Do you want to take professional product photographs but don't have a studio? Are you a business owner who wants to take professional looking product photos without having to pay a photographer? Don't worry this article has you covered.
In this article we will tell you how to make the most of simple every day items which will greatly improve your photos. This will help you produce polished images to help you attract clients and get maximum engagement.
Before we get to the tips on how to take product photos without a studio, let's get down to basics first.
What is Product Photography?
Product photography is the practice of showcasing products through specific techniques and attractive settings. This will, in turn, entice potential clients and buyers to purchase those products.
Product photography plays a vital role in online and offline advertising campaigns. Pictures and images are needed for company websites, online ads, catalogs, magazine ads, brochures, and billboards. These images are mostly directed to the consumer.
Why Are Product Photos Important?
1. Quality photos and visuals enhance the product's relevance to the client or buyer. Many consumers feel that images are essential in their purchasing decisions. Photos help them to perceive your product's quality and value and can be used to speak directly to your target audience.
2. Images are an essential element to branding, which makes up your company's identity and influence decisions that your company makes, such as:
● The company's social media posts
● The company's website updates
● The company's marketing efforts.
● And images to be used for your brand.
3. These images will be used to grab the attention, instill trust, and invite potential clients and buyers to give your products a look.
Product Photography Tips
If this is your first time shooting product photography, it may seem overwhelming. But eventually, it will start to feel natural. It is a process that needs to go through refinement and optimization.
When shooting for one brand or one catalog it is very important that you develop a set of rules, backgrounds, techniques and lighting and stick with them, you are much more likely to get consistent images this way. Consistency is important for brand identity and produces a much more professional look.
Below are our DIY tips for product photography.
Set Up the Background and Product
Getting the correct background for your products is worth it, as it will help to simplify your editing process afterward. Pick out a white backdrop, since it's easier to remove when retouching images.
If you're on a budget and looking to improvise a background, here are two ways to do so:
● A shooting table: you can easily set this up at home or work and can be done under $20. Buy a roll of craft paper and tape it on a table and the wall behind, to get a nice soft background.
● A light tent: this approach works for smaller products, which you can place inside the box. The idea is to create a translucent box designed to help light to be distributed evenly around the product.
Set Up Your Light Tent / Light Box
What you need:
● Large plastic storage container (capable of fitting your product)
● White Paper or cloth
● Tape
● Light source (natural or artificial)
First, take your plastic storage container and lay it down on its side without the lid.
Then cover the bottom with some white paper and tape. Do the same to the sides to act as diffusers, (you can use a cloth for this part if you want) this will help to distribute the light and takes away unnecessary shadows.
You can then use an artificial light source if you have the budget, by placing them on either side of your container. If you prefer using natural lighting, place your light box next to the window.
Set up your product inside your light box or on your table making sure it is in front of your background on a stable and flat surface. Take some time to adjust the lighting so it is just right and you will be ready to shoot.
Getting Your Lighting Right
ESDDI 20"X28" Softbox Photography Lighting Kit sells for about $60
The quality of your images will rely heavily on one factor: light. While setting up lighting can be a very tedious task, it pays off when done correctly and can give beautiful results.
Of course, you have the choice of using natural light as outlined above, but if your budget allows it, we suggest to use studio lights.
If you want to save money you can purchase two clip-on light clamps (ones with string bulbs go for about $30), or if you have a higher budget, then you can get two softboxes for a total of $60.
You should always use two light sources. Depending on the results you're looking for, one light should serve as your key light, and the other should be your backlight. You can also play with the shadows by using white paper or cloth to diffuse the light.
Take your time to arrange the lights around the product — manipulate the distances and angles to get evenly distribute lights, use other tools such as cardboard to soften shadows, and diffuse light where needed. Once you have figured out the setup you want, record it to get the same consistent results for all of your shots.
Choose the Right Equipment
Using the right equipment will make your work a lot easier and will help to get the professional results you aim to deliver. Of course, every photographer will need great equipment to keep up with all the photos your client or buyer will demand from you.
Camera
The most crucial element to any product photography is a reliable camera. Lucky for us, the prices of point and shoot cameras, as well as DSLRs, have dropped significantly in the last few years. If you're not sure what kind to use, here are some pointers to keep in mind:
● Stay away from wide angle lens as this will distort the product from its original form.
● Look for the correct aperture depending on the shot. Using a small aperture like f8 or f11 will keep the product in focus and crisp by giving you a wider depth of field.
● Using wide aperture like f2.8 or f4.5 will narrow the depth of field, and make your product appear out of focus.
● Be aware of the right white balance. Always set it to the same Kelvin temperature as your light whenever you're shooting.
However, you can also opt to use a smartphone with a good camera. Smartphone cameras have come a long way, and the results can be close to professional cameras in some instances.
For the amateur photographer as long as you have a good background and perfect lighting, your smartphone will be enough for the job. But to achieve best results it will help to get a tripod for your phone to reduce blur.
Tripod
A tripod brings stability, consistency, and focus on your product shots. You can get a decent tripod for under $30, which should be enough to serve you for the next years to come. If you have some budget, it's worth picking one up.
But if you prefer to take shots without a tripod, you can always use a stool or a pile of books to keep your camera steady.
Post-Processing Software
This process is also vital as it allows you to give your images the retouching it needs to get a polished look. Whether you use a DSLR or a smartphone, editing your photos can mean the difference between achieving a professional result or a mediocre portfolio.
Retouching your pictures can cover everything from taking away the background to shadow addition, and color correction, to convey a more natural look. However, photo editing is a time-consuming process and will take some time to master. To help you along, we have listed these photo editing tools to get you started on your post-processing needs.
Free Photo Editing Tools:
● Canva – Best suited for marketing materials, user-friendly online editor.
● Pixlr – Works and functions like Photoshop for free.
● Snapseed – A full-featured, robust mobile app.
● Fotor – Easy-to-use smartphone app for free.
● Miku – Outsource your post-production work to a professional at as little at $1.99 a photo
For Subscription or Purchase Photo Editing Tools:
● Adobe Photoshop – Powerful photo-editing software with many features.
● Adobe Lightroom – software for simple editing, dedicated to photos and management.
If you are opting to get a serious software editing package, then the Photography plan on offer at Adobe is now made affordable at only $9.99 per month, which includes both photo editing tools above.
Creating Your Product Photography Guidelines
Once you figure out your process, make sure to keep it all consistent along with your shoots, and to create a guideline to keep the same results as your business flourishes.
You will need to document both big and small things, such as the angles, lighting setup, and the distance of the camera from the product. If you keep in mind that your product photos are the ambassadors of your brand or company, then you will be able to maintain consistency.
Creating a template and technical guide for your photo editing software will also help to maintain scale and sizes that you've previously used. When making these templates, make sure to include the following:
● Swatches and a Color Palette
● Saturation Settings
● Focal Length Used
● Shadows and Lights
● Composition of the Product
● Location and Context
I know it looks like a lot of effort, but trust me, it’s worth saving what works. Keeping a guide not only gives you a quick point of reference whenever you need it, but it also saves you money and time, since you won't have to repeat mistakes throughout the process.
With the right tools, equipment, and process, you'll be able to focus on making a profit and grow your business even further.
Optimizing Your Images and SEO
Another essential part of taking your product photos is optimizing them to the best possible quality without compromising your page's download speed. For digital buyers and clients, every second count and will not wait around for a page to load for a while minute. This is where your conversion rate comes in.
To make the most of your images, be sure to use free modifying tools to get rid of excess kilobytes. Increase your chances of being seen on the internet by naming your images correctly, and include as many keywords and metadata as possible.
A Recap of Everything You Need to Get Started
There's no doubt that visual content plays a huge part in many viewers' purchasing decisions. Because consumers are getting flooded with information on a daily basis, they may only glance at your page briefly and having the best quality images will go a long way.
Therefore, you need to stand out by creating consistently polished images across your range of products, and market them throughout all your channels. Choosing the right pictures will not only strengthen your company but will also set your brand apart from the others.
As a recap here's a list of everything you need to get started towards product photography:
● A shooting table
● A white background
● A lightbox
● Studio lights
● A tripod or pile of books
● A camera or smartphone
● Image editing tools that come with a subscription such as Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop. A paid service like MIKU or alternatively, you can opt for free software like Canva or Snapseed
● Optimizing and SEO for images
It is best to remember to take note of what works, and the templates you use to keep up the same quality across your website, portfolio, and photos. Because consumers can't see or touch your products in person, it's even more critical that your images do the convincing for you. Doing this will not only boost your conversion, but sales are sure to follow.
