Product Photography Tips

Product Photography Tips for those of you who are just starting out.

Taking photos of static products might not look as challenging as other photography niches. But product photography isn’t as simple as it looks.

The whole point of a product photo is to capture the attention of potential customers and motivate them enough to buy the product on offer.

Don’t get me wrong, product photography is great fun, I love this genre more than a lot of others. It makes me think creatively and this creates great results for my clients.

In this article, I have jotted down some product photography tips on how to improve your images of even the most mundane products.

Product Photography Tips

Product Photography Tips

Tip #1 – Pick the Right Aperture

Aperture determines your Dof (depth of field) so it is very important to select the correct aperture for your image when photographing products. Distance from subject is also a factor here.

The two most common types of product photography are lifestyle and studio.

For lifestyle product shots, the widest aperture (lowest f-stop) is best. Anything from f1.4 to f5.6 should ensure that the product is the centre of attention. Everything else should become a lovely smooth bokeh. As I mentioned above, adjusting the distance of lens to subject will alter the Dof, so make sure that you shoot far enough away from the product. This will help create a smaller depth of field, which in turn will help separate the product from the background. You can see with th image below that the Dof was so shallow that only the front of the product is in focus.

Product Photography Tips

ISO 100, f2.8, 1/30th sec @14mm

You will find that a few test shots allow you to achieve the type of focus you want for a particular image. Unfortunately there isn’t a ‘one setting for all’ solution. For your lifestyle shots featuring more than one product, or a product and a supporting cast, keep the aperture fairly wide, say f/2.8. As long as the main product is within the focal plane, then it should be in focus, with the background blurred enough so that it doesn’t detract from the hero.

types of product photography - chocolate cubes

ISO 100, f2.8, 1/125th sec @18mm

Your job is to focus your audience on the hero product and not the extra elements in the image.

However, when you are shooting in the studio, you don’t have to worry so much about rogue elements appearing in the background and drawing away the customers attention. 

Tip #2 – Use a Telephoto or Prime Macro Lens

You should avoid distorting the image of your product. Wide-angle lenses in particular can ruin the proportions of the subject in an image. In product photography, it is vital your image is an accurate representation of the product. On platforms such as eBay, you can run into serious problems with your customers and eBay’s customer service reps if ‘the image isn’t as described or represented’.

This image of a keyboard is a bit over the top , but you get the point?

Product Photography Tips

Shorter telephoto lenses, (I use a 10-20mm 0r a 18-70mm), are lenses closest in perspective to the human eye. They don’t cause any form of distortion in the image. I also use a 100mm prime macro lens. I don’t use it to necessarily get any closer physically to the subject, but it is great at picking out small details in my products. This watch is a great example.

Product Photography Tips

ISO 100, f2.8 1/30th sec @100mm

The best focal length for product photos is 100mm, but anything between 85mm and 145mm also gets the job done.

Tip #3 – How to Illuminate your Product

The two main objectives of any product image is making sure the product is separated from the background and is evenly lit. This is where your lighting comes in.

Using soft light in product photography is preferable to harsh light. Using light modifiers, for example, softboxes and reflectors, are great and help you to achieve this in studio. Natural light is also very good for certain scenarios. 

If you are juststarting out you can use a lightbox. You can pick one up fairly cheaply, and they help you evenly light your subject.

product photography set up

As you progress you can look at more bespoke solutions for your lighting. Obviously the more bespoke the more cost there is involved.

Product Photography Tips

You always want to use diffused studio lighting. This ensures an even spread of light across and around your product, instead of creating over and underexposed areas in your images.

Tip #4 – Be Inspired

I am always taking inspiration from images, lighting and techniques that grab my attention. I ask myself, ‘what grabbed my attention here?’. I analyse these images and try to isolate the elements that make the photos so arresting; if they grab my attention, then they will do the same to customers looking for similar items.

What makes an image outstanding to me could be any one of a number of things, from a certain type of background, an interesting lighting angle, or a unique way of editing. I always try to replicate what I like.

This image of a glass and bottle appealed to me because of the simplicity, but also the way the edges have been darkened through the use of black cards and a dark base.

Product Photography Tips

Just be be careful you don’t just end up copying someone else’s style. Instead, experiment with different elements to create your own unique style and that way you will improve as a product photographer.

Tip #5 – Horizon Lines

The problem with working in a relatively small lightbox as a studio, is the background will have an edge where the vertical and horizontal meet. You can pull the background material forward but this restricts the amount of acreage left to work with.

However, once you move away from a lightbox you have options. Using a sheet of a large piece of paper, make a curve which encompasses the horizon line, then secure it to your wall and floor. This helps you achieve a seamless look. This is necessary, especially for e-Commerce photography, where you must have a product on a solid white background.

how to make money with product photography

Tip #6 – Experiment with your Style

Even when photographing something inanimate, you should play around with your photography. This is the time to play around with style because unlike people it never complains.

Experiment using different lighting, backgrounds and sets, which fit the concept of the product, for instance you can shoot a flat lay photo. Don’t forget to create an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere.

product photography set up

Tip #7 – New Ideas to Sell the Product

Most marketers will tell you the key to selling a product is selling the idea of the product; allow the customer to visualise having the product in their daily lives. If it is a very appealing lifestyle, so much the better. Showcase convenience, the benefits and features, and how their life can be enhanced with the product. Prove how significant the product is to a specific interest group. Although, a good product story will sell it better than anything.

As photographers, we are tasked with creating the story, the ambience, and the world in which the product will be. As such, try to capture as much of a story in your shot as possible. This is where your creativity and vision will shine.

Product Photography Tips - cup cakes

Tip #8 – Avoid Needless Clutter

In the image of the perfume bottles above, (which the client never saw), I felt that the product got lost in the surrounding elements.

At the end of the day the client has the final say on whether the image represents their brand or not. Avoid making your image too ‘busy’ by using too many supporting elements. Remember, your goal is to produce images that help the client sell their product.

If you are producing photographs for use on Amazon for example, then you have to use a plain white background. I try to build a story around the product. With this set of antique scales I was attempting to convey an comfortable organic feel, which suited the target audience.

Product Photography Tips

Tip #9 – Use Natural Tones

As well as avoiding distorting the product, keeping the colours true is just as important. This is fundamental for product photography.

If your photograph does not represent the true colours of the product, it is a short step to customer returns.

I always shoot in RAW format. This gives me the greatest chance of ensuring colours are correct in post-processing.

After exporting the image, check the photograph on various devices. Yu might be surprised how the colours vary from one to another. Get your monitor calibrated, it is a fairly simple and inexpensive exercise.

Tip #10 – Avoid Accidental Reflections

The last thing you want are unexpected reflections on your product images. This is one of the most common mistakes rookie product photographers make, I know I did. This is where taking test shots pays dividends. Look at how your lighting helps or compromises the shot.

Either make use of the reflection and include it in the image or remove the reflection altogether.

Product Photography Tips

The best way to remove a reflection is to shift your position. If you are shooting reflective products, you can place a black foam board at the mirrored scene to avoid reflection.

Tip #11. Mix it Up

I like to think outside the box. Come up with images that might not be the norm for a particular product. For example with this candle and box I took it outside into the garden and used natural light. I wasn’t sure but the client loved it.

happy place candle and box side by side

Don’t be scared to try new things, you never know someone might just be inspired by you!

Closing thoughts on my product photography tips

Product photography is a niche that uses specific techniques including your lighting, background, and product placement in order to achieve images that sell products. I hope that these tips help you with starting your product photography career.

Professional Product Photography