Tips for Product Photographers

For those who aspire to be product photographers, it is an art form that is not quite like many other common forms of photography such as portraits, weddings and the like. The essence of photographing products is to put them in the best light while using methods that do not involve any distraction from the item being photographed. 

What follows are tips to help you create the best product photographs. The good news about photographing most products is that you do not need expensive equipment beyond your camera and a small studio to make your work really stand out. 

Use a Tripod or Support

Proper photographing of products requires pictures that are absolutely clear with no blur lines. You can only achieve this with the use of a tripod or supporting device that takes away all the motion that you would otherwise impose on the camera. Solid and steady provides you with maximum photographic quality. 

Create an Infinity Curve

This simple, yet effective background is easy to make. You’ll need a long, rectangular sheet of white paper or fabric that bends upward behind the item in question. The product itself will sit on the flat part providing you with a clean background that has no lines. You can photograph a number of different items using this particular background. 

Keep it Clean 

Filters are certainly tempting, but the effects that they create actually do not serve the product well. Customers want to see the product as cleanly as possible so that they can make the decision to buy. Filters, lighting effects and other tricks only create the impression that the item is being augmented which serves as an unnecessary distractions. Keep your photographs as clean and simple as possible. 

Use Soft Lighting

This is a basic rule for most products that are of small to moderate size. Soft lighting removes the hard edges from the products so that you do not get hard shadows that either cover part of the item itself or extend outwards that can be distracting. You can create soft lighting through the use of a flash diffuser or simply taping a white plastic bag around the flash unit itself. Plus, you can also shoot some products outdoors if they fit the theme or just photograph them with sunlight coming in through large, clear windows.

Let the Product Tell the Story

The product you shoot should not only be the centerpiece of the photograph, it should normally be the only thing that is in the picture. There are exceptions to this rule, but generally speaking the product should speak for itself and not be accompanied by anything else unless there is a very good reason. One exception is that if you have a product that comes in different colors. You can take individual photos of each and then combine some in a group photograph. 

Becoming a product photographer can be quite profitable once you have established your reputation as there is a high demand for this type of service. By following these tips, you can create the best product photographs using the equipment you have.