Product photography is the act of presenting a product in a photogenic manner. Photographing a picture so that it appears desirable is essential for selling something. This photograph will help you to persuade customers to purchase the product.
No matter what you are selling, the aesthetic of the product photo can have a massive impact on sales. To make a product appear irresistible, you should follow these product photo top tips:
1. Proper Lighting Is Essential
Lighting is vital for ensuring that your product looks exactly as it does in person (see also “Product Photography Techniques For Beginners“). With improper lighting, the color of the product could be altered, causing it to look completely different. As a result, lighting will be especially important for clothing products.
Ideally, you should use natural lighting for your commercial photos. This sunlight will help you to create a softer and more natural image. Not to mention, it will not distort the color of the product.
It is especially recommended that you use natural lighting for products like garments and food. Natural lighting will also be advised if the background of the image is important.
For instance, you may be selling a household product like a cushion, which you may plan on photographing with a homely backdrop. Unfortunately, it may not always be possible to get natural lighting for your photography.
For instance, you may be taking photos in a dark room or during the evening when the sunlight is limited. In this case, artificial lighting will need to be utilized.
Artificial lighting can come in numerous forms, such as candles or light bulbs. Just make sure that the lighting will not alter the color of the image too much. In addition, you must avoid making this lighting too harsh.
2. Use The Right Equipment
Though you should preferably use a proper camera, a smartphone will suffice. Smartphone cameras are becoming increasingly advanced, meaning that you do not have to invest in a professional camera. After all, these devices can be rather expensive.
A smartphone will be especially worthwhile if you are merely photographing a product to sell on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or a similar platform.
To improve the quality of your photo, regardless of whether you are using a smartphone or a professional camera, a tripod should also be used. If you want to save money, you can invest in a mini tripod.
Tripods are used to hold a camera, allowing you to take consistent and stable photos. They will also help to reduce blur. This will cause your product photos to have a more professional look.
3. Consider The Background
When setting up the composition for your product photo, you shouldn’t just consider the aesthetics of the product itself. You also need to take the background into account. Specifically, you should attempt to establish a scene when taking this photo.
The background can help to convince someone to buy your product. This is because the background and any props that you use will allow you to create an atmosphere.
The background and props that you should use will depend on what type of product you’re using. For example, if you are attempting to sell a lamp, you will need to create a homely scene.
Meanwhile, if the product that you are photographing is a notebook, you will want to create a studious and academic vibe. You can do this by making an office scene in which you can photograph the product.
When establishing this scene, you shouldn’t just consider the vibes, but also the colors. You might want to use contrasting colors to highlight the product. Alternatively, complementary colors can be used to create a more harmonious image.
To draw focus to the product, you should choose a plain background and remove any props. Neutral colors, such as white and cream, are ideal for a more focused approach.
4. Experiment With Camera Angles
In commercial photography, different angles will help you to showcase various elements of the product. Therefore, it is worth taking pictures of the product from different angles.
These varying angles will also mean that you don’t have to write a detailed product description. This is because these different angles can be uploaded to the e-commerce platform, permitting customers to see lots of different sides of the product.
Here are five different camera angles that you may want to try for your products:
Bird’s eye angle: this angle will involve taking a picture of the product from above. Namely, it is taken from between a 40-degree angle and a 90-degree angle.
Eye-level angle: commonly used in portrait photography, this is merely the act of taking a photo level with the subject’s eyes.
Low-angle: this is taken from below eye level so that the viewer is looking up at the product.
The best angle will depend on the type of product you are selling. Not to mention, it will be impacted by the composition of your shot.
5. Utilize A Sweep
A sweep is a widely-used technique in photography. Essentially, this technique will involve taking a picture of a subject against a plain background. This technique aims to remove any blemishes that could distract the viewer.
A sweep will be formed of a sheet of paper, which will be attached to the wall. The paper will be positioned in a curved fashion to eliminate imperfections.
This is a simple technique that will elevate your photography and draw extra attention to the product. Typically, these sweeps come in neutral colors. However, you could use a more vibrant sweep for a bolder look.
6. Test The Rule Of Thirds
The Rule of Thirds is an essential concept in photography that will help you to compose the perfect shot. This is a form of guideline that will involve dividing an image into nine sections by imagining two horizontal lines and two vertical lines.
According to this rule, you should position the focal point of your photo so that it is in one of the four intersections. This will help you to highlight the product, allowing it to catch the eye of potential customers.
This is merely a design philosophy. Feel free to work outside of the Rule of Thirds if you are aiming to create more unique images. Simply imagine that these guidelines are present when composing the picture.
7. Try Using Portrait Mode
If you are using your smartphone for your product photos, it’s worth trying portrait mode. This popular phone camera setting works by establishing a depth-of-field effect.
Typically used for photographing people, this mode can also be utilized for product photography. Often, the background of the image will be blurred slightly, drawing significant attention to the focal product.
This will ensure that the background does not distract the viewer. Likewise, many professional cameras will also have portrait modes that you can use for this photography. This is the ideal setting if you want to achieve a more simplistic aesthetic for a product.
8. Show The Product Being Used
The majority of product photos will merely want shots of the product itself. While this approach tends to result in aesthetically pleasing product photos, it is not always the most dynamic approach.
For more compelling photographs, you might want to show the product in use. These photo shoots are also an outstanding opportunity to show off some of the features of the product.
For clothing, an image of someone wearing the garment will help customers to better understand its fit.
9. Reflect Popular Brands
If you’re struggling to think of the right composition for a product, it can be worth taking inspiration from well-known brands. You can find product photography images from these brands and see how they have been composed.
Think about what big brands are selling similar products to you. Then, search the social media accounts for these brands to check how they advertise their products.
When reviewing these images, you should try to think about what works well. This way, you can try to replicate these qualities in your photos.
You could consider the props that have been used in the image or the colors that are present in the background. Of course, you should not directly copy a competitor. Instead, you should merely take inspiration from them.
10. Experiment With Different Setups
Finally, we encourage you to experiment with product photography. This is because experimentation will help you to find the perfect picture. Never be afraid to try something different in photography.
Feel free to experiment with different elements of the photo. You can try placing the product in different positions. Alternatively, you can utilize various props and backgrounds. You can also adjust the lighting.
Once you have taken numerous different shots in a range of compositions, you can review all these photos. This will allow you to find your favorites.
Final Thoughts
Product photography is an art. As a result, you should feel free to get creative with it. You can either opt for a more simplistic approach or something more extravagant depending on your preferences. By following these tips, you can create high-quality product images.
Hey everyone, and welcome to LemonadeAndLenses.com. My name is Laura and I am the founder of this site!
For as long as I can remember, I have loved taking photographs. There is nothing I love more than looking back through old pictures, and having all of the memories come flooding back.
If you want to learn about how to take professional images, and to run your own photography business, then I can help you out, here at Lemonade And Lenses.
