As a long-term blogger who often balances rambling with visuals, I’ve been practicing amateur photography for more than 13 years! For better or worse, high-quality imagery is a necessity for any business nowadays – after all, humans are visually stimulated creatures. Because of this, I’ve picked up a few handy tips that you might have never heard before, and I’m ready to share them with you today.
If you feel like your social media can use a bit of touch-up, or you are planning to add product photography to your online store, please feel free to take into consideration one (or all) of the tips you'll find below.
#1. Don't bother with the expensive equipment
Well, at least in the very beginning, I promise you your smartphone can create wild product shots without any extra expenses! Make sure to set up your camera, find a corner with good lightning and choose the right angles.
This is also a tip about those online courses that promise to teach you all of the product photography tricks in a few hours. Don't bother paying for them, at least in the beginning. Practice is your best teacher!
#2. Make it tactile and texturized
One thing that is often lacking in beginner photography (as well as in modern cinematography) is the so-called tactility of the shot. I know it might sound a bit illogical, but a great shot isn’t supposed to feel sterile or flat. What will make your products stand out from millions of others is the "feel" or the vibe they create.
But how do you make this work, you might ask? Try adding texture and framing to your shot. Think of your favorite TV series or movies from the '90s – what makes them so cinematically satisfying? It is not the quality of the picture, I assure you (back to tip #1); it is the atmosphere they put you into. I hope my thought flow makes sense to you; hopefully, the picture examples will help you to get a better understanding.
#3. Create a simple story behind a photo
Another cool tip for erasing dullness and giving your product photography a bit of character is to create a tiny story behind your shot. For example, if you sell lip balms that look like jelly, why not create a food-related setup? Play around with angles, similar textures, and props to uplift your shot and create a visually catchy story. You could try spreading the lip balm on a piece of bread or mixing it with peanut butter. It feels unconventional, but it definitely attracts the eye.
Or, maybe you sell journaling supplies like pens, stamps, and washi tape for those who prefer, let`s say, analog hobbies. You can scatter your supplies on a school desk, surround it with other 90s or early 00s supplies like pencil cases and chunky pens for a touch of old-fashioned aesthetic, and build your story around it. Find something that will emphasize your product, instead of overshadowing it, this is very important.
#4. When it comes to editing the less is more
With all the free editing apps and TikTok filters, it is so easy to lose your sense of touch. At times, the final version of the photo feels too bleak and dull; it seems like it could easily be scrolled down in a feed, never to be discovered by a potential customer. The concern is certainly legitimate, but don't let it fool you, at least in the beginning.
Try to be conservative with your retouching. Of course, you can remove your cat's hair and the charging cable from the background, but don't go too far. Plus, you don't want to lie when it comes to the true colors and shapes of your products, so don't start altering those for the sake of the most creative photo filter. This type of retouching doesn't age good and in a year or so, you'll be hating your earlier visuals.
#5. Write with a light
Don't forget that, at its roots, photography is based on light and how it amplifies colors and creates shadows. I know it sounds trivial, but it is true. You don't really need a high-end camera at first; what you need in the beginning is a light source. Daylight works, as well as those strong studio lights; just make sure you know how to work your smartphone around these conditions.
Concluding...
Count the conclusion as an extra tip – don't listen to the photography and retouching snobs, whose full-time occupation is to criticize beginners. Reddit, Facebook groups, and other thematic chats are filled with people who like to pick up on the smallest imperfections and put amateur photographers down. That doesn't mean you shouldn't follow genuine advice and meaningful criticism, but don't feel sad just because someone pinpointed a poor color grading or your love for liquify.
I promise you, the more you try, the more ''trained'' your eye becomes. You can practice your skill further by following some of my favorite photography challenges that will raise your creativity and sense to the highest level.
