7 tips on product photography

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Do you have a company and would like to put your products online? But here you are, saying that photography is too complex, and with the high quantity of products in your inventory, it will be very difficult for you to sell on the internet?

You should know that it is possible to photograph a large quantity of products in a short period of time. To succeed in this project, you will have to advocate a well-structured working method from the start. This will help you save a lot of time while getting the results you really want.

My name is Joseph Brouillard and I am a photographer for Mister eCommerce. In this article, I will give

you some essential tips for a successful shooting.

Evaluate locations and required installation

Here are the questions you’ll have to ask yourself to get started:

Will the external light sources harm my work?
Will I have enough space to work?
What background should I use, retro-lit or white background?

As far as the background is concerned, the Retro-lit background will be very useful when you are clipping with Adobe Lightroom. On the other hand, if you want to keep a shadow, then the white background will be recommended!

Turning on your device

When your camera is turned on, you must make sure that when you open it, the pictures will be taken in the best quality and format! Even today, it is a mistake that I happen to make from time to time. A small oversight that can have unfortunate consequences on the quality of the finished product. By developing this habit, you will be sure to start your photo session the right way!

Which operating mode to choose?

For the product photography, the manual mode is recommended. Since the shooting is done in the studio and there are multiple light sources to manage, I recommend that you set the aperture and shutter speed manually. Thus, you remain master of your device! Your images will be much sharper, which will add value to your site.

White Balance

You might be tempted by the automatic mode, AWB. It is simpler, faster and requires no adjustment. However, I advise against it; You need to know that the different light sources (halogen light, sun, neon, etc.) do not all have the same color temperature. By choosing the automatic option in these situations, your camera will mislead you with all these different color temperatures. You may get a finished product with a pink complexion.

When working under projector, the custom mode is indicated.

Here are 5 steps to perform a effective white balance:

1.Take a photo of a blank sheet
2.Enable Custom White Balance
3.Select the photo containing the blank sheet and validate
4.Choose the “Custom White Balance” setting by pressing “WB” on your device
5.You are ready to take pictures!
By following these steps, you will avoid unpleasant surprises and you will have the right colors.

Which angle should you use?

Each product is different, so it is possible that you need to use different shots for certain products. You

have to find the ideal position, the one that highlights your product.

It is with experimentation that you will find your answer. So you need to test different angles and different approaches with the zoom, while trying somethings with the product until you find the best position.

For those who have several types of products to shoot, keep in mind that your photos must be homogeneous, so they must all be taken at the same angles. Your website will benefit greatly!

Using a Tripod

Just a little destabilization or a slight involuntary movement, and now your images have lost quality. Do not take any chances, you can avoid unpleasant mistakes using a tripod. This one will assure your pictures stable. You will be able to use the zoom without losing resolution and your photos will have the brightness sought. In addition, it will greatly help for the homogeneity of your pictures.

The photographer’s kit

When it comes to photographing all sorts of different products (shapes, sizes, colors, textures and materials), there are different must have tools that a photographer will need :

White cardboard: very useful when external light creates a shadow or an unwanted reflection
Blue gum, sticky tape, glue etc. : Useful, when there is a corner roll up
Rope, always practical to hold a product up,
Gray or black cardboard, to bring out the color of the product when it is white.
Etc.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, but it gives you an idea of the ingenuity you need to photograph products.

Sometimes you’ll need ingenuity in order to photograph products of all formats from different angles and conditions that change from one photoshoot to another. Having a good game plan and good working methods is essential, but you also need to know how to improvise to adapt to circumstances and unforeseen circumstances, you’ll come upon them, believe me!

In conclusion, taking your time to settle down is the key. Once you are properly set up, your camera’s settings are adjust to your needs and the light is well adjusted, lean towards the sensor and take a look at it. Look at the product and tell him “You do not move anymore and smile …” click !!!

Questions, comments or objections?