Jan 14, 2025
A Step-by-Step Guide On How To Take the Best Product Photos
A potential customer discovers your online store and is intrigued by your offerings. But when they click to view a product, they see a blurry image that doesn’t fully show the item. Before even reading the description, they’re turned off and ready to bounce. This scenario happens all too often in eCommerce, underscoring the importance of high-quality product photography. When done right, eCommerce photography can entice customers, build trust, and boost sales. In this article, we’ll review how to take the best product photos to help you improve your eCommerce photography and avoid turning customers away.
Caspa's product photography platform can help you achieve your goals and improve your product images to avoid turning customers away.
Table of Contents
What is Product Photography?
Product photography creates high-quality visual content that showcases products in the best possible light. It involves taking well-composed, aesthetically pleasing images that accurately represent the product. These images are then used on ecommerce websites, social media, advertisements, and marketing materials to attract and convert customers.
To master product photography, it’s helpful first to get familiar with a few fundamental concepts:
Lighting: One of the most critical factors, natural or artificial light, can define the look and feel of an image. Experiment with different setups to find the ideal balance.
Composition: Strategically placing the product and other elements within the frame creates a strong visual impact.
Background: Keep backgrounds simple for maximum product focus. Common choices include:
White
Gray
Textured backdrops
Camera settings: Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO all contribute to the final product image. Adjust to find the perfect combination for your product photos.
What Sets Product Photography Apart from Other Photography Genres?
Creating high-quality product photos is no simple feat. Professional product photography is the commercial form of still-life photography. Learning to style products, set up lighting, and composite different exposures takes time.
9 Types of Product Photography
1. The Clean Shot: White Background Product Photography
White background product photos are the ones you see on ecommerce marketplaces like:
Amazon
AliExpress
eBay
They may have individual product photos or white background shots with multiple images. This is the most common product photo type you’ll see.
2. How Products Fit Into Your Life: Contextual Product Photography
Contextual shots feature products in use. These photos are ideal because they show shoppers how to use the products in their own lives and give them a sense of scale. People can imagine themselves using the product when they have these types of photos.
3. Lifestyle Product Photography: Tell a Story
There’s a lot of crossover between contextual and lifestyle photos. One key difference, though, is that lifestyle photography includes and is often focused on actual people. Some contextual shots lack humans.
4. Scale Shots: Let Buyers Visualize Size
Scale shots are product photos that give a frame of reference so people can envision the products' size. While product specs and dimensions are descriptive, sometimes shoppers need an image to see how big or small it is compared to everyday objects.
5. Detailed Product Photography: Show the Small Stuff
Detailed product shots show small elements that aren’t necessarily visible in a standard product photo. This is often seen with apparel, footwear, and accessories, especially as you enter luxury categories.
6. Group Shots: Multiple Product Photography
Group product shots feature multiple items. Typically, these products are related in some way. You might bundle them together as a promotion or feature the same item in different products.
7. Flat Lay Product Photography: Visuals With Personality
Flat-lay product photos hit their stride on social media, Instagram in particular. Flat-lay photos are taken from a bird’s eye view. The layout lends itself to creative ways to arrange your products, so it’s a good way to have fun and add diversity to your site’s imagery. Plus, these high-quality images play particularly well on social media.
8. Packaging Product Photography: Appeal to In-Person Shoppers
Packaging product photos are the images that go on the box, bag, label, or whatever packaging holds your merchandise. These photos are important because they appeal to in-person shoppers. It’s essential to consider if the packaging hides the product, which you commonly see with food and beauty items.
9. User-Generated Content (UGC): The Power of Real People
User-generated content (UGC) includes product photos taken by anyone other than your brand or employees. These photos are typically shared on social media, so you can repost or feature the content on your website as a form of social proof. UGC product photography isn’t ideal as your primary photo, but it complements your product pages.
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A Step-by-Step Guide On How To Take the Best Product Photos
Regarding product photography, having the right equipment is crucial for capturing high-quality images that showcase your products in the best possible light. While professional-grade cameras and lenses are ideal, you can also achieve excellent results using a smartphone with a good camera.
Cameras and Smartphones
DSLRs or mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses are the preferred choice for product photography. These cameras offer manual settings, allowing you to control aspects like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO for optimal results. Look for a camera with at least 20-24 megapixels, the ability to trigger external flashes, and tethering capabilities for a streamlined workflow.
If you're on a budget, smartphones with advanced camera features can also be helpful for product photography. Giving you more post-processing flexibility, modern smartphones often have:
Multiple lenses
A manual mode
The ability to shoot in RAW format
Tripods and Mounts
A sturdy tripod is essential for keeping your camera stable and eliminating camera shake, especially when shooting with slower shutter speeds or in low light conditions. Invest in a tripod with a maximum load capacity to comfortably support your camera and lens combination. Consider using a smartphone tripod mount or a small tabletop tripod to keep your device steady for smartphone photography. Some tripods also come with a removable center column that can be used as a horizontal boom for overhead shots or macro photography.
Lighting Essentials
Proper lighting is key to creating visually appealing product photos. While natural light can work well, it's not always reliable or consistent. Continuous lighting solutions, such as LED panels or softboxes, provide a constant light source that lets you see how the light falls on your product in real time.
Alternatively, you can use external flashes or strobes for more control over the intensity and direction of the light. Softboxes, diffusers, and reflectors help soften the light and minimize harsh shadows, creating a more flattering look for your products.
Other helpful accessories include:
A circular polariser filter to reduce reflections and glare
Clamps, stands, and arms for positioning lights and reflectors
Backdrops or sweep paper for clean, seamless backgrounds
Foam boards or flags for controlling light and shadows
By carefully selecting the right equipment for your product photography needs, you'll be well-equipped to capture stunning images that effectively showcase your products and elevate your brand.
Get Your Shoot Ready for Success
Once you have the right equipment, the next crucial step is to prepare the scene for your product photography shoot. This involves selecting appropriate backgrounds, strategically setting up light sources, and arranging the product to showcase its best features.
Selecting Backgrounds
The choice of background plays a significant role in your product photos' overall look and feel.
Here are some tips for selecting the correct background:
Use a background that complements the product without overpowering it. Neutral colors like white, grey, or light pastels work well for most products.
Ensure the background provides enough contrast to make the product stand out. Avoid backgrounds that are too busy or have patterns that may distract from the product.
Consider using different textures and materials, such as wood, fabric, or marble, to add visual interest and context to your product photos.
Setting Up Light Sources
Proper lighting is key to achieving high-quality product photos. Follow these guidelines when setting up your light sources:
Natural light is an excellent option for product photography. Set up your shoot near a large window to use soft, diffused light. Use a white foam board or reflector to bounce light and fill in shadows if needed.
If using artificial lighting, position your primary light source at a 45-degree angle to the product to create attractive shadows and highlight texture. Use a second light source or reflector to fill shadows on the opposite side.
Experiment with different lighting setups to find what works best for your specific product. Adjust the distance and angle of your lights to achieve the desired effect.
Arranging the Product
How you arrange your product can significantly impact the final image. Keep these tips in mind when placing your product for the shoot:
Place the product in the center of your background, ensuring it is well-lit and focused. Use a tripod to keep your camera steady and maintain consistency between shots.
If you are showcasing multiple products, arrange them visually appealingly. Use odd numbers and vary the heights and angles of the products to create a dynamic composition.
Pay attention to small details like alignment, spacing, and product cleanliness. Take the time to adjust any imperfections before capturing the shot.
By carefully selecting your background, setting up your lighting, and arranging your product, you'll be well on your way to capturing stunning product photos that showcase your items in the best possible light.
Master Techniques For Taking Great Product Photos
Once you have your equipment set up and the scene prepared, it's time to focus on the photo-shooting techniques that will help you capture stunning product images. Here are some key considerations:
Using a Tripod
A sturdy tripod is essential for keeping your camera stable and eliminating camera shake, especially when shooting with slower shutter speeds or in low light conditions. It allows you to maintain consistency in your shots and ensures sharp, clear images. Tripods also free up your hands, making it easier to adjust products or make subtle changes to the composition without disturbing the camera's position.
Finding the Right Angles
Choosing the right camera angles is crucial for showcasing your products effectively. Here are some must-know angles for product photography:
Eye-level shots: Shooting straight-on at the product's level mimics how customers view the item in-store, creating a sense of familiarity and realism.
45-degree angle: Also known as the three-quarter view, this angle shows multiple sides of the product in a single shot, providing depth and dimension.
Top-down or flat lay: Capturing the product from directly above works well for showcasing multiple items or creating visually appealing compositions.
Close-ups and macro shots: Zooming in on specific details or features of your product can help highlight its unique qualities and craftsmanship.
Experiment with different angles to find what works best for each product, and consider capturing various shots to provide customers with a comprehensive view.
Maintaining Consistency
Consistency is key when it comes to product photography. Aim to maintain a cohesive look and feel across all your images to create a professional and polished brand image. Here are some tips for achieving consistency:
Use the same lighting setup, background, and camera settings for all products within a specific category or collection.
Develop a shot list outlining the images you need for each product (e.g., front, back, detail shots) and stick to it.
Create a style guide that defines your brand's visual identity, including:
Color palette
Composition guidelines
Editing techniques
Use a tripod to ensure consistent framing and camera positioning across shots.
By prioritizing consistency in your product photography, you'll create a seamless and enjoyable browsing experience for your customers while strengthening your brand's visual identity.
Edit Your Product Photos To Perfection
Once you've captured your product photos, the next step is to enhance them through post-processing. This involves editing your images to ensure they look their best and accurately represent your products. Here are some key aspects of post-processing to consider:
Editing Basics
Cropping and straightening: Start by removing any unnecessary background or space around your product. Ensure that your product is centered and the image is straight.
Adjusting white balance: White balance refers to the overall color cast of your image. Adjust it to ensure that whites appear genuine and colors are accurate.
Tweaking exposure and contrast: Fine-tune the brightness and darkness of your image to create a balanced, well-lit photo. Increasing contrast can help make your product pop.
Advanced Techniques
Retouching: Use tools to remove any blemishes, dust, or imperfections on your product. Be careful not to over-edit; you want to maintain a realistic representation.
Color correction: White balance refers to the overall color cast of your image. Adjust it to ensure that whites appear genuine and colors are accurate.
Adding shadows and highlights: Add or enhance shadows and highlights to create depth and dimension. This can help your product look more three-dimensional and realistic.
Saving and Optimizing Images
Choosing the correct file format: Save your edited images in the appropriate file format for your needs. JPEG is a common choice for web use, while TIFF or PNG may be better for print.
Optimizing for the web: To ensure fast website loading times, reduce the file size of your images without sacrificing quality. You can use tools like Adobe Photoshop's "Save for Web" feature or online compression tools.
Tweaking exposure and contrast: Develop a consistent naming convention and organize your edited photos into folders for easy access and use.
Following these post-processing steps, you can take your product photos from good to great, showcasing your products in the best possible light. The goal is to create images that are both visually appealing and accurate representations of your products.
Tools to Get Started With Product Photography
To take the best product photos, you must familiarize yourself with several tools. Here are some essential equipment and resources to help you get started.
Caspa: An AI Product Photography Platform
Caspa helps eCommerce brands create stunning product photography with AI, eliminating the need for multiple tools, photographers, and models that traditionally eat up to 20% of revenue. From creating ultrarealistic product shots with human models to editing existing photos, Caspa's all-in-one AI product photography platform handles everything from background removal to upscaling, letting brands produce professional marketing visuals in seconds.
Whether you need custom stock photos or complete studio editing capabilities, Caspa streamlines the entire product visualization workflow into a single, cost-effective solution. Get AI product photos that increase your sales for free today!
Camera: The Most Crucial Tool in Product Photography
A high-quality camera is the most crucial tool in product photography. A DSLR camera is ideal for maximum control over focus, aperture, and shutter speed. This is an interchangeable lens camera, meaning you keep the same camera body but can use different lenses for different product photo needs. If you’re on a budget or prefer a more user-friendly option, a smartphone with a high-resolution camera can also produce excellent results. Remember, you’ll also need batteries for your camera. What good is a camera without power? You might also consider investing in a camera bag to keep it safe.
Camera Configuration and Techniques
Using manual mode, aperture priority, and shutter speed adjustments can significantly improve the quality of your photographs. Adjusting the camera’s aperture helps achieve a quality depth of field. Selecting a small aperture will make the image more focused and sharper. A more considerable aperture results in a shallower depth of field and a more aesthetically appealing background blur. Aperture priority mode lets you control the aperture while the camera automatically adjusts shutter speed and ISO. Shutter speed is another vital component of camera configuration.
Prevent Camera Shake and Capture True Colors
A slower shutter speed may cause a camera shake, jeopardizing the image’s clarity. To prevent blurred results, consider using a tripod or other means of stability, such as a flat surface. In addition, if you’re using a mirrorless or cropped sensor camera, a faster shutter speed can help mitigate camera shake. One more important factor is your camera’s white balance. By adjusting the white balance, you can ensure that the colors in your photographs appear valid to life. Make sure your camera’s brightness is set correctly as well, as this will improve image quality.
Lens: Investing in a Good Lens
Investing in a good lens can significantly improve the quality of your images. The type of lens you select can dramatically impact your photos' clarity, depth, and overall appearance. A macro lens is perfect for capturing close-up details, while prime lenses provide sharp focus and exceptional image quality. Make sure to select a lens that is compatible with your camera. For product photography, you’ll typically want a 100mm macro lens, a 60mm macro lens, and the versatile 24-70mm zoom lens.
100mm Macro Lens
A 100mm macro lens offers a 1:1 magnification ratio, allowing you to capture the most minor details of your subject. With its sharpness and minimal distortion, this lens is ideal for shooting small products, such as jewelry and accessories. Additionally, its ability to produce stunning bokeh (background blur) helps create a professional-looking depth of field, making your product stand out.
60mm Macro Lens
The 60mm macro lens is another excellent option for product photography, especially for beginners or those on a budget. While it doesn't offer the same magnification ratio as the 100mm lens, the 60mm still provides excellent sharpness and minimal distortion. This lens suits medium-sized products like food items and small electronic devices. It’s also a more compact and lightweight option, making handling easier during extended shooting sessions.
24-70mm Zoom Lens
The 24-70mm zoom lenses are a versatile choice for product photography, as they allow you to capture shots at both wide and telephoto focal lengths. This lens is perfect for shooting a range of products, from small items like watches to larger objects like furniture. Its constant f/2.8 aperture ensures consistent exposure control and excellent low-light performance, making it a popular choice among professionals.
Tripod: The Essential Stabilizing Tool
A sturdy tripod stabilizes your camera and ensures sharp, blur-free images. Tons of tripods are available, from compact, lightweight models to heavy-duty professional-grade options. Choose one that suits your camera’s weight, size, and working environment.
Lighting: Achieving Proper Lighting
Proper lighting is key to capturing your products in the best possible light. Natural light sources, such as a large window, can create beautiful diffused light. There are a few different options for artificial light, including:
Softboxes
A simple table lamp with a white LED bulb
Experiment with other light sources to achieve the desired effect. Using a reflector and bounce cards helps you control shadows and highlights in your photos. White bounce cards from foam boards, posters, or sturdy paper reflect light onto your subject, while black foam boards can create depth and contrast.
Backgrounds and Backdrops: Setting Up Your Scene
A clean, uncluttered background helps your products stand out. White backdrops are popular in product photography, but other solid colors can also create a professional look. You can use seamless paper, fabric, or a shower curtain as a backdrop. Additionally, a lightbox provides a controlled environment for photographing small items.
Props and Styling: Enhancing Visual Appeal
Depending on the product you're photographing, you may include some props to enhance the visual appeal of your images. Choose items that complement your product and contribute to the overall aesthetic of your photos.
Photography Equipment for Editing Your Product Photos
Editing and post-processing in Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom significantly ensure your product photos are ready to drive sales. One essential step is adjusting the balance of the image. To enhance the overall composition, this includes:
Contrast
Brightness levels
For instance, underexposed images can be improved by increasing the exposure, while overexposed ones can be fixed by reducing the brightness. Besides balance, another crucial aspect of post-processing is color correction. Adjusting your image's color temperature, saturation, and vibrance can drastically change the product's perceived quality.
Maintaining a consistent and accurate color representation of your products across all your images is essential. This consistency helps build trust with your audience and presents a professional appearance.
Essential Photo Editing Tips for Consistent Product Images
When editing your product photos, use the following tools within Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom:
Curves and Levels adjustments for advanced exposure and contrast control.
Hue, Saturation, and Luminance sliders to fine-tune individual colors.
Cloning and Healing tools for removing dust, scratches, or blemishes from the product.
Sharpening and Noise Reduction to enhance image clarity and reduce pixelation.
Creating a preset or using a consistent editing formula in Lightroom can help ensure a uniform look across all your product photos. This practice can save time and effort while maintaining the desired professional appearance.
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Benefits Of Product Photography For Your Brand
In eCommerce, a high-quality product photograph will impress your potential customers immediately. This is even more important when you consider that online shoppers can’t physically touch or try on the items they're interested in. So if they decide to purchase, the product image will be all they have to go off until the item arrives at their home. Thus, good product photography helps to boost your eCommerce business by making your items look as appealing as possible.
The better an item is presented, the more likely it is to be purchased and to meet customers’ expectations. This is because high-quality product photos are often associated with good-quality products. So, when you improve your product imagery, you're also improving the odds of customer satisfaction and their first impressions of your brand.
Create a Unique Brand Identity with Product Photos
Product photography is one of the best ways to establish your own eCommerce brand. As you build out your online store, shoppers will look to product images to learn more about the items for sale. If you sell products from various categories, there will likely be a lot of competition. This means that there could be dozens or even hundreds of other eCommerce stores selling the same items as you. Creating a unique brand identity is the only way to differentiate your business and attract customers. And product photos can help you do just that.
Professional product photography will capture clear, detailed images of your items. But you can also enhance your product photos with your creative touch to make them your own. For instance, you can style your product images to reflect a particular theme or mood that aligns with your brand. You can also edit your pictures to incorporate your brand colors to keep your photos consistent with the rest of your visual marketing. Over time, these efforts will help you build a recognizable brand that customers can trust.
Better Product Photos Can Lead to Increased Sales
The most crucial goal of eCommerce product photography is to help you sell more products. And the correlation between the quality of product images and sales figures is well-documented. The better your product photos are, the more likely shoppers will purchase. The ultimate goal of eCommerce product photography is to increase sales. To do so, you must focus on the quality of the pictures. If your product photograph can catch customers’ attention, sales will increase automatically.
Enhance Your Credibility and Reputation
Product photography is the only way to build credibility and reputation if you are just starting your eCommerce business in this tough-as-nails market. People find it easier to trust a website that looks inviting and shows genuine photographs. Your customers will look for pictures first, then go for the relevant details later.
Customer Satisfaction and Product Photography
Customer satisfaction is the most powerful technique for your business, and it has a high probability of success. Once your customers are satisfied with your product and find it the same as shown in photographs on your website, it maintains my reputation and drags them to the next time they shop from your website.
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Get AI Product Photos that Increase Your Sales for Free Today
Caspa is an AI product photography tool that helps eCommerce brands create stunning product images at record speed. Caspa can quickly generate ultrarealistic product photos with human models, edit existing images, and produce custom stock photos. Instead of hiring a photographer or juggling multiple software tools, brands can use Caspa’s all-in-one platform to streamline the entire product visualization workflow.
How Can Caspa Help Increase Sales?
Stunning product photography drives sales. Product images are the most critical factor for online shoppers when they make a purchasing decision. The better your product photos, the more likely you will make a sale. Caspa helps you create the best product photos to increase your eCommerce sales.
