The e-commerce space is undeniably saturated, and most products face stiff competition online. When there are dozens (or hundreds, or even thousands!) of products that look and function just like yours, product photography is one factor that sets you apart. 

Whether they know it or not, customers want products that look visually appealing. High-quality photos position your product in the best possible light, and they send a signal that your brand should be taken seriously. The same attention to detail that leads you to invest in your product photos helps prospective customers feel confident in their purchase. 

Want to learn how to take world-class product photos? We’ll walk you through the process from start to finish, including some advanced techniques that can take your photos to the next level.

How High-Quality Photos Help Sell Products

When it comes to online shopping, customers rely on product images to make informed purchasing decisions. They expect photos to clearly and accurately show what your product looks like, how the colors will show up in real life, the relative scale of the product, and how the product looks in action. The more appealing and accurate your photos, the more likely you’ll sell products and build a base of satisfied customers.

Importantly, the high-quality photo itself is only half of that equation. If your photos are beautiful but not accurate to the real-life product experience, you’ll end up with product returns and angry customers. Investing in photos that look good and do your product justice is the best way to build trust and set your brand apart.

Basic Product Photography Elements

If you’re taking your own product photos, there are three elements you should prioritize first: lighting, composition, and your background or props. Each element has best practices that are specific to product photos. Let’s start with lighting!

Lighting

Lighting is the most fundamental element of most photography sessions. It’s important to understand that different lighting setups can drastically change the way your product looks on camera. For example, soft, diffused lighting can minimize harsh shadows, while directional lighting can add depth and dimension. 

When in doubt, experiment with your light forms and placements to see how they affect your product. Just remember that an accurate depiction of your product is more important than getting the most beautiful photo. If your favorite lighting setup distorts the way your product looks, it’s likely not the right fit. 

Composition

Next, composition is the arrangement and framing of your product within the frame. Consider the rule of thirds and negative space to create visually interesting compositions. In addition to your artistic shots, make sure to get some basic shots that show off the product more literally. 

Since your goal is selling products, capturing the right placements and angles is more important than having a world-class photo composition. Taking more photos than you think you’ll need can also help make sure you have the shots that really count. 

Background and Props

Finally, clean and uncluttered backgrounds help direct attention to your products. Choose backgrounds that complement your product’s style and aesthetic, or opt for neutrals for a simpler layout. Props can also enhance the visual storytelling and create a sense of context, but be mindful of using props sparingly to avoid overshadowing the main focus. Your product itself is what matters most! 

Mastering Advanced Techniques

Once you have a grasp of the basics, you can take your product photography to the next level with these advanced techniques. If you work with an expert team for your product photos, they’ll likely handle some of these steps for you. Just make sure to align on exactly what’s included in your photography package before you commit.

Product Styling

Product styling is a more advanced version of using props and backgrounds to give your product context. Styling your products helps tell a story for anyone clicking through your photos, and it can be used to show off your product’s common use cases. 

Great product stylists might incorporate elements that evoke an emotional response, play up the brand colors, or even alter the product’s look or feel to make the photos look more realistic. Food styling is a great example of this concept: since some food elements don’t photograph very well, “faking” them for photos actually makes the photos more true to life. It’s an artful deception that can help buyers visualize what their product will really look like. 

Depth of Field

If you want your photos to look especially professional, play with the depth of field to create a sense of focus and emphasize specific aspects of your products. You can use a wide aperture to achieve a shallow depth of field, blurring the background and drawing attention to the main subject. Or, if it’s more important to see the product in context with the background elements, you can keep everything in focus together. 

The depth of field concept can also be combined with product styling to capture more context for some setups than others. This is where it can really help to have a professional to guide you in the right direction! 

Macro Photography

Finally, macro photography allows you to capture intricate details and textures that might otherwise go unnoticed. Use a macro lens or macro mode on your camera to capture close-up shots that reveal the fine craftsmanship of your products. For macro shots, it’s especially important to pay attention to lighting and composition to make the details stand out. In the wrong conditions, tiny details can still blend into the photo even with a macro lens. 

Post-Processing and Editing

After capturing your product photos, post-processing and editing help make sure they’re ready for your website, product pages, social media accounts, or anywhere else you want to share them. Here are some key points to consider:

• Color Correction: Adjust the color balance and saturation to ensure your products appear true to life. Maintain consistency across all your images to create a cohesive visual identity.
• Retouching: Minor retouching can help remove distractions or imperfections, but be cautious not to overdo it. Make sure to retain the integrity and authenticity of your products.
•  Image Optimization: Last but not least, resize your images for optimal web performance. Compressing images typically reduces file size (which helps with site speed) without a significant loss in visual quality.

Final Thoughts

Mastering DIY product photography is a valuable skill that can take your e-commerce performance

to the next level. Use the tips and tricks above to capture effective photos for your products, and don’t be afraid to experiment with the advanced techniques along the way!

If you’d rather outsource the process to photography experts, the Lemonlight team is equipped to deliver professional-looking photos for all kinds of products. Whether you want to add still photography to your video shoot or you want a standalone photoshoot, we’ll help you get the best results from your product shots. Contact us below to learn more!