To impress your customers and increase your ROI, you need to invest in product photography. According to Justuno, 93% of consumers consider visual content as the most important factor in a purchasing decision. If that doesn’t show how vital product photography is, nothing will.
Product Photography Tips You Have to Use For Your Business
Whether you sell products online or stick to traditional media, you can easily reach your target audience by shooting your items with the right equipment, lighting, and editing techniques.
1. Try using a Smartphone Camera First
You don’t need a camera with a 100-millimeter screw-on lens and 50-megapixels to take quality photos; you can make do with your smartphone camera. Newer phones come with powerful camera lenses that let you optimize your shots, but you may need to spend more time editing.
If you plan to snap photos with your phone, you can use editing apps on your phone’s app store. For example, you can reshape product photos with BeFunky’s slimming tool via their app.
2. Shoot From a Tripod for Consistency
A makeshift setup will slide around and make your photos look inconsistent. However, both traditional and flexible tripods can offer support to your camera when you’re taking pictures. You’ll need to purchase a mobile grip extension if you want to hold your phone in place.
Although traditional tripods are more sturdy, we recommend using flexible tripods with bendable legs. For example, this tripod can twist around table legs or be used as a selfie stick.
3. Play With Natural and Artificial Light Sources
Natural light is often preferred by photographers because it creates more natural photographs. At the same time, you have a limited time to use natural light, and some products may look too washed out. If you can’t seem to work with natural light, try artificial light from light bulbs.
Artificial light can highlight small, physical details on products, while natural light can emphasize a product’s surroundings. Regardless of what you use, stick to one light source for consistency.
4. Bounce or Fill Your Light to Soften Shadows
Whenever you use light to snap photos, you have to deal with the shadow. If your products are casting an unflattering shadow, use fill lights or bounce cards to soften them. Fill lights counterbalance your main light source, while bounce cards bounce a primary light source back.
If you’re using a smartphone, use a standalone bounce card, as you can’t attach standalone bounce cards on your phone. You can replace your fill light with a bounce card if you wish.
5. Experiment With Portrait Mode and Sweep
In the past, products were mostly pictured in landscape mode because they could take up more space in the magazine. Now, portrait mode is preferred, as it can be viewed on smartphones. Plus, portrait mode can better display dynamic backgrounds and product-appropriate scenery.
However, if you’re using a white background, sweep can remove the line that separates the background and the surface, emphasizing the product’s details and eliminating distractions.
6. Shoot Multiple Images, Angles, and Models
Your customers want to see action shots and casual photos as well as professional pictures of your products. You should include photos of your product on a black or white background, so your customers can see the finer details. Try taking pictures of the product from multiple angles.
If you’re photographing a fashion product, hire a model to wear your designs. This helps your customers see what the product will look like on their body rather than lying across a table.
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