How to Take Product Photos
This post covers many issues to consider when taking product photos for your small business. You’ll find an overview followed by a unique collection of handpicked resources that go into the fine details.
Lets’ get started!
Do It Yourself or Hire a Pro?
If you have an e-commerce site where you feature thousands of products, it’s worth your while developing your skills.
If you only have a few photos to take, you have the option of hiring a professional. It may cost you a few hundred dollars, but if you’re very busy and don’t have the time to learn, this may be a better option for you.
Define Photo Style
It’s important to consider and define a style for the photos you’ll be taking.
Some of the considerations include:
- Photo size
- Background type
- Single angle or multiple angle photos
- Color or black-and-white
- Image resolution
I think it’s important, especially when using your product photos for an e-commerce site, to keep them similar in style and size.
Will Your Photos Tell a Story?
You may be wondering what I mean by having your photo tell a story.
For example, if you’re selling shoes, you may want to have a model wearing those shoes while out for a night on the town, implying your shoes are the ones you want when getting dressed up for a night out.
Another example is instead of just showing a bottle of cologne. You place a dark background of a man standing in front of an expensive vehicle. The additional image implies that men with expensive tastes use this cologne.
Light, Light and More Light
To get good photos, it’s all about light. The origin of the word ‘photo’ comes from the Greek word for light.
The origin of the word Photography, “writing in light.” comes from a combination of Greek words photo (light) and graphein “scratch,” “carve,” or “write.” Understanding the essence of the word photograph confirms to get a great photo, you need to consider the light!
Natural Light Versus Artificial Light: Which is Better?
Even though the camera was designed for natural light, the world of photography has come a long way. Many advancements allow you to manipulate the light.
Let’s go over a few distinctions.
- Natural light reduces the need for reflectors and diffusers. It’s also easier for the novice photographer.
- Natural light is unreliable. Sometimes you’ll have bright sunny days, while other times you have cloudy, rainy weather with less light.
- Using natural light limits how much time you have to take your photos. What do you do before sunrise or after sunset? Also, taking a photo at high noon differs from the lighting for a sunset shot.
- Artificial light Allows control of the ambiance by using different types of bulbs.
- Artificial light allows you to work anytime, and you don’t need to be worried about weather conditions.
Shadows
You don’t want shadows in the images of your products. You can eliminate them using a reflector. You can use a white box, a piece of bristle board, or purchase a reflector and place it on the side of the product with the shadow, reflecting the light and eliminating the shadow.
Another issue you can come across is uneven lighting on the product. You can reduce the intensity of the light using a diffuser, which will allow your product to show a consistent pattern and a natural look.
Below is a video that looks at the simple methods you can use to eliminate shadows and improve dark and overexposed areas using homemade products
Play With Your Space
Consider where you’ll be taking your photos. For example, will you be taking them outside? Do you have a specific area or room, or will you need to set up your own studio?
You don’t want to work in a very tight area. It’ll be difficult to get the shot you need. A 10×10 foot room or similar is all you’ll need to create a studio suitable for product shoots. Naturally, this won’t work for larger products. For example, if you deal with motorcycles or vehicles or anything large, then you’ll need to take your photo shoots in the garage setting or outdoors.
Photo Studio Considerations:
The section will go over some tips and considerations for setting up your photo studio.
Rent or Build a Studio:
One consideration before getting started is, having a limited number of photos to shoot. You can consider renting out a studio for a few hours. Renting a studio will save you space, time, and money it’ll cost you to set up your own.
Fixed Location or a Portable Studio:
Depending on your needs, you may need a portable studio or create one in your home or workplace. A portable studio is used when a photographer takes photos for events such as school photos. An example of product shoots that may require a portable studio is to feature new products at event shows for reviews.
Some of the things you want to set up in your studio include lights, light modifiers, reflectors, diffusers, nightstands, backgrounds, step ladders, fans, a tripod, clamps, and in some cases, a coffee table, stool, etc.
The lighting in your space is important, especially if you want to take your photos using natural lighting from a window.
Make sure you have enough power bars so you can discreetly plug in the lights and fans.
You can also add shelving away from the photoshoot area to keep your studio neat and tidy.
Create a Bright Background
The best background will depend on your taste.
Taking photos for an e-commerce site will display many products on the same page; therefore, keeping your photos at a similar size and style is important.
When you use a background for your product photos, the background should complement the photo and not be the main focus.
You can use a certain color or use a white background for your products. Try a variation and see what they look like when displayed on your site. A trial will save you a lot of time and effort and allow you to define an appropriate style.
If you’re planning on using an image in the background, you may want to shoot your photos using a green screen. When photos are taken using a green screen, it’s easy to cut out the background and replace it with a new image.
Using a program like Photoshop allows you to select the green color easily. In a few seconds, you can cut and paste your product into the image that contains a background.
If you try that using a white background, it will be difficult to select your product, and that’s why the green screen is useful.
Camera Considerations
Depending on your needs, you may need to purchase professional equipment. If you only have a few photos to take and you have a decent phone, the camera in your phone will do the trick.
If your business is similar to an e-commerce site featuring thousands of photos, you may want to consider purchasing a professional DSLR camera.
Professional cameras allow you to make adjustments and control the outcome of your photos without the need to edit the photo later using an app or photoshop.
If you’re considering a professional camera, you may want to consider the following features to be included:
Screen Display:
A large screen allows you to get an idea of what your shoot will look like before you snap the photo.
Sensor:
A larger light sensor will allow you to capture better photos in low lights.
Interchangeable Lenses:
The lens you use to take photos will make a big difference in the outcome. I had a camera that came with a factory lens, and the outcome was less than impressive. Changing the lens made a big difference. You will want a camera that will allow you to change lenses.
Autofocus Feature:
Having an autofocus option will help you avoid those shots that are out of focus.
Low Noise Processor:
With a low noise processor, you can reduce the noise when taking photos in low light and allow you to take photos with less lighting.
Raw Capture:
The raw capture option allows you to take photos intended to be edited using software like photoshop.
Connectivity:
If you’re purchasing a new camera, you may want to consider getting one that allows you to transfer the images through WiFi and or Bluetooth.