High-quality product images are vital when it comes to the success of most brands and businesses online. In fact, it’s been shown over and over again that consumers are more likely to purchase products from an ecommerce website with enticing, visually stunning photos as opposed to those with low-quality, boring images. That’s why Thrive Product Studio would like to provide you with some professional product photography tips for those attempting to do it yourself for the best results possible.
Product Photography Tips
Camera
First, and foremost, it’s important to NEVER use your cellphone. It’s not because we’re camera snobs, it’s because of your cellphone camera lens. The wide angle of your cellphone camera can change and distort the view of your product. Furthermore, if you’ve spent thousands of dollars designing, developing, and manufacturing your products, you want them to look their best. There’s just no way you can achieve the same clarity, sharpness, and perspective with a cellphone than you would with a decent camera. Even worse, if you don’t have adequate lighting, cellphone images can come out grainy.
If you are serious about selling your products and presenting them in the best way possible, it’s important to either hire a professional product photography service like Thrive Product Studio or invest in a good camera. You don’t have to spend thousands on expensive equipment. Instead, you can get a good, entry-level camera for as little as $300. Then, take the time to play with the settings or shoot in automatic mode to achieve the best possible photos.
Background
Secondly, when it comes to achieving the best possible product photos, it’s important not to use cluttered or distracting backgrounds. Setting your products on a desk, table, or kitchen counter just won’t cut it. Your products need to stand out and appear as if they are the only thing that matters.
That’s why it’s imperative to use a pure, white, uncluttered background with proper lighting. This helps to emphasis on your product without any distractions. Furthermore, white background images are almost always required on most ecommerce selling platforms like Amazon. Why? They convey important information to online buyers and aid in their purchasing decisions. However, you don’t want to use any standard, white, bed sheet. Instead, take the time to go to your local art store to get some white drawing paper on a roll. Place the roll up high on a shelf and let it drape down over your shooting area to create a seamless, smooth background.
Lifestyle Photography Shots
Third, don’t miss out on the great lifestyle product photography shots. People love seeing how they can use your product in real life. Take the time to show your product being used and enjoyed by others. You can do this in your own home, office, or even a local park using friends or family as models. Keep in mind that you’re not just selling a product, you are selling an entire experience. People purchase products to solve problems and enhance their daily lives. The models you use should effectively convey the happy emotions people can expect to experience when they purchase your products.
Angles
Fourth, never rely on the same boring, static shots to sell your products. Instead, offer different angles for customers to view your products. If you’re unsure of how to do this, take the time to research your competitors to see what they are doing with their photos and do your best to emulate them. Shooting from multiple angles helps to enhance your products. You can try higher or lower angles and shots from the left, right, and behind. Also, never forget any appropriate close-ups of important details and special features.
Lighting
Last, but not least, it’s important to never rely on the built-in flash of your camera when it comes to high-quality product photography. A direct flash can make your products look very unflattering. Instead of purchasing expensive lighting equipment, however, you can up your game by getting some affordable desk lamps or work lights at your local home improvement store. Then, make sure the White Balance is set to Auto on your camera.
*The key to great lighting is to use at least two different lights and place them on each side of your product. Never set your lighting on the product straight-on. You’ll also want to experiment with different angles to see what looks the best and be sure to shift the lights or your camera angle to avoid any unwanted glares if your product is shiny.
Thrive Product Studio
If the DIY product photography tips above don’t work out for you, you can always hire the professionals at Thrive Product Studio to get the job done for an affordable price. Sending your products to us can save you time and money when it comes to getting the high-quality images you need. We’ll take the pictures and edit them for you, saving you time and resources. Want more information? Contact us by filling out our online form or call us at 1.877.681.0980.
