How to take great product photos

If a picture says a thousand words, we at The Handmade Exchange also believe that a picture will sell a product.

Learning how to take great photos is one of the most important things you can do when selling online. Potential customers can't try on or touch your product, so your photo must portray its beauty and value.

Great product photography does not require an expensive camera or studio. Simply follow these tips to start taking fabulous product photography and boost your sales!

Camera – A DSLR is helpful, but not essential, for taking a great photo. Using a regular point and shoot digital camera can still produce great results! Make sure you are familiar with your camera and its settings - have a read through your camera's manual if you are unsure of any settings. When taking photos of small items like jewellery it is best to use your camera's 'macro' setting (the icon for 'macro' looks like a little flower). This allows you to get the camera very close to your product without the image losing focus.

Background – A plain background is best for product photography. Your point of focus should always be on your product, so avoid photographing against busy backgrounds. We often use wood or a large piece of white craftpaper to photograph items on.

Lighting - Good lighting is easily the most important factor in achieving a great product photo. A common mistake is to take your photos in direct sunlight. However, direct sunlight will distort the image due to reflection and glare. When photographing indoors, you should always take your photos near a large open window with a lot of natural light and avoid using your flash. If outdoors find a shaded area that has plenty of natural light but no direct sunlight.

Composition – To compose a great product photo the first step is simply to take a lot of photos! Don't be afraid to try different things and always take pictures from a variety of angles (use tape, blu-tack, or other items to prop up your product). One trick of the trade is to imagine your photograph divided into thirds, both vertically and horizontally (see image below right). The points where the lines intersect are focus points (the eye naturally looks there) so make sure the spot you want your customer focusing on rests on one of these four points (notice where the deer is positioned) or at least distinctly within one of the thirds! 

(Lilli didn't take this photo)

By following these tips any artist can take great, effective product photography. When in doubt, find some of your favourite products online and try to take a similar style of picture. Take a lot of photos as you learn - this will help you discover what works and what doesn't. 

Words by Andy and photographs by Lilli of The Handmade Exchange