Product Photoshoot

In this article I will talk about the most efficient way of taking a consistent style of image is through a product photoshoot. In addition you can have a tasteful mix and match them to your branding. Obviously to achieve this it is very important to understand the difference between each type of product photography and how to best shoot each of  them.

Below we’ve compiled a list of the six most common types of shots you might consider in your product photoshoot, when to use them and how they might appear:

Individual Product Shots

The shot of an individual product is one of the most common types of product photos, as it suggests, the individual shot contains only one object in the frame. These are often featured on platforms such as Amazon and Etsy where they require each image to have a white background.

A great example is this one from Charika Creations, which is shot with a white background to create a clean, simple look and keep the focus on the product. The client requested branding, so her logo was added post shoot.

product photoshoot

Product Grouping

You don’t have to be a genius to work out that group shots showcase more than one product in a single image. In this shot several images into one as opposed to shooting them as a group, however the result is the same.

product photoshoot - multiple products

Often used for product kits and collections, such as the reflectors shown below. You can use grouped product photoshoots to show the range and variety of your products. This gives the customer a more complete view of your product variations. These types of images are perfect for social media posts and other advertising channels because they give shoppers an overview of your brand as a whole, rather than just one product.

product photoshoot studio lighting - reflectors

Lifestyle shots

Lifestyle photography shows the product in an environment potential customers might use it themselves.

Often taken with a model, like this example, lifestyle shots attempt to show your customers how they can use particular product in their daily lives.

product photoshoot

In the image above it is fairly obvious what the product is and how it can be used, but also it targets a particular audience. The image below is more subtle but again I think there is a defined target audience.

product photoshoot

While lifestyle photos can be used to reinforce your marketing message on your product page, they’re also perfect for lots of other visual marketing channels, because they catch the eye and make your products feel more personal.

Product Scaling Shots

One of the biggest issues with shopping online is the customer not being able to gauge the actual size of a product. While product descriptions may list the dimensions of an item, product photos can be often deceiving, in some cases deliberately so. Using a scale or a reference is a good way to show the product actual size. By using the potatoes it shows the size of the scales in a way which people can recognise.

product photoshoot scaling

Detailed Product Shots

For products with small intricacies that require a close-up, detailed macro shots help highlight specific product features that a traditional photo might not emphasise, such as these brass buckles on a fishing bag made by Global Technical Textiles.

It should be noted that this type of product photoshoot often requires specific lighting, camera settings, and also a macro lens, which is designed to to capture those detailed shots.

product photoshoot green fishing bag buckle

Product Packaging Shots

Believe it or not, customers care about packaging, a lot! One of my clients, Happy Place Candles spent as much time on their packaging as they did on the product because they understand that the eyes buy.

product photoshoot - packaging

There is intense competition online, so if your product images do not attract potential buyers from the get go, they probably won’t bother reading how fantastic they are. Despite having an amazing product, if your presentation isn’t up to scratch, your customers might choose your competitors product.

Packaging shots, like this example from Happy Place Candles, feature not only the product itself, but also the product packaging. Having the candle lit just reinforces the lifestyle story of the product.

lit candle and packaging

Professional Product Photography