How to Take Product Photos: Product Photography Guide
High-quality product photography can make all the difference. Research shows that 75% of online shoppers rely on product images when making a purchasing decision, and 22% of returns are due to the product looking different from the photo. Great visuals come to capture customer attention and drive sales. Nowadays, you don’t need expensive equipment or a professional studio to get started — just the right approach and some basic tools.
We'll walk you through everything you need to know about how to take product photos. This guide is perfect for beginners and will help you create stunning, scroll-stopping visuals that make your products stand out.
How to Choose Equipment for Product Photography?
To start with the basics, prepare the necessary equipment to take standard and quality product photos. A basic combo will include the camera, lighting, backdrop, and tripod. In some cases, you may need to add mannequins or other props. For example, if you set up in a studio, you will demand specialized items such as light boxes, umbrellas, shooting tables, light reflectors, etc.
To help you narrow down your choices among the myriad devices that can meet this need, choose according to the following criteria:
Choosing a Camera Does not Necessarily Have to be Too Expensive, Just Suitable
Of course, expensive cameras always come with high-quality technology that is worthy. But are those features necessary for your needs?
You may think that a professional DSLR camera will produce professional product photos. But you can still take professional photos with a point-and-shoot camera if you master the techniques.
All you need is some shooting technique, coupled with a decent mid-range camera. Most cameras these days have a large number of megapixels. This will help you take higher-quality and better-resolution photos.
Regardless of which one you use, the key requirement is the ability to manually adjust exposure settings.
Exposure can be summarized as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. All three affect your images in different ways and affect two of the other three settings. Finding the right aperture, ISO, and shutter settings is a big challenge for photographers. So mastering the best camera settings for product photography gives you a huge advantage.
Narrow Focal Length Lenses are Great for Product Photography
Depending on the type of camera you are using, you may or may not be able to switch lenses and focal lengths. But even with point-and-shoot cameras, this still applies because you can usually zoom.
So, let's talk about focal lengths first.
The best focal lengths are those that are considered close to 'normal' or 'narrow'. As a general rule, these two focal lengths will produce more professional-looking images. Because they reduce perspective distortion. This will help customers see the product as it actually is.
An example of a 'normal' focal length would be a 50mm lens. A narrow lens, like a 100mm macro lens.
Narrower lenses also tend to capture a better 45-degree angle, which will help you get the best angle for your product.
If you’re using a point-and-shoot, you’ll have access to a range of focal lengths on your zoom lens. You zoom in on any focal length between 85-100mm, which will look like 60-85mm on a cropped sensor.
Make Sure You Have Good Lighting, Whether Natural or Artificial
All high-quality product photography has one thing in common: good lighting. It doesn’t matter how good your camera is – if your product isn’t properly lit. No amount of post-processing can save the photo.
Natural Light
This is a popular and free light source for product photography. If your budget is limited, natural light can be your savior.
How to set up natural light:
If your product is clothing or your images have people, natural light may be a better choice for you. Natural light is also a good choice if you are shooting in a small space with low ceilings. (A small environment can make it more difficult to control the lighting in a studio.)
Instead of having a lot of artificial lights in your studio, set up your backdrop, tripod, and camera next to a window with indirect but bright light. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times of the day for photographing products in natural light.
However, if your only option is to shoot by a window with direct sunlight, you can hang thin white sheets from the window to diffuse the light so it’s not too harsh. Just like with studio lighting, use light modifiers like reflectors to bounce and increase natural light where needed to fill in shadows and show off your product at its best.
Artificial Lighting
Also known as studio lighting, the simplest lighting tools you can consider are continuous lighting sources. These are basically lights that will stay on for the entire shoot. They’re the opposite of lights like speedlights.
Continuous lighting options include LEDs with a dimming mechanism or incandescent tungsten bulbs. These work best for still product shots. Godox flashers are also a popular name in this field.
How to set up artificial lighting:
If your product is typically used indoors or has fine details, a studio lighting setup may be more suitable. It is important to consider the number of lights and their distance, and angle relative to the product.
Set up at least three continuous lights from different angles to properly light your product:
One light is aimed directly at the product from one side of the camera.
A second light is positioned on the opposite side of the camera, intended to fill the entire product and set the backdrop.
A third light is angled from behind or above the product.
From there, experiment with umbrellas or reflectors to control light and shadow to your liking. The combined lighting effect should highlight the product and its features, while clearly defining the product from the background.
A Tripod will Provide Flexibility in Operation
To get the perfect angle and to show off important product details, it is best to have your hands free.
Placing your camera on a tripod will allow you to make small tweaks to how your product is displayed. Sometimes, we need the smallest of movements to show off a key feature. A tripod will help you make those changes quickly and translate them into images.
A tripod will also allow you to get the same angle across a series of products.
For example, when shooting a series of shoes in different colors. Customers often like to scroll through a set of images with changing colors.
To get the best angle, make sure to use your camera and tripod before you decide on the final angle.
That means first finding the best place to set up and adjust your tripod. Do this by moving your camera around, up, and down.
Take a few shots of the product and make any minor adjustments before you shoot the whole thing. Don't forget to choose the top tripods to elevate your shots.
A Background for Professionalism and Consistency
A white background is usually the best choice. It works well with most products and creates a uniform effect on websites.
Some simple materials that you can find to make a white product photography backdrop are:
A pure white bed sheet or fabric.
A large, white, thick paper.
A white foam board.
A white plastic tabletop.
A white wall
But most importantly, the white background should be matte, as shiny or reflective white surfaces can have an undesirable effect on the photo. For this reason, avoid things like shiny plastic and white tiles.
How to Choose a Composition for Product Photography?
The approach, or how to choose a popular product photography style, depends on the type of product you sell and the overall aesthetic that the brand wants to build.
However, to create a good product photography composition, we always have the rule of thirds as a starting point.
The most widely recognized photography technique, the rule of thirds, is something you should keep in mind every time you take product photos. First, visualize your photo as a grid with nine equal-sized segments. The focal point of the photo should not be the center of that grid, but instead, it should be along one of the pivot points on the grid. That’s where the eye naturally focuses. That pivot point is where your product will be set up.
How to Choose Your Product Photography Angles?
Take photos from as many different angles as possible to give yourself plenty of options when choosing the best shot.
Images from multiple angles allow customers to see the product from multiple perspectives. This provides a better visualization for customers who are shopping for specific items.
A product photography tip is to limit the angles you choose to a maximum of 3 to 5 angles. You don’t need to shoot 10 angles to present your product to your customers. Here are some camera angles to include in your photoshoot:
Front Facing Angle
This front-facing angle simulates the way someone might encounter a product in a physical store. It is a popular angle that is preferred for showcasing most of the product's key features.
High Angle
Also known as a bird's eye view, this angle is taken from above the product. This angle works best if the product comes in a combo, where the image can show the entire contents of the combo. Food photos or flatlays often work well with this angle.
45-Degree Angle
This angle shows most of the details captured by the front and profile angles. You don't need to measure from 45 degrees exactly. Just experiment with angles around it until you can capture most of the details.
Side Angle
Or known as a side view of the product. Not all products need to show their side view. For example, a tube of toothpaste doesn’t have anything to show on its side. But if your product is a pair of sneakers, the side view can be an important factor in influencing the customer’s purchase decision.
Back Angle
Similar to the side view, the back view of some products may be more important than others. For example, the back of a dress is extremely important, but the back of a notebook may be less important.
Conclusion
Taking great product photos doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. With the right setup, good lighting, a clean background, and attention to detail, even beginners can create professional-looking product photography that elevates their brand and boosts sales. Remember, practice is key - experiment with angles, lighting, and styles until you find what works best for your products.