Commercial
Campaign and advertising images built around a concept: a look, a brand story, a specific visual direction. We handle the pre-production and set design that kind of shoot takes.
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Photography Services
Every project runs through one team in one Chicago studio, so you explain your shoot once. Bring 10 SKUs or 200. More than 20 years of commercial work goes into every shoot.
Brands We've Worked With
Services
Our West Town studio handles projects of all sizes, from a one-day ecommerce shoot to campaign productions across multiple sets and shooting days.
Want a cost estimate before we talk? Use our Cost Calculator →
Want to see our work first? Browse the portfolio →
Not in Chicago? See how ship-in works →
Lifestyle
Your products styled in real-world settings. Our West Town studio allows for kitchen and bathroom sets, flat lays, and tabletop scenes. When a shoot needs a specific environment, we work on location around Chicago.
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Ecommerce
Consistent catalog images on clean backgrounds, with accurate color and specs that meet platform requirements, Amazon included. Many brands add lifestyle setups to the same shoot day.
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On-White
Pure-white background images that meet the specs of Amazon, major retailers, and brand style guides. Lighting, edges, and color stay consistent across every shot in your catalog.
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Softgoods
Apparel, bags, bedding & fabric-based products
Fabric products are handled and lit to show texture, drape, and structure accurately. On-figure work is available too, with a ghost mannequin or on model.
See Softgoods WorkNot sure which one fits? Tell Paul what you're shooting.
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Why Chicago Brands Choose Us
We've been shooting product photography in Chicago for more than two decades. In that time we've worked with independent brands, regional retailers, national CPG companies, and agencies. The range of products is wide: beauty, food, apparel, electronics, housewares, sporting goods, and more.
What doesn't change is the approach: clean pre-production, efficient shoot days, and images that are ready to use when they arrive. Tell us what you need and we'll handle the rest.
You get creative direction and production in one place, so campaign-quality work can happen in a single studio day, with no agency layer in between.
Not in Chicago? Many brands ship their products to our studio instead of traveling.
What to Expect
From first contact to final delivery, here's how a shoot works in our studio.
Get a Quote
Tell us your product list, shot count, and intended use. Start with our project brief template to organize your details, then we'll send an itemized quote, usually within one business day.
Pre-Production
We confirm shot lists, surface selections, propping, and any reference imagery. You know exactly what's being shot before shoot day.
Shoot Day
Shoots can last anywhere from one day to several days, depending on the number of products and complexity. You're welcome to be on set, or we can use our live tethering software so you can see your images as we shoot.
Retouching
Every image goes through retouching in-house: color correction, background cleanup, and any product-specific fixes.
Delivery
Final files delivered via download link. High-res TIFFs and web-optimized JPEGs, organized and labeled, ready to use across every channel. Your delivery date is confirmed in your proposal, before you book.
Product Photography Pricing in Chicago
Ecommerce and on-white product photography at our Chicago studio runs $50 to $150 per final image, depending on volume and complexity. Commercial and lifestyle shoots with full set production run higher.
The number moves with how many final images you need and how involved the setup is. Smaller catalog jobs are priced per image. Larger shoots with many SKUs usually work better on a day rate.
Retouching is included in every quote. You get an itemized number from your product list before shoot day.
Use the cost calculator for a ballpark, read the Chicago product photography cost guide for ranges by shoot type, or get a direct quote.
How to Choose a Chicago Product Photography Studio
Ask to see work in your category. We'll send examples close to what you're bringing in.
Ask where they shoot. We work in our own dedicated Chicago product photography studio in West Town, so the lighting and sets are the same every time you come back.
Ask how the shoot gets planned. Every shoot here is planned before shoot day. See what a real commercial photography brief looks like.
Common Questions
What's the difference between commercial and ecommerce photography?
Ecommerce shots show what the product is: clean, spec-compliant, and built for scale. Commercial work is built around a concept, with set design and a specific visual direction for advertising or a campaign. Most brands end up needing both, and we can cover both in a single shoot day when it's planned for.
Do you shoot lifestyle photography in studio or on location?
Both. Our West Town studio can be configured for a wide range of lifestyle scenarios, from kitchen and bathroom setups to styled flat lays and tabletop scenes. For shoots that require a specific real-world environment, we can also work on location around Chicago. The right call depends on the look you're going for and what your budget allows. We'll work through that together during pre-production.
Can we combine multiple types in one day?
Yes, and it's often the most efficient way to build out a complete image library. A common approach: on-white ecommerce shots paired with styled lifestyle setups in the same day. You leave with two distinct types of imagery from a single shoot. The key is planning it properly in pre-production so transitions between setups are smooth and nothing gets rushed.
Do you provide creative direction?
Yes, and we do this for brands of all sizes. Not every company has an in-house creative director or the budget to bring in an agency. We can guide you through visual direction, set design, and aesthetic decisions so they serve the business goal behind the imagery. Tell us what brands inspire you, what you want to avoid, and who your customer is. That's enough to build from.
Where is Zimmerman Photo located?
Our studio is in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago at 333 N Oakley Blvd, Suite 106, Chicago, IL 60612. It's a full-service production space with multiple shooting areas: a white sweep, configurable lifestyle sets, and a dedicated client area.
How do I get a quote for a Chicago product photography shoot?
Use our contact form or call 773-771-1106. We'll ask about your product, the number of SKUs, the types of shots you need (on-white, lifestyle, commercial), and your timeline, then send an itemized quote, usually within one business day.
