You don’t need to go high and beyond to produce great quality photos. These photography tips will surely put to light some of the most doable techniques to make the most out of your product shoot. On the other hand, if you’re starting up a new business and have no idea on how to produce attractive-looking shots of your product, this article will tell you the easiest ways on how to do them.
But first and foremost, let’s get personal on why we need to have good quality photos of products. Most people don’t understand the importance of “going into detail” in product photography. However, from a consumer’s point of view, we always want to see the goodies that the item has to offer. And in some cases, most product shoots fail to meet the consumer’s visual craving in terms of showcasing the functionality and the durability of their merchandise. Here, we’ll get the complete rundown of photography tips on how we can improve product shoots.
Choose your fighter…
Although DSLR cameras are popularly used for any photoshoot, the innovation of smartphones is a definite game changer in the industry. Let’s limit our choices to two devices. It’s either you can use your DSLR camera or your smartphone to take photos. Both indeed have their pros and cons. Let’s take a closer look at both.
DSLR Cameras
A DSLR camera is universally recognized as one of the best tools in producing rich photo outputs. Having doubts? Just visit any photography studio or a photoshoot, you will never see a smartphone being used. If you don’t know how to operate this type of camera, it’s fairly easy to learn with online tutorials. If you do know how, then great! You’ll be able to adjust apertures and shutter speeds with ease. Ultimately, a DSLR can adjust to any environment or shoot you’re going to make.
Smartphones
The use of smartphones will give you the overall convenience that most DSLR cameras cannot. Just by looking at the size difference, a smartphone will be easier to slip into bags or even into pockets. It will release you of your worries of bulkier cameras that need to be stored and carried in another bag. Additionally, a smartphone’s functions are pretty straightforward (depending on what kind of unit you are using). It is simply point and shoot. Smartphones are basically perfect for beginners since it also doesn’t require much technical adjustments.
Lighting is everything.
Lighting can make or break your photoshoot. First and foremost, see if you can get a hold of natural lighting. Natural lighting can make your work a whole lot easier. With this type of lighting, you only need to manage shadows and a few elements to make the shoot perfect. If you get the chance to shoot with natural sunlight, grab it, and shoot when the sun is at its highest.
On the other hand, artificial light can also be a good advantage since it is easily manipulated unlike natural lighting. Although it does require multiple materials such as the lighting itself and some reflectors. Both are definitely advantageous in terms of producing quality photos. However, with product photo shoots, keep in mind that the brighter is always better. Consumers would want to have a clear picture of what they’re buying.
Take multiple angles.
A buyer would want to feel like they’re seeing the entirety of the product in pictures. With this said, it is a given fact that you won’t be able to showcase an entire product with just one photo. Getting all the good angles of your item will increase the chances of people buying the product. Why? Simply because they know what they are getting. In this way, people’s expectations are met.
Imagine buying a good looking shirt online with only the front view showing. The front design looks nice and all but the moment you receive the item you found out that it features a backless design. This is one of the important aspects of taking photos from multiple angles so that the product can be seen as a whole.
Get close and personal with details.
As they say, it’s the “small details that count”. Remember to capture all the features that you think will make your product sell. Make your buyers see the full extent of the item by doing close up shots on the material.
A good example is clothes. Picture buying an aquamarine knitted sweater. From a normal vantage point it seems like a normal aquamarine color. However, upon receiving the product and looking at it up-close, you could see a combination of not just an aqua colored fabric but also a white one. A dainty detail that you would’ve wished you spotted earlier before purchasing the item.
Refrain from zooming in.
The negative effects of zooming is that it diminishes the quality of the photo. Zooming in will result in reduced brightness of the product. Although cameras are capable of zooming in without losing brightness, this will not change the fact that it ruins the overall quality of the photo. An alternative for this is to move closer to the item. Only zoom in when the item is out of your reach. However, make this your last option when having product shoots.
Be steady with the camera.
The last thing you want to happen is to procure blurred photos. Even if you have steady hands, some cameras are extra sensitive. They can sense the tiniest movements and this will show once you capture a shot and it reveals blurred pictures. You don’t really need to have high-end tripods. Depending on the item you’re selling, a small tripod can do the trick.
The supremacy of knowing the rule of thirds.
The “grid” option in your smartphones is not there to simply put lines on your phone for decorative purposes. Actually, the grid option allows you to take quality photos using the rule of thirds. A powerful tool in photography as it allows you to create a well balanced composition.
See the intersecting four lines (or the edges of the small box in the middle)? That’s where you should place your main subject. Studies show that placing your main focus on these four intersecting lines will create a more “natural way” for viewers to see your pictures.
And that’s seven photography tips! If you want to learn more about digital marketing or how to manage an online business, check out these links:
Sources
- https://www.exposureguide.com/top-10-digital-photography-tips/
- https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/good-pictures-phone-tips
