How to take photos of products for an online store

Product photography is the most common area of photography in the commercial segment, especially for online stores.

Often, in the mind of a business owner, product photography looks like a very simple operation: put the object on a white background, fix the camera, and shoot to your heart's content. But after viewing the photos, the result no longer seems so attractive, and the process itself is extremely simple.

Why is subject photography not impressive?

The main reason for dissatisfaction with the result without the involvement of professional photographers lies in the subject itself. A product is not a living person who, in 90% of cases, knows his or her strengths and can demonstrate them in front of the camera. In order to convey the essence and content of the product, it is important to make the right accents (the right side, textual information in the field of view, color, etc.).

In addition, object photography is a type of studio work. Therefore, to take photos at home, you will still need additional tools, not just a brand new smartphone and a white background.

Types of photography for online stores

In fact, there are dozens of different types of object photography, the features of which should be taken into account when creating the perfect shot (a set of studio equipment, optics, and appropriate camera settings).

Experts distinguish between four types of content for online stores:

• Artistic object photography;
• Direct photography of the product;
• Food photography;
• Photographing flowers and other natural elements.

Artistic object photography

The results of such work can be used both to fill out a product catalog and to create advertising banners for a website. By choosing this option, the photographer creates creatives (non-standard options for positioning goods on the market). Artistic object photography is most often used by online perfume and cosmetics stores.

Direct photography of the product

It is the best option for a large online store of household appliances, electronics, and car parts. This approach is also used by marketplaces (for example, Rozetka).

Direct product photography has a number of rules and requirements that must be followed to obtain a high-quality result.

Food photography

This kind of shooting is extremely fast, as some foods (baked goods, steaks) quickly lose their decent appearance. The ability to use photo editors plays an important role in obtaining a "tasty" and "juicy" shot.

Photographing flowers and natural elements

This type of photography is on the verge of subject and portrait photography. To create a vivid photo, the flowers should be in active bloom, and the room temperature should not be too high so that the "models" do not lose their fresh and lively appearance while creating the composition.

Subject photography: tools and techniques

To successfully shoot goods and products, you will need:

• A camera with the right optics;
• The general surroundings (in other words, the background);
• A set of lighting equipment.

Camera and optics

For high-quality photos, you'll have to put down your favorite smartphone and pick up a professional camera. There are no special requirements when it comes to choosing a lens, but you'll have to work some magic with the optics.

Wide-angle optics are considered to be the best option for subject photography. It allows you to perform a number of maneuvers in a limited area to create a high-quality product photo.

You should also take care of a tripod for your camera, because you won't be able to fix the lens with your hands. In addition, a tripod will help you remove unnecessary artifacts, such as insufficient lighting and too long shutter speeds, as is the case with handheld photography. The more options you have for adjusting tripod positions, the more opportunities you have to create a favorable composition.

General surroundings

If you compare product photography to working in a studio, the photographer will have to shoot in a tiny room. Even a sheet of paper or a wall can serve as a white background. But the modern market offers many innovative solutions for high-quality product photography:

• Subject table. A special design that contains a vertical background plane and a horizontal plane for placing the subject. Such a device allows you to experiment with light and take pictures of rather large objects.
• Light cube: A universal device that allows you to customize the light using improvised elements (flashlight, light from a table lamp, etc.). The device is portable, compact, and doesn't require a long setup. The only caveat is that it's not convenient to photograph bulky goods in a light box.

A set of lighting equipment

In 80% of cases, to get the perfect shot, you should take care to install at least two soft light sources. The lighting scheme in subject photography differs significantly from the portrait version, as it is dictated by the technical requirements for the final result.

To summarize

In order to start object photography, you will need two light sources, a well-thought-out entourage, and a camera with a well-adjusted optic. Then it's up to you to choose the color, shape, and size of the subject, as well as the final processing of the resulting photos.