HOW TO TAKE PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY
ON A BUDGET OR WITH A SMARTPHONE
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Gone are the days when you need a state-of-the-art camera in order to take professional product photography. If you are a small business on a shoestring budget, then you can achieve quality results using your smartphone, with just a few clever tricks. Take a look at our guide below to see how you can make your product photography look like it was taken by a professional.
WHY IS PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY IMPORTANT?
Excellent product photography is key to any successful online shop. Not only is it used on the product pages of the website, but also in social media posts, emails and adverts so it’s worth investing time and effort to get it right.
Etsy customer research found that the quality of product photography is the most important factor when deciding whether to purchase an item – ranking higher than reviews and price.
Customers want to be able to clearly see the item before purchasing. This gives them trust and confidence that it’s what they are looking for. In fact, good quality product photography is proven to keep visitors on the page longer, boost conversions and reduce the number of returns.
Professional photography is ideal, but if your budget doesn’t stretch to a studio set-up and state of the art camera, don’t fear – you can achieve similar results using an iPhone or other smartphone!
TYPES OF PROUCT PHOTOGRAPHY
There’s two types of product photography: minimalist and active. Minimalist product photography is when the item is pictured alone against a plain background. Whereas, active photography shows the item in the context of how it will be used. This can work well for when photographing clothes – by showing the item on a model, the customer can clearly see the sizing and fit.
If taking photography on a budget you might want to stick to minimalist photography – not only is it less expensive, but it’s easier for amateur photographers to achieve professional results.
GET THE LIGHTING RIGHT
A soft light, which illuminates the product from all angles, works best for product photography. To achieve this, use natural lighting whilst avoiding direct sunlight. A diffuser is a great way of creating a softer light – there’s lots of cheap options available online or you can even make your own using a piece of white paper, a sheet or a t-shirt.
To achieve a professional finish, all product photography on your website should be consistent. This means the lighting needs to remain the same. We recommend using the same spot and taking photos at a similar time of day. To help you do this, make a note of how photos were set-up so you can easily re-create it next time.
POSITIONING PRODUCTS
Remember, your product photography should give the customer as much information as possible so they can make an informed decision before purchasing the item. As a rule of thumb, you should include at least 3 photos of your product, all from different angles.
For a consistent look and feel, invest in a smartphone tripod – this will ensure the angle and height remains the same across all photos. We recommend buying one with a remote so you don’t need to touch the phone and risk adjusting the angle. It’s also a good way of ensuring your shadow isn’t in the shot.
BACKGROUND OF PHOTOS
If you are taking minimalist product photography, a white background works well as it won’t detract from the product. To create a clean background, professional photographers use a “sweep” which removes the line between the wall and table. You can easily create your own sweep at home using a large sheet of paper – simply curve the paper from underneath the product and attach to the wall.
CAMERA SETTINGS – DOS AND DON’TS
You don’t need the latest iPhone to take good quality product photography. Any smartphone with a high megapixel count (12MP or higher) will do the job. Most smartphones are now equipped with macro settings which allow you to focus in on the intricate details of your image. To access the macro settings, simply click the flower icon in the camera app.
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Do |
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Use auto exposure – click on the area you want to expose (the product) and the camera will adjust automatically. |
Use a filter – photos should be an accurate representation of your product. |
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Adjust the white balance – if unsure how to get the right white balance for your lighting, click ‘auto white balance’. |
Use the flash – this won’t produce a soft light which is perfect for product photography. |
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Turn on grid – this will help you to position your product in the centre of the image. |
Use the zoom – this reduces the image quality. Instead, move closer to the product. |
WILL YOUR PHOTO WORK ON SOCIAL MEDIA?
Planning on posting your product photos on social media too? Remember, each social platform has different formatting requirements, for example, Instagram photos have a square aspect ratio. When uploading photos to Instagram or Facebook you are able to edit so that it fits into the required dimensions. However, you risk cropping out an important part of the shot. To save valuable editing time, we recommend keeping the formatting requirements of your chosen social media platforms in mind when taking your photos.
ADD ALT-TEXT TO YOUR IMAGE
Finally, when uploading your product photography to your website, make sure you add alt-text. This is a short description which tells Google what the image is of. If done correctly, alt-text makes your website more accessible and helps Google to index the image correctly.
Once you’ve improved your product photography, you will soon start to reap the benefits of higher conversion rates and fewer returns.
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