How To Do Product Photography

Product photography plays a very important role in the world of advertising, understand advertising as the way to make a product known and generate the desire to buy it in the viewer.

When we talk about product photography, we can include any product: food, jewelry, drinks, clothing, accessories, medicines, etc.

Today I am going to give you all the keys to get a perfect product photography, be it for your own website, for your social networks, for a friend or for a client.

Save this mega guide well because I am going to try to make it very exhaustive and I am sure that at some point it will be useful to you again. And if you want to explore other photographic genres, do not miss this other guide . With that said, let’s get started 🙂 .

WHAT IS PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY?

Product photography is the visual representation, with a camera, of an object in the most attractive and favorable way possible, generally with a commercial purpose. What product photography pursues is to make a product known with the ultimate goal of selling or marketing it.

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OBJECTIVES OF PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY

These are the main objectives pursued by product photography:

• Arouse the viewer’s interest in a product.
• Make the viewer feel that they know the product without having to see it.
• Represent an object in an attractive as well as reliable way.
• Make him buy it.

Keep in mind that the higher the quality of the image, the more chances the product has of being sold.

PRODUCT AND ADVERTISING PHOTOGRAPHY

Product photography is oriented, as I have already mentioned, to create an attractive and trustworthy image of a product with the ultimate goal of being sold. It is an important part of advertising photography and on many occasions one cannot be understood without the other.

Advertising photography, however, covers a broader field in which an image of the product itself does not necessarily have to appear. So in that sense, product photography is generally advertising, but advertising doesn’t always have to be the photography of a product.

Now that we have it more defined, let’s go with the team that I recommend.

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RECOMMENDED CAMERA FOR PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY

The best camera to get into product photography should have the following characteristics:

• With the possibility of working in RAW format.
• Manual mode.
• With option to exchange objectives.
• Have a good size sensor.
• Live View mode.

Don’t know what is best for you? This is my personalized camera recommendation for you. And in case you want to know more about various models, here is the BdF camera encyclopedia with all the digital cameras you can find on the market.

WHAT IS THE BEST LENS FOR PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY?

The best lens or objective for product photography is, from my point of view, a fixed optic that is as bright as possible. For many reasons.

ADVANTAGES OF A FIXED LENS FOR PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY

• They are usually very bright.
• They are much cheaper than zooms with a similar brightness.
• They are well built and more resistant (they have fewer elements than the zoom).

For product photography I recommend focal lengths from 50mm to 100mm, for example:

• The King of Lenses : the 50mm f/1.4.
• Or failing that, the Prince : 50mm f/1.8.
• A 100mm f/2.8 macro lens.

ADVANTAGES OF A ZOOM LENS FOR PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY

• They are more versatile.
• You cover more focal lengths by investing in a single lens.
• If you have the budget to invest in a bright zoom, they can be a good option for product photography.

You usually buy your camera with a kit lens so, once you have it, try to make the most of yours in the best possible way .
To choose a lens, look at aspects such as brightness, diaphragm blades, minimum focus speed and, of course, your budget. Within this guide you will find all the tips to choose the best lens for your camera (and get it right) .

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RECOMMENDED ACCESSORIES

The best accessories for product photography are, mainly:

• A lightbox: very effective, simple, and economical. It will work great for small objects with simple compositions. You can even make your own lightbox by following these steps.
• A white background: without a doubt, the white background is one of the most used in product photography.
• A black background: another very recurrent and necessary background to have among your accessories.
• A tripod: it must be robust, with few leg sections and an interchangeable head. Take a look at the complete guide to buying a tripod if you are interested in getting one.
• A handheld light meter: This is the most accurate way to control the exposure of an image.
• At least one continuous light source.
• An external flash.
• A couple of light windows.
• A gray card.
• Polarizing filter to avoid unwanted reflections.
• an acrylic tableto generate creative reflections.
• A remote trigger.
• Tables, wood, and other supports on which to place your products.
• A portable photo studio can be very useful if you have already decided that this type of photography is your thing.

Now, these are the recommended accessories, my advice is that you go for it even if you don’t have anything close to the material that I recommend. That is ideal, but you can get many of these accessories at home by investing very little money. That later you discover that this is the passion of your life because you will scratch your pocket 😉 .

HOW TO LIGHT A PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY?

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of product photography, and to which you should spend more time and learning. Learn to create volume, to avoid reflections, to obtain a good exposure or to create a reaction in the viewer simply by modeling the light.

The first thing you should ask yourself is what result you want to obtain. An image with a lot of contrast? Soft and warm? Flat or deep? What do you want to convey with it? What should your product talk about? Picture it mentally and write down the results you want to achieve. Then use everything in your power to get it.

Let’s see the main characteristics of lighting in order to apply them to product photography.

• Natural light is still a type of lighting to take into account when photographing a product. If you have an environment with good lighting, take advantage of it, this light is very photogenic and does not require investing in too many accessories. The drawback is that it changes momentarily, so you must learn to know it well and be quite fast.
• Artificial lighting allows us to control the light at any time of the day, which makes it easier, therefore, to dedicate as much time to photos as we consider necessary.
• Keep in mind that one does not exclude the other, they are perfectly complementary and one can make up for the shortcomings of the other.
• With both types, you have to consider the quality of the light: it can be soft (large light source relative to the subject) or hard (small light source relative to the subject).
• Soft or diffused light is ideal for still life, it casts few shadows (for example, the light of a cloudy day).
• Hard light is ideal for highlighting shapes and high contrasts. Sunlight at noon would be, for example, an example of hard light.
• Another characteristic of light that you should know is how the light behaves depending on the direction from which it is projected on the object:
• Front light: the light hits the object from the front and produces very flat images with little texture or shadows while being more descriptive.
• Sidelight: the light is placed on one of the sides of the object, forming an angle of 90º with the camera. The result is an image with high illumination contrast between the illuminated side and the unlit side. Increases textures and volume. To dim the dark side, you can use a reflector.
• Ambient or background light: is the natural light that surrounds the object. In the studio, it is usually imitated by bouncing the light off the ceiling or using an overhead light source.
• Semilateral light: the light falls at an angle of about 45º. This lighting marks the textures and generates a sensation of depth. It is one of the most used lighting schemes.
• Contour light: it is used at an angle of about 135º and is used to highlight textures, emphasize perspective and outline the object.
• Backlight: The light comes from behind the subject and therefore in front of the camera. The contrast in this case is extreme between lights and shadows, losing most of the information about the object beyond its shape or silhouette.
• Fill light: it is used to fill in the shadows that a light source may cause.

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HOW TO DO PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY AT HOME?

When we see images as well crafted as product photographs usually are, we can think that neither we nor the material is going to be up to the task.

Nothing is further from reality. Product photography is a great candidate to be worked at home. You do not need large spaces or large investments in accessories to start. In fact, beyond a camera, an object, a tripod, and light, you don’t need more.

I leave you with a video that not only shows you how you can photograph a product but also does it with completely homemade lighting and accessories 🙂 .

Having seen the video, I leave you with this article on still life that will surely also help you with your homemade product photography. Oh, and if you need inspiration, be sure to check out this other article with 15 still-life images to inspire you.

PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY WITH A WHITE BACKGROUND

The white background is one of the most used in product photography. If you want to make a white background really white , you have to take several things into account:

• Obviously, you will need a white background ;).
• Make sure it’s well lit.
• Controls the white balance.
• Work in RAW.
• You have just adjusted the white in the develop.
• Separate the object from the background (so no shadows will be cast on top of the background).

Open the diaphragm to blur the background if necessary.
The white background is associated with purity and freshness, which is why it is usually used for food, objects with intense colors, or everyday objects such as personal hygiene products, makeup, technology, etc.

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WITH BLACK BACKGROUND

The black background in product photography is associated with elegance, luxury, retrospection and exclusivity. It is ideal for watches, transparent products such as spirits, perfumes, glassware and, in general, those objects that we want to give an air of exclusivity.

Now, to get a black background that is really black, you must take into account:

• Move the object away from the background.
• Or bring the lighting closer to the object if you can’t move it away from the background.
• Close the diaphragm.
• Reduce the exposure time to turn off the background.
• Use a low ISO to maintain sharpness.
• Work in RAW.
• You just adjusted the blacks in the render.

BASIC SETTINGS FOR PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY

Each image will need its own settings depending on the result you want to achieve. However, there are some general adjustments that can be useful in most of your product photos:

• To master product photography it is essential that you learn to master the manual mode.
• Always use the lowest possible ISO value. You will gain sharpness.
• A tripod is essential to reduce any possible shake.
• For the same reason, use a remote shutter release , when you squeeze a shutter there are small movements. Failing that, set up the camera’s remote shutter release.
• If you have any questions about sharpness , here are the most common questions and answers .
• Always work in RAW format, it is essential to obtain the best possible results in editing your photography.
• Use the diaphragm opening to control the depth of field or area in focus in the image. Remember that if you want to blur the background, you must open the diaphragm (low f/ value).
• Keep in mind the minimum focus distance of your lens.
• Control the white balance manually.

PRACTICAL TIPS FOR PHOTOGRAPHING PRODUCTS

Beyond the technical part, you cannot lose sight of these other tips for photographing products:

• The product must be in perfect condition. If it is a food, it must have an impeccable appearance, if it is an object, it must not have scratches or fingerprints or any type of dirt.
• Secure focus through Live View mode , if you have it.
• If you can connect the camera to your computer, it is a very good option to better analyze the image.
• Always observe the histogram of your image, do not trust the image on the screen.
• To create a reflection under the product, use an acrylic table or similar.
• Try never to reflect yourself in the product. You can do it by moving away from it and getting closer with the help of a telephoto lens or by changing the point of view.
• You can help yourself with a polarizing filter to reduce reflections (although it will reduce the sharpness of the image, especially if it is not of good quality).
• Use a diffuse light for reflective objects and a hard light for objects with a matte finish.
• Control the exposure and focus, the more perfect the image is on camera, the better the final result.

COMPOSITION IN PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY

The arrangement of the elements in the frame forms an essential part of the narrative discourse of your product photo. Composition is key:

• Tell a story: all the images must suggest a story, the product ones too. Through lighting, the arrangement of elements, props and color, our image must speak to the viewer.
• The human element helps to tell the story and is interesting for the whole image.
• The point of view: where you place the camera in relation to the object, and at what angle, can radically change the image.
• The rule of thirds: where in the frame do you place the object as well.

I recommend that you immerse yourself in our guide on a photographic composition which will clarify and expand all the information you need to know about composition in photography.

COLOR IN PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY

Learning to master color in the composition is essential if you want to work with any product. Taking into account the primary colors, the complementary ones, how they generate contrast between them or complement each other, or what each color transmits, is essential in product photography.

PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY AND HIGH SPEED

Shutter speed is a very interesting creative element for your product photography. Take a look at this article to learn how to use flash for high-speed photography.

PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY FOR INSTAGRAM AND OTHER SOCIAL NETWORKS

The good thing about this type of photo is that it does not need extreme quality like other types of product photography do for professional purposes for magazines or catalogs.

• Keep in mind the square format of Instagram when composing your image.
• Do not upload any image that you are not 100% sure of.
• Create a niche, be consistent with your style and images.
• Take care of the color. Vibrant colors attract more attention and are more successful (reds, yellows, etc.).
• The more impact, the better reception by the viewer and better positioning in Networks.
• Composition is key to helping read your photographs.
• A good story is essential, it brings the product closer to the viewer through it.
• Create simple but direct images.
• Also, use the networks to inspire you.
• Experiment with aesthetic photos .

In addition, we have for you these other tips to succeed in the networks with the product photography that will come to you from the movies.

HOW TO EDIT A PRODUCT PHOTO

Product photography editing is an art and today one does not exist without the other.

• Do it precisely, increase to 100% as many times as you need to check the adjustments you make.
• Take care of the color: it must be faithful to the original object.
• Correct white balance if necessary.
• Adjust the focus if necessary.
• Correct highlights and shadows.
• Trim whenever you need.
• Correct possible lens errors such as vignetting.
• Adjust the lines if some distortion has been generated.
• Remember, above all, that your product photography must be faithful to reality.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS

If you want to expand your knowledge about product photography, I recommend the following publications:

• Product and advertising photography by Miguel Merino Arias (PhotoRoute)
• Learn to photograph products like a professionally Martí Sans (GG)
• Foodie: The feast of photography and gastronomic styling by Raquel Carmona Romero (PhotoClub)
• Lighting For Product Photography: The Digital Photographer’s Step-by-Step Guide to Sculpting with Light (2nd Edition)by Allison Earnest.
• The Art and Style of Product Photography (Wiley Photography)by J. Dennis Thomas.

Product photography is a great way to learn photography in its broadest spectrum: composition, lighting, color theory… and all of this without having to leave home. Isn’t it true that at the end of this mega guide you feel capable of taking your first steps in product photography?

Let me tell you, to finish, that the main accessory you need to jump into product photography is… yourself. If you have the will and you are really interested in the subject, do not wait any longer. Don’t wait for your photographic equipment to be “complete”, don’t leave it for when you change your current camera for another. If you are going to photograph products, I think you should start now. You don’t start doing this overnight, it’s a learning process. As you practice, you learn. If you don’t practice, you don’t learn.

See you in the next article. Oh, remember that sharing is living, if you liked it, share it with photographers who can benefit from it.