Beginner’s Guide to Product Photography

Are you looking to make your product photos pop off the webpage?

There's more to product photography than just point and shoot. You want your items to tell a story. It should emphasise the features and provide all the reasons why the viewer should add it to their cart.

However, you don't need to hire a studio to produce eye-catching images. You just need to learn some product photography basics. The best place to start is with this beginner's guide to help sharpen your skills and your photos:

What Equipment do you Need for Product Photography?

If you already own an SLR or another high-end camera with 50 megapixels and an assortment of lenses, then you'll definitely want to use this to take your product photos. However, it's not vital to purchase this equipment to create striking imagery.

In fact, you can use your current mobile phone for product photography. Many of the newer models feature high-end lenses and a variety of settings that allow you to shoot in different types of environments.

It is a good idea to invest in a tripod and a grip. This equipment can hold your camera in place and allow you to create consistency across your gallery of images. You could go with a traditional tripod, but a flexible model provides you with more range. Once you know the tripod you want, choose a compatible grip so it can hold your phone in place.

What Lighting Should You Use for Product Photography?

Lighting can be your best friend or your worst enemy when it comes to product photography. When you get it just right, it can elevate critical features that can be the deciding factor to whether your buyer clicks the buy now button or leaves your website.

Natural light

Natural light is ideal for outdoor product photography. It should be used on materials that are not meant to be used indoors or for most fashion shoots featuring models. If you're trying to create a story or emphasise the item in specific surroundings, then utilise natural light for your product photography.

Artificial light

Your other option is artificial light from ring lamps or other bulbs. This type of lighting is perfect for highlighting details and features of the product. You might want to consider using a fill light or bounce card to soften the shadows. For a fill light, place it directly opposite your primary light source. You can use bounce cards on professional and mobile cameras. On an SLR, they will attach to the flashbulb, while on a mobile, they stand opposite the location of the artificial light source.

Lastly, try to avoid combining your light sources. For example, don't add natural light when using lamps or bulbs. It can soften the image too much. In the reverse situation, it can make the product look too sharp. So try to stick to one primary source.

How Should You Position Products for Photos?

The last step to creating iconic product photography is positioning your items. The key is choosing a backdrop that tells a story. It might be in a real-world environment, or it could be a simple white background.

If you're planning an outdoor shoot, then you'll want to use the Portrait Mode setting to take the photo. It will help keep the focus on the product and blurs everything else around it. Buyers will clearly know what you're selling and what they're purchasing.

You're going to want to create a sweep for white backgrounds instead of using a wall. Today's cameras can pick up the most minute detail. Most walls aren't the smooth surfaces you expect them to be. But a sweep, which is a large sheet of paper, can curve up against a wall behind the product to keep the attention on the item you're selling.

How Important is Product Photography to Ecommerce Stores?

One of the advantages that brick and mortar stores have over ecommerce businesses is that shoppers can pick up items with their hands and examine them thoroughly. That's why you need eye-catching product photography that captures the buyer's imagination and showcases all of the details and features the customer is looking for.

Fortunately, you don't need to rent out a studio or purchase expensive equipment. You can create engaging product photography using your mobile phone and this handy guide.

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