Tips to better product photography
Often times, people say all it takes to become a professional product photographer is to acquire a camera, put a product in place, then point and shoot. But that simple, yet asinine statement couldn’t be farther from the truth. There’s more to product photography than just buying a cheap camera, aiming and pushing a button. In order to become a professional photographer, you must first track down a professional camera.
Whats the best camera for product photos?
There are affordable consumer cameras out there that even many professionals use. It all depends on the user! But that’s not all, then you must learn all of the technical details as there’s more than just turning the camera on. You must learn the camera’s settings and when each setting is appropriate for each shot. You must learn the difference between zoom and prime lenses; ISOs; fstops; then shot composition; etc. And another insightful tip many amateur photographers don’t know about is the bulk of the work takes place after the picture is taken. Those headshots you see in magazines and family portraits you see hanging along the walls aren’t raw photos, they are digitally enhanced with a photo editing software (and you can download many digital photo editing programs online for free).
Resources
- Video Marketing: The Top 9 Tips to Enhance Your Branding Efforts
- Graphic Design in 2019: The top 14 trends we expect to see this new year
Finding the best props for product photography
Once you’ve learned the technical aspects of your camera, you must then set up a studio. It can be anywhere large enough to fit a backdrop (i.e. your spare bedroom, garage, etc.). Then you’ll want to purchase a several multi‐colored backdrops and a backdrop stand, a tripod, umbrella lights, reflectors and bounceboards and maybe even additional props to further add character to your subject.
Once you’ve purchased all the items necessary, it’s time to start taking test photos. Firstly, take a product of any kind and set it in place. Then experiment with the lighting. Experiment with your camera settings. Experiment with angles and different lenses. Keep experimenting until you’ve fully grasped the concept that is photography. Then, it’s time to enhance your photos and experiment with your photo editing software. Once you’ve got this down, the clients will start pouring in and you can officially call yourself a professional product photographer!
