Beginner's Guide to Product Photography

If an image as valuable as thousands of words, then engaging product photography is as worthy as millions of visitors for a website. I do not have data for the statement to be justified (yet). Nevertheless, learning product photography tips can quench your thirst to become a successful product photographer. Also, DIY product photography and photo editing can be proved to be a precious asset in improving your website strategy. 

Nowadays, 51% of the USA people consider online shopping more convenient rather than traditional. It also stands with proof that around 49% of people still love to buy stuff from a physical shop, where they get the pleasure to touch and feel pieces of products before handing over the money. However, it’s enough discussion; now, let’s get into the deep knowledge of product photography tips

 

What is product photography?

Product photography is a kind of commercial photography. This genre of photography has a target to present a product on e-commerce websites with an eye-catchy look. Basically, product photographs are used for commercial purposes such as catalogs, brochures, and advertisements. Also, product pictures play a significant role in yearly sales improvement. 

The primary reason behind this technique is to create a connection with the customers. For this reason, most e-commerce businesses use this procedure to get people to buy their products.

When you photograph products, you should anticipate the overall look and feel of the image. The lighting, color, and composition must be appropriate. It would help if you also made sure that the colors are bright and appealing to customers.

There are many ways in which you can take photos of products. You can either use a camera or your mobile phone to get a charismatic picture. Here, You can find the significant difference among multiple product photographs.

 

Instruments Need for Product Photography

Taking product photos demands several instruments. For instance, fixing product background, lighting, camera, tripod, and so on for better quality images. As a beginner in product photography, you might want to know the instruments in detail.

 

Table for Product Photography

Tabletop photography is a famous option for still-life photographs. This type of photography focuses on covering the object situated on the top of the table. Tabletop photography is especially suitable for food and product photographs. Around 24 to 27-inch wide table is considered a standard size for product photography.

product photography tips on fixing a table

Tape to Secure the Table Border

Based on the table border you close up with, you need to utilize tape to secure the border for better comfort. As a result, nothing to fear about falling down a product to the ground.

product photography tips on using tape

Product Photography Tips to Use Arqspin 

Ecommerce product photography means clicking a product from various angles. Even sometimes, a product demands a 360-degree shoot for a better explanation. 360 product photography needs a strong effort from a photographer. Here Arqspin stands with great support to cover 360-degree images. Also, the revolves facility of Arqspin helps a product to get a professional 3D view. 

use arqspin as a beginner product photographer

Camera 

Thinking about selecting a camera for product photography?  Having a  professional camera is a plus point. But If you are on a tight budget, you would be surprised to know a standard camera can give engaging images. So never go for the crazy camera system; the studio’s perfect arrangement will deliver your outstanding product photos.

Don’t forget to utilize your smartphone. In today’s technology, smartphones have a great reputation for their cameras. Even under a proper lighting setup, a mobile camera can capture a product like a pro camera. So, stick with a camera that you have and don’t get disappointed with an expensive one.    

Still, if you are enthusiastic enough and ready to buy a high-quality camera, read our blog’s best camera for product photography in 2022.    

product photography tips to select camera

Tripod 

As your hands’ movements will be the reason for camera shaking, the result ends with blur images. Remember, it’s very critical to get a perfect caption with raw hands, and here the necessity of a tripod comes up. You may already think about why to buy this redundant piece of equipment for product photography. A tripod in a product photography studio is a basic demand for photo season. Placing a tripod will show you a great distinction for clarity, visibility, and quality in e-commerce product photography.

tripod for product photography

Buying one isn’t a big deal. However, you will find two types of tripods are available in the market.

Traditional Tripod 

This type of tripod is mostly suitable for still life product photography. A traditional tripod is less expensive than the modern one, but it does not have the technical facility of flexibility. 

Flexible Tripod

A flexible tripod has been created using a modern technique. It allows the user to move a camera around the place without any shaking. So, users get the opportunity to click a product from various angles without interruption.

Lenses

Selecting lenses for product photography is a concerning decision. First, you have to consider the size of the subject, lighting, place, and the distance between the camera and subject. Now, you are ready to decide which one will give you excellent performance. Based on my experience, I would like to suggest Canon EF 24-70mm and Sony FE 50mm. These two types of lenses are renowned for product photography, and also the price is comparatively low.  

tips on lenses for product photography

Light

In general, three lighting types are commonly used in product photography studios; Fluorescent, tungsten, and LED. All are having the support of great output in product photography lighting. So, select one from your personal preference and experience. However, Fluorescent is mostly available in photography studios because it never gets overheated.  

tips to set up light for product photography

Bounce board

A Bounce board is also known as a reflector board. It is a plain piece of material with a reflective surface required to be used as an alternative light source. Bounce boards usually contribute to creating a new border and directional light source to manage light sufficiency. Check out these 10 best product photography backdrops or bounce boards.

fixing bounce board for product photography

Familiarity with various product photography tips

As a beginner in the product photography field, you may be searching for a guideline from a veteran. Today, here you will discover various product photography tips shared by several expert product photographers. 

 

Building a Product Photography Studio

The first and most significant product photography tip I would like to indicate is creating a photography studio. Often people are concerned, building up a product photography studio is both a lengthy and expensive process. But you would be happy to know that the whole concept is totally wrong. Creating a photography studio is not more difficult and also requires a limited amount of money. A single table or 10 feet by 10 feet room would be enough space to transform into a studio for product photography. Just make sure no kids, housemates, pets, or any interruption exists in the place. Also, emphasize the following proper product photography guideline to set up all the equipment at a perfect place. Don’t worry; by the time you read the blog, you will learn proper instruction on setting up a product photography studio. 

product photography studio

Product Background 

Preparing a white background is not an easy task to accomplish. Product background not like placing a table against the white wall. It means a neat and clear view of the background. Nevertheless, maintenance of a white wall is not easy to carry because whitewall demands repaint periodically. 

So, in that situation, fixing a sweep as the image background is the perfect decision. A sweep is a giant sheet of paper covering a product’s ground level and sticks with the wall surface. The sweeping curve is invisible on camera, and pictures captured under the sweep carry little blemish. Even if you take a shoot with your smartphone, you will get a flawless photo.   

create a background for product photography

Setting up Camera

Even though you are a novice as a product photographer, still it’s better to think like a professional. When you’re in the field of product photography, always pay attention to cover high-quality images. Fixing ISO, aperture, and shutter speed settings of a camera will serve you outstanding quality product images. Now, giving a suitable aperture level for a particular category of images, you need to find the F-stops setting in a camera. Besides, the aperture level is measured between F1 to F22. The lesser the aperture level, the better light you get to your camera, and further your shutter speed also increases.

However, keeping the camera and products within a standard distance is necessary. And make sure that you never have to use the zooming option for product photography because it causes poor quality pictures. 

fixing a camera

Product Photography Tips for Lighting

Product photography for beginners” when this term comes up, along with that a question also rise; do beginners understand the theory of lights? Most of the novice try to jump into the product photography field for instant success. But to achieve a place in this photography field requires an exact comprehension of the light theory. Fundamentally, experts detected two kinds of lights for product photography. Such as Natural Light, Artificial Light, but you have to decide based on your product which one to choose as your main light source.

 

Natural Light 

Natural light indicates the sunlight, and it’s straightforward to understand. It is also famous as soft light because the sun delivers a vast and tender light rather than fluorescent and LED light. Therefore, natural light is considered more comfortable for e-commerce product photography. Specially, When the product is meant to click outside of the studio or the product is taken by a human.

utilize the natural light

Artificial Light

Candle, fire, and mostly used light bulbs are commonly regarded as artificial light. Artificially created light is also known as hard light. It works the same as sunlight, but it focuses directly at the center of a product. Artificial light contributes immensely to highlight a few specific portions of the product surface, which attract the clients. Hence, this genre of light has great importance in e-commerce product photography.  

learn to use artificial light for product photography

However, never try to mix up these two types of light simultaneously for the same product. Remember, adding natural and artificial light together may distract the sharpness of your photos.

 

Different Types of Product Photography

A product photoshoot is an art form that can be used to create beautiful and exciting images of products for advertising or catalogs. There are several different types of commercial photography, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. In this portion, we will go through the most common types of product photography setups, which may help you expand your business:

 

Solo Shot

While presenting your product to the customers, the solo shot is the best choice to attract the consumer’s attention. There is no need to hire a professional photographer as you can easily create photos with just a few clicks. You only need a good camera with a long lens and some creativity.

product photography
Different Types of Product Photography

E-commerce sites like Amazon, eBay, and Alibaba give priority to this kind of shot. Product photography can be used for a variety of purposes, including advertising, branding, and product marketing.

 

Multiple product Photography

Nowadays, it is very easy to capture photos, but there is another thing that can make it better and more beautiful which is multiple product photography. This is the combination of two or more products in one photo and it is really helpful in many ways. A beautiful picture can create a wonderful impression of your personality and business.

 

product photography
Multiple product Photography

Lifestyle product shot: 

It’s occasionally necessary to place a related product in the photograph in order to show the product’s actual size and prevent the customer from being misled. In these circumstances, universal objects are required so that the customer can see and compare them.

An excellent technique to depict proportions is to place a human next to or utilize an object. Because white photography alone may not be apparent enough in some products, the scale makes all the difference. As a result, the customer can quickly figure out if the product is right for him and whether he should get the bigger or smaller version.

product photography
Lifestyle product shot

In this case, a model represents himself/herself as a shopper in order to entice the buyer. In this manner, shoppers can get a clear idea of the product. Putting a model next to the product makes it smoother, and consumers can judge the product properly.

 

Product Photography with White Background 

For tangible things offered on websites, branding is required and advantageous. Your product image must appear precise and attractive when it comes to brand photography. As a result, product photography images with a white background are the best alternative for achieving this look and feel. If the image is visually appealing, they will want to buy it right away.

product photography
Product Photography with White Background

Colorful products with a white background magnify the product’s view. It gives a clear picture of the goods and keeps customers from being distracted. The only thing here is to adjust the shadow, which gives a realistic exposure.

 

 Studio shots

The specific type of photography that we immediately connect with this phrase is the scale shot. These pictures, which were taken in a studio, show things in the most simple way possible and are used a lot in e-commerce and directories.

The photographer must adapt to the different aspects of each product’s textures, packaging, and materials, yet the overall result is always consistent and identical. Whether it’s a piece of clothing, a pair of shoes, or a bottle of perfume, the result will be a picture that shows the product’s features in the most transparent way possible. In this kind of photography, it is often necessary to take pictures of all products at once in a set studio to make sure they all look the same and the light direction stays the same.

product photography
Studio shots

 

This is not a creative type of photography. Some shadows are sharpened in this type of product shooting to show off the product’s shape, and the background color might change depending on what you want to show off.

 

 Environmental Photography:

For some products, presenting the product in a genuine location, contextualized with a lifestyle, maybe the ideal approach. Many businesses are using this type of photography because they want to show how their history and beliefs go with each of their goods.

product photography
Environmental Photography

It is often utilized in the fashion and decoration industries to promote a certain level of life and elicit empathy from the target audience, who share similar interests and recognize themselves in the photographs. The brand is selling more than one product; it is selling the client’s desired moment and atmosphere, and as a result, the customer does not make a more emotional purchase and establishes a stronger bond with the brand.

 

 Packaging Photography:

 Customers, believe it or not, are concerned about packaging. Customers expect a seamless online shopping experience from the moment they land on your website to the moment they pay for and receive their purchases.

product photography
Packaging Photography

In the end, it doesn’t matter if your product is excellent or not if your presentation is poor. And, if your products come in excellent, customized packaging, why not feature them. On your product page, shoppers can get a sense of what to expect.

 

Descriptive Shot

Detail photos are helpful for products with minor subtleties that require a close-up, such as jewelry and other small objects. They assist in highlighting specific product aspects that a typical snapshot might miss.

product photography
Descriptive Shot

Particular camera settings and lighting are frequently required for this kind of shoot, to capture those elegant pictures.

 

Product photography post-production 

The moment you are done with commercial photography is not the ending part of your job. Now, you carry hundreds, even thousands of product images in your hand as a primary selection. Picking up the best one is the first step of your product photography post-production process. Next, the final touch-up and color correction is the second and last tasks you have left to do.   

 

Final Touch-Ups 

Finally, after all your hard work, you invent every photograph is splendid, yet, you must retouch them a bit. By getting the help of photo editing software, you can make images outstanding and attractive to clients. Based on many professional product photographers’ verdicts, I would recommend Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Lightroom to perform better.

Image editing software will allow you to put and remove the background or overshadow form a product image. Further, you can remove the mannequin and can attach all parts of the garment’s product.  

Are you in a dilemma about which editing service is required for your captions? Don’t worry, read the blog on product photo editing service, and get a proper idea about services in detail.  

 

Keep Original Colors of Products

Distorting product color won’t be a better option; you must stick with the original color. Especially when your taking images of clothes, make sure the true color is visible in photos. Get a proper idea of the top ten color compositions to implement the theory of the true color of a product.

Just place yourself as a consumer, and you ordered a yellow t-shirt as your favorite color. But after getting the product, you see the color is different. Now, what is your reaction? Of course, you are disappointed, right? I believe it creates a gap between a client and a businessman. Also, it causes a lot of returns cloths to the retailer. Therefore, put extra care to preserve the true color of a product and strictly avoid miscommunication between consumers and shoppers.

saving true color

Conclusion 

Finally, we reach the end of our discussion on various product photography tips. And you may now able to understand the value of product images. Bear in mind; images bestow the proper description and fame of your product and company. Also, consumers often ask, are you loyal? Can you really solve their problem? Demonstration of an alluring product image clears all the doubts they have. So, always keep that in your mind while walking into the product photography industry. 

However, please don’t make it mandatory to invest money in every piece of instrument explained. Take action to implement these Product photography tips, not instantly but slowly. Approach each type of equipment and address the improvements. Try to figure out what is most coherent with your product photography studio.       

 

FAQ 

How do I make my own product photography?

DIY product photography is now a common trend. To set up a product photography studio for your own product, follow the instruction.

First, set up your product background. Second, make a proper setting for lighting. Next, choose a perfect camera or a smartphone. After that, collect a tripod if possible or use books to fix a camera at a place. Finally, submit your images on the right hand like Clipping World for further process. 

Why is product photography important?

There is only one purpose; product photography helps in convincing a client to buy a certain product. More commonly, product images enhance the satisfaction level of a consumer. Even perfect photographs explain the product in detail and make purchasers informed of even tiny product features.

How do you avoid reflection in photography?

Reflection in product photography is a major and common problem, but sometimes it is also required. However, to avoid excess reflection, you can use these terms.  

  • Set a bounce card at a reasonable position.
  • If requires to change the position of the Bounce
  • Consider a different time of the day, if sunlight is interrupting 
  • Manage a polarizer and use different lenses

How do I become a product photographer?

Becoming a product photographer is not as simple as click personal images. It needs persistence, hard work, and, most importantly, a proper guideline. Don’t worry; you stick with the instruction you got today, you will get sine gradually in the product photography.