10 Tips for Simple Product Photography
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12.11.2019
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Tips
The number one point to remember with product photography: visual appearance - it’s everything. Whether your product is a hot seller or barely shifts a unit, it all comes down to how it looks in photos. If the image looks nice and the product is presented well, then you are more likely to see those sales roll in.
So, with that in mind, here are 10 essential tips on how to shoot an excellent product photo.
1. Camera
Professional photographers use professional cameras – it makes sense. Although we should note that phone cameras nowadays allow you to take high-quality images too. If you are shooting products without any props (i.e. to be used on a white background), you will want to be able to adjust the aperture for maximal field of depth.
2. Proper lighting
The proper lighting is vital for showing off every aspect of your product. There are two ways to go in this aspect: studio lighting or natural lighting.
Natural lighting is generally available to everyone. You have to be careful with the time of day, however. It is better to shoot when the sunlight is not too harsh, like early morning or late afternoon, or you should be prepared to use a diffuser to soften and adjust the amount of light.
Studio lighting is the better option if your product is primarily indoors or if it has many little details you’d like to show off. Bear in mind, though; it takes a lot of practice to master studio lighting. If you are not a professional photographer, the easiest way to shoot could be with continuous lights instead of traditional studio flashes.
3. Tripod
Shaky hands make blurry photos, and you sure don’t want that. A tripod will keep your camera steady, allow for longer exposure times, and provide a far superior field of depth so that the product will be sharp from every angle.
4. Props
The point of your product photo is to display the product itself, so, when using props, keep them simple, relevant and make sure they match the color scheme. To get a simple, tranquil background, use sweep to eliminate disturbing background lines, corners, and blemishes.
5. Shoot for the edit
When shooting a product, aim only to need to do minimal editing afterward. You want to enhance the image, but not have to change it totally. Minimal editing will give you a more desirable result.
6. Photo editing
Your photos do need editing regardless, so the most straightforward option would be to let a professional do the job (like maskmill 🙂). Mostly, you will want the background removed or changed to white, but you will likely also want some dust cleaning, cropping, and product aligning. If you're going to do it all yourself, a basic photo editing class is strongly recommended.
7. Photo inspiration
Have a product but have no idea how to present it? Well, take a look around the internet, especially for examples of other brands or products you like. There is nothing wrong with looking at others to get the inspiration you need.
8. Multiple shots
Try to get numerous shots of your product from all possible angles, this way you can really show everything your product is about. Better to move or turn your product around too - not the camera.
9. Product in context
From a client’s perspective, they must be able to envision themselves using your product. Perhaps showing your product in action in a natural environment could be the trick to covering this.
10. Range of products
When you have more than one product that falls into the same category, show them all. People are unique, and they all have different tastes too, so the more you show, the more the customer can see themselves using the product, the more sales you are likely to get.
