Professional product photos are essential for marketplaces like Amazon. For many new sellers, it can seem like a daunting task. If you don’t want to hire a professional studio, you might want to look at these tips to set up your product photography studio. That’s why we’ve compiled 8 product photography tips to point you in the right direction.
1) Use a tripod
Consistency is key. A tripod lets you lock framing between shots and eliminate camera shake. With the same product, sometimes there are different variations such as colors. You will need to use a tripod to achieve the same style and angles across these variations.
2) Use standard lenses
Go with a 50mm (or equivalent) focal range to avoid any lens distortion. If you are shooting inside a studio, you will not need the expensive wide aperture f/2.8 lenses because you will be shooting at f/9 or lower.
3) Prepare your product
A good camera will pick up dust and fingerprints. Clean the item and use gloves if necessary. This will save you a good amount of time in Post Production. Remember, the camera is like a magnifier, it will pick up anything that is not visible to the human eyes.
Here is a list of items you might find handy when it comes to product handling:
- Sticky roller
- Computer screen cleaner
- Compressed air (dust remover)
Another helpful tip: Determine the make of your products. Solid products are essentially much easier to shoot since their size is fixed. Use clips and other props to reshape your product if it isn’t solid.
4) Use manual focus
Avoid blurry or soft photos. First, you will need to calibrate your lens and camera body to achieve the sharpest focus. Also, try to use Manual Focus.
5) Set your white balance
Set your camera’s white balance to accurately capture colors. Pay special attention to clothing!
6) Use online references
No amount of editing can save a bad photo. See how larger brands frame and angle their shots for some ideas.
7) Resize and optimize
Always resize and optimize your photos according to marketplace guidelines. In most circumstances, you’ll want to use JPG.
8) Make a shot list
Make a list of all the photos you need. Include details like product SKUs, their quantity and color variations, camera angles, and more.
These 8 product photography tips can help you achieve minimum standards, but what if you have a large catalog or desire something truly exceptional?
In that case, call in the professionals. Nexlon Studio specializes in product photography, with years of combined experience and dedicated studio space to quickly deliver quality results.
Photo Source: Pexels
