simon Thompson, our Global Director of Photography, explains: “I think people fall into the trap of over lighting and overcomplicating things when they’re shooting in a studio because they’re trying to create the perfect example of a particular setting, whether that’s a summer morning in England or golden hour in the south of France.

“Often, when we’re shooting for brands at Equator, we come back to the concept of ‘perfect imperfection’, and I think that’s what this boils down to. When you’re trying to evoke a sense of place, you have to think about the reality of what you would encounter on location and recreate that as best as you can. It’s about creating an atmosphere, which is why we often utilise techniques like lens flare and adjust the colour temperature of our lights to encapsulate the feeling of being in a specific location at a certain time of day. Trying to light things ‘perfectly’ can inadvertently make the studio setting more obvious.”

By intentionally incorporating the ‘perfect imperfections’ we would find on location by using techniques such as varying the intensity and angle of light, we create atmospheres that feel real, transporting the viewer to a place beyond the physical confines of our studio.

Setting the scene with colour and props

Our prop stylists are crucial in creating the right backdrops and selecting props that align with the desired mood and narrative. Whether it’s a calming morning scene or a lively evening gathering, every colour scheme and prop is thoughtfully chosen to contribute to the overall story. If we’re creating a room setting, for example, the wall colours will be selected to enhance the desired mood. Within our prop room, we have plenty of different surfaces, tableware and textiles to choose from and, when working with clients, we always make sure to keep plenty of alternative options up our sleeves, to enable both us and the client to pivot if a change in direction is desired.

Our work for this well-known wine brand was received with delight and has led to a partnership full of opportunities to create beautiful visual content, from photography to videography. We look forward to capturing their customers’ imaginations, transporting them to different locations through the power of prop styling, lighting and photography.

At Equator, we are committed to transforming your product by creating a narrative that resonates with your audience. Let us take you and your customers on a journey beyond the ordinary. For more information, get in touch with our team today.