Tips For Great Product Photography

• By Sarah
• General News
• 1261 Views
• 02nd November 2022

Product photography is key to creating a great ecommerce site. High quality images which are thoughtfully shot can mean the difference between a visitor and a customer on your product page. Here are some tips to create stand out images which will show off your products to best advantage and draw in your target customers.

 

Decide on the style of the photos

Product photos can show the product on its own, usually against a solid backdrop, or they can show it in the context in which it is intended to be used. Which style you choose will probably depend on the type of product, as well as your overall brand message.

For example, if the overall lifestyle of your target audience is a big part of your marketing strategy, you will probably want to include plenty of active photos showing the product being used, whether that’s in an aspirational kitchen or living room, or in the great outdoors.

You can include a mixture of the two styles, if you want some minimalist shots to show detailed close ups of the product, and show it from different angles.

 

 

Don’t sweat the equipment

If you are a small business, and you don’t have a high-end 50-megapixel camera with a screw-on lens at your disposal, don’t worry about it too much. Modern smartphones have perfectly acceptable camera lenses, and the images can be optimised afterwards with an editing program.

However, one piece of equipment which is important whether you are using a smartphone or a camera is a tripod. This will ensure that all your photos are taken from a consistent height and distance, which will look far more professional when displayed together on your product page.

 

Get the lighting right

Lighting is key to taking good quality images. Natural light, where just the light of the sun is used, creates a softer effect. This is the best choice for outdoor products, and lifestyle shots featuring people or interiors. It’s more flattering than harsh artificial light, and you will have fewer shadows which obscure some of the detail.

Artificial light is light produced from a bulb, or any other source other than daylight. It is suited to products where you want to show off the details and add more definition. If you want to diffuse some of the light in the photograph, you can use a reflector card positioned opposite your main light source.

 

Experiment with composition

If you are using a backdrop or props to add context to your images, you will need to make sure that these work to enhance the product, rather than distract from it. Arrange props so that they draw the eye into the picture, towards the main subject.

Add pops of contrasting colour to add life and interest to photos with muted hues. For example, a few sprigs of greenery can add the finishing touch to kitchenware photos. Experiment with overhead shots and side views, and take multiple shots of each product. It is easy to delete any you don’t need afterwards.

 

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