It’s all about making sure your product photography is done in the best way possible. Whether you’re just getting into product photography, or you’re a seasoned photographer, these product photography tips are sure to help you up your game. We’ve put together a list of some great product photography tips that can be used no matter what stage you’re at, and are quite easy to manage with some basic equipment or if you’re on a budget
What is Product Photography?
Before we get started with the best product photography tips out there, we thought it would be best to get started with a little introduction to product photography to help you better utilise some of our favourite product photography tips.
Product photography is a branch of photography aiming at presenting a specific product in an appealing way. This is often targeted at buyers to entice them to purchase specific products. Knowing when to utilise which specific product photography tips can help boost product engagement and success with buyers.
Why is good product photography important?
Now, you already know that the product photography tips listed below are game-changers for the way you photograph products. Here’s why these product photography tips are key to a products success. All of these product photography tips contribute towards making your photographs great. That’s why it is key to know why good product photography is so important. Here’s a few reasons why:
o Website visitors are always engaged by visual content first
o The quality of your photo reflects your brand image and creates a lasting first impression
o Good images resonate with your target audience and keep them coming back
Types of Product Photography
Depending on your product, target audience, and the kind of message you want to portray, product photography can be one of two types:
1. Product-only shots
These show your product from all the relevant angles. Shooting these on a white background further helps by creating a consistent look across your product line
2. Lifestyle shots
These are better suited for social media and blogs. In-context shots help boost emotional engagement.
Both have their own advantages and can be used for the same product as well to show it off in different ways. The product photography tips listed below are a mix of tips for both kinds of product photography. If you are someone who relies on product photography, you need to understand when to use which of the types mentioned above and how to incorporate product photography tips that can help.
Product Photography Tips
Tip #1 - Clean background
Having a clean, white background can make the editing process a whole lot easier. This kind of background is best suited to product-only pictures. One of the fastest and easiest ways to create a seamless white background is white a chair and white craft paper.
Simply clip the craft paper on the top ofthe chair and let in fall over the back and seat to create a smooth seamless background for your product to be placed on.
A white background is also the best way to ensure that all your focus is on the product itself since there is no other distracting elements in the frame.
Tip #2 - Use lighting bounce cards made of foam board
The idea of using natural window lighting for your products is always appealing. However, using window light causes one side to be brightly lit while the other side will have a shadow and be too dark.
Using a white foam board helps bounce light into the shadow area to brighten them up and helps create a more evenly lit picture.
Using a black foam board can help create deeper shadows, which is helpful for white products shot on a white background. Combining both black and white bounce cards and placing them at strategic points just outside the photo can create a more sophisticated lighting setup.
Tip #3 – Position your lighting
Place two light sources on both sides of the product. Make sure these are pointing at the background, not the product. This helps separate the product from the wall.
Aim one light in front of the product and one light above the product. Thus, you can properly illuminate the object while eliminating the casting shadow. More about lighting in this pixpa blog article.
Tip#4 – Pick the right room
The size of the room, the number of windows in it and its shape are just some of the factors that will change the way your product photographs. One of the best ways to get pictures is in a room with large windows next to a wall. The closer you place the product to the window, the softer its shadows will be. Moving it farther away will make the shadows sharper, while the product will be more evenly lit.
Tip #5 - Set up product in middle of the surface
While this may initially seem very simple, setting up your product perfectly can actually take quite a bit of time. However, it is time that is well spent since it really affects the outcome of how your pictures will turn out. There’s lots of tiny movements and adjustments required to get everything lined up but make sure that it is all aligned perfectly.
Tip #6 - No filters
Filters are a tool commonly used by photographers to enhance an image. With product photography, you would want your picture to be as accurate a representation of your product as possible. Therefore, it is better only to do some minor post-production changes in Photoshop.
Tip #7 - Use a bokeh background for lifestyle product photos
Just like with product-only pictures, the product always has to stand out. With lifestyle photos removing everything and having a plain background defeats their very purpose. By using bokeh – a blur effect done by a specific type of lens, you can keep the feel of the lifestyle shot without distracting from the product.
Tip #8 – Use a Tripod
This is again, one of those product photography tips that seems almost redundant. However, most people don’t realise that with product photography the sharpness of the picture is key. Cameras often take longer to focus on smaller details and the stability provided by a tripod can aid its focus by a lot.
How to Choose and Buy a Tripod?
Tip #9 – Use colour theory to your advantage
This product photography tip is great for lifestyle product photography. Colour theory is key to attracting the right customers. By understanding how colours affect human psychology and incorporating it into your product photography, you can influence the way your viewers react to a photo.
Tip #10 – Consistency is Key
All of these product photography tips give you different ideas on how to up your product photography game. There’s no one set style that is the right answer. However, it is important to be consistent with the way you do your product photography. Giving all your images the same look will give your shop a much more cohesive feel and pull it together in a much better way.
Tip #11 - Don’t clutter the set
Avoid making your image way too busy or having too many elements in it. Your goal is to sell the product to the viewer and your aim should be to not distract them from it. Whether through composition or lighting, make sure the product is the centre of attention.
Tip #12 - Pay attention to reflections
It is product photography tips like this that create the difference between good and great product photography. This is a common mistake among new product photographers. If you are not sure how to use a reflection, it is recommended to get rid of it all together. You can either remove it by shifting it yourself so that it’s no longer in the picture or retouch it later.
Tip #13 – Create an emotional connection with your viewers
Whether it’s through the use of nature, pets or even children, create a natural fun vibe that your viewers can relate to and most importantly, one that makes them feel something. The stronger the connection they feel to your product the better the chances of it being successful.
Tip #14 - Take photos from different angles
At the end of the day, your goal is to sell your product. Since customers can’t see the product in real life while online shopping, help them get as close to that experience as possible. Make sure that you take pictures of your product from different angles that capture its details well. Customers like seeing exactly what they’re being and the more details they can see, the better.
These were all the product photography tips we think are the best ways to improve your product photography and get the best value for your money.
Aside from these though, photography is an art and these are all just guidelines to help you start your creative journey. We hope this helps you come up with some amazing ideas and really takes your product photography to the next level.
