[mozumder]

Photographic lighting is such an overlooked skill. Commercial photographers spend years crafting this skill. You can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars just on lighting, where one umbrella reflector, with no electronics, can cost $11k.

Here's an example of an iPhone product shot: https://fstoppers.com/video/bts-how-apples-product-photograp...

Each specular highlight & complementary shadow contrast is put in on purpose, with its own lighting/card/reflector.

[fredley]

I had no idea these were photography, I always assumed they were renders.

[pasta]

Related to this: when Ikea started using 3D models in their brochures photographers were teaching the 3D modelers how to lighten the products. And visa versa a lot of photographers became interested in 3D modeling.

[aw3c2]

Why do they bother photographing real models if they end up filling their screens in Photoshop in the end anyways?

[brudgers]

My guess: legal requirements regarding "truth in advertising."