Individuals often struggle when it comes to making their business or company’s products stand out from the rest of the competition online. This is where product photography comes into play. Top-notch product photography can alter how customers view your offerings.
In this blog we will discover what is product photography and cover numerous related aspects. Let us get started:
Understanding What Product Photography Is: The Core Elements of Product Photography
Attention to Detail
To understand this type of photography, one must understand the core element, that is attention to detail. Product photographers have a keen eye for capturing even the smallest of details, such as a fabric’s intricate texture or an electronic product’s design. For example, highlighting zippers, seams, as well as buttons in clothing pictures can make a major difference, and this is something that professional product photographers know.
Moreover, professional photographers also know that maintaining image quality makes sure that every remarkable feature stands out. High-quality pictures aid in boosting sales on social media platforms such as Instagram as well as on e-commerce stores. Photographers are advised to capture the texture of products with detailed shots by utilizing macro lenses. Besides this, using product photography lighting equipment, like diffusers and reflectors, also aid in enhancing the features of the shot product.
Understanding Angles & Vision
Capturing the correct angles is very important in the world of product photography. Different angles can shed light on the features of a product, thereby making it appear appealing as well as accurate. For instance, shooting at eye level can provide a natural view that buyers have faith in. Experimenting with distinctive angles aids in discovering the most flattering perspectives.
Aligning with the vision of a client for their products generally means understanding what their brand identity is. A good photographer must have the understanding of how clients wish to exhibit their offerings on social media platforms or ecommerce websites.
Strong Styling Skills
Strong styling skills hold the potential to make a product look their absolute best and stand out. Include props, select the correct backgrounds for photography, and make adjustments to the lighting for enhancing appeal.
Brands generally prefer lifestyle product photography. Exhibit products in real-life settings for attracting potential customers. Use photo editing applications like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom CC for perfecting every shot. Proper styling elevates the appeal of a basic picture and transforms it into a photograph that is campaign-worthy.
Various Types of Product Photography
Individual Shots
Individual shots solely focus on the product. These pictures highlight certain features in a clean and clear manner. Using a mirrorless camera or a DSLR aids in capturing high-quality pictures with the right aperture as well as the perfect depth of field.
In the world of professional product photography, good lighting is very important for individual shots. Natural lighting also gets the job done, but photography studio strobes can prove to be helpful too. Avoid any sort of distraction in the background for maintaining attention on the product. Tools for post-processing can also improve the quality of images, making products appear their best for advertising or virtual shopping platforms.
Lifestyle Shots
Lifestyle shots showcase products in real-life scenarios. Such pictures aid in showcasing their practical use along with its appeal. For example, taking pictures of a coffee maker within a closed indoor setting, such as a cozy kitchen, makes it way more relatable. This kind of shot generally uses models or professional actors for showcasing the benefits of the product.
Strong styling skills also play a very important role. Focusing on natural lighting for crafting warm and inviting environments or scenes is a smart tactic. You can also utilize DSLR cameras along with adjusting camera settings for capturing high-quality shots, or if you have a smartphone which boasts of a powerful camera, you can leverage it to take product images that are remarkable. Make sure to do so with proper technique along with lighting adjustments.
Scale Shots
Lifestyle shots create and set the stage for how well any product fits into the daily life of an individual, whereas scale shots emphasize showcasing an item’s actual size. Scale shots are important in the world of commercial photography to provide customers a clear sense regarding the product’s dimensions. For example, placing a smartphone beside an everyday item like a key or a pen aids buyers in visualizing the product’s actual size.
Including these comparisons can facilitate in preventing product returns and unsatisfied customers by offering precise information upfront. Using props, models, etc., for scale improves understanding and constructs trust with consumers. Moreover, effective scale shots make the experience of online shopping more convenient by exhibiting products realistically or without overexposure or noise.
Packaging Shots
Packaging shots, as their name suggests, focus on putting the spotlight on a product’s packaging. Brands usually utilize this kind of image because packaging acts as a primary selling point. Effective packaging images showcase the colors, logos, as well as the design of a package.
This form of photography requires creativity along with top-tier equipment, such as a DSLR camera or prime lens. The white balance must be right for reflecting colors accurately. Moreover, individuals are advised to utilize proper lighting setups alon with tools like bounce cards, fill lights, etc., for obtaining the best results.
Essential Equipment for Quality Product Photography
Best Cameras & Lenses
For product photography, a top-tier DSLR camera or a good-quality mirrorless camera works wonders. The Nikon D7200 costs around 4000 AED and offers HD video shooting capabilities, WiFi, as well as NFC connectivity.
It also features a DX cropped sensor that is ideal for clicking sharp photographs. Another good choice is the canon EOS Rebel T7i, which is priced around 2800 AED. It features a rotary screen along with exceptional autofocus capabilities.
Lenses bring ample detail to images. For macro photography, Canon’s EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM lens costs around 4800 AED. It captures minute deals of small products very clearly.
If you wish to have versatility in every picture, consider going for the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Lens, which is priced around 800 AED, or the Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8, which costs around 7400 AED. Keep in mind that the right gear can significantly elevate the appeal of your pictures.
Additional Necessary Gear for Taking Product Photos
Besides a good camera and a top-quality lens, reliable artificial light sources such as LD panels, softboxes, etc., are important to make the product look good. They help in controlling illumination. Besides lighting equipment, tripods help keep shots steady and minimize motion blur.
Numerous backgrounds also add variety to the captured pictures, including flat lay product images. Plinths and risers also elevate products to achieve better angles. Tethering equipment facilitates connecting cameras to a computer to obtain real-time previews. Post-processing editing is another crucial part of the entire process.
Getting Started with Product Photography | Product Photography Tips & Best Practices
Practicing Skills & Building a Portfolio for Product Photography Business
Practicing and honing your photography skills is very important. Focus on understanding different types of lighting techniques, as they either make or break a picture.
Utilize different sources of light as well as angles to learn how highlights and shadows interact with different products. Experiment using shutters, zoom lenses, and smartphones in order to achieve different effects.
Building a portfolio when it comes to the realm of product images can begin even if an individual does not possess professional experience. For starters, interested individuals can set up sessions of DIY photography at home.
Take individual product images of regular-use items such as books, kitchen tools, etc. Make lifestyle shots that feature everyday items that are in use around your residence. A robust portfolio aids in attracting clients who require advertising materials for their products.
Obtaining the Right Professional Product Photography Equipment
Many beginners think that they require high-end DSLRs to get the job done. However, mirrorless cameras are sufficient. Begin with what your budget can afford and from there, upgrade over time.
Invest in a good-quality tripod for unmatched stability. Wide-angle lenses aid in capturing a higher amount of the prodigy layout. Besides this, filters are very useful to manage light as well as color temperature. Get hold of a point-and-shoot camera as a backup option to capture quick shots.
Booking Clients
Build your portfolio for showcasing your skills to the world. Share it on Instagram, Pinterest, or other suitable social media platforms. Utilize high-quality pictures and engage virtually with potential clients via comments and messages.
When it comes to a product shoot and showing the product in the best-possible way, establishing clear-cut pricing as per your experience level, your work’s quality, and most importantly, the duration or time spent is very important. Offer different rates like hourly rate, flat rate, or a fee per picture. Communicate the set rates and other important details clearly beforehand in order to avoid misunderstandings.
Remain active online and engage with the audience since doing so will aid in booking more clients. Connect with local businesses who are in need of your services for their advertisements or websites.
Successful Product Photography: Final Thoughts
Product photography captures the best features of products. It makes them look appealing, which in turn contributes to boosting sales. With the help of the right tools, angles, as well as skills, individuals can capture and create stunning pictures.
Showcase Your Products Perfectly With Amigoz
As mentioned multiple times in our detailed blog, getting the perfect shot with the help of a skilled and experienced photographer can work wonders in terms of boosting sales and building the company or business’ reputations. If you require high-quality product photos, Amigoz has got you covered! Our experienced team possesses the expertise to capture and deliver images that truly stand out.
Besides possessing the best-in-class equipment, our team understands the nuances of lighting, composition, as well as style, which is how we ensure that every captured image of a product captivates the heart of the audience and converts them into customers.
Ready to take the presentation of your products to the next level? Get in touch with us today and book your photoshoot session!