KICK-ASS Product photography can really showcase just how amazing your products are and can help you outshine your competitors and increase your sales online.
And as usual, we have gathered the best product photography tips and hacks for getting stellar product images using these simple techniques.
1. Understanding your brand
Every potential customer is looking for something to fix a problem they have. Ensure that both you and your brand’s vision are in alignment by asking yourself the end goals you want to achieve.
Follow this product photography tips brief with guided questions:
- How do you want to be seen?
- Who is your target market?
- Who are your main competitors?
- What words best describe your brand?
- How will the pictures be used?
If you still cannot express what you want, create a mood board on Pinterest.
You can pin sample pictures of the colour, mood, and aesthetic you feel best represent your brand and take it from there.
2. Who Is Your Customer?
You do not sell by appealing to everyone.
Discern the age, gender, and social status of your target customers and focus on pleasing your target market enough to make them buy your product.
Warning: Not all end users are the ones who will buy from you, but don’t lose the resolve to focus on your target niche first.
3. Plan your studio day ahead of time.
Planning is the key to your success on this day. Most photographers will do this step for you but it doesn’t hurt for you to be prepared as well!
As a media production team, we plan the props, overall theme, background, shot list, storyboard, look and feel of the whole shoot and how all of the products will be transported to the location. Depending on the shoot this also includes organising people. Models, Makeup Artists and Hair Stylists; there is so much more to a full shoot than you may expect.
Your photographer will do a lighting test to see what kind of light works best on the site prior to the actual shoot so they can troubleshoot whatever needs repairing, or taken into consideration etc.
Make sure that your product shoot does not only showcase your product but delivers a message. The secret to convincing your target audience that they cannot live without your product is to start with your WHY – and that starts with a backstory.
4. Product Photography Styling should be brand cohesive.
Talking about the story, make sure your product shoot makes sense for your brand, and every element fits together with each other.
Consider the shape, scents, flavours, complementary colours, additional props that would help stage a scene etc.
Make sure your target market knows exactly what your product can do for them at a glance. If you are shooting a mint ice cream, you can use a refreshing background with fresh mint leaves accompanying the product.
5. What is your overall mood and colour motif?
Colour is a strong buying influence on buyers, and we mean it.
Colour Theory is a whole psychological practice we use in marketing to help target markets feel a certain emotion based on the colour we use.
This Colour Theory is used a lot when creating logos and Branding Kits.
You want to make sure that you grab buyers’ attention and stay on their minds until they buy.
Set the mood and condition the market to feel that emotion whenever they see your brand colours and then use those brand colours consistently throughout your product photography.
6. Scaling Properly
Products look a lot larger in pictures. You want objects that work together in complimenting your product on camera.
So let’s say you are aiming to shoot a beauty ampoule for sensitive skin and you want your audience to have a sense of scaling on how the actual product looks like and how big or small it is.
You then set to produce a set wherein objects that compliment your product will be used alongside it to further explain through photos the actual size of your product.
7. Props Props Props
Props highlight your product’s key features, usage, and benefits to the buyer’s lifestyle. It completes your product backstory.
Going back to your mint ice cream shooting, you can use snow or igloo props to convey coolness. Or maybe you can stage the scene to showcase where you would use this product to help your target audience to imagine the product in their own lives. Imagine a beach scene; the sand, the blue sky, the hot summer sun, and finally right in the centre, someone’s hand with your fresh mint ice cream as it slowly melts down the cone. Now this one is definitely targeted to a hot Aussie Summer, but what can I say – Yum!
But don’t get too excited, you can’t just include random props. Make sure every piece included helps to tell your story.
8. Backgrounds & Backdrops
Whether you’re on location or in the studio – you need to know what your backdrop is going to be.
Backdrops go hand in hand with your props. A bright red or high noon background might not go with your mint ice cream scene.
Best to use simple neutral-coloured backdrops or complementary colours.
A plain white background is great for e-commerce shoots. While combining white with a bit of texture makes lifestyle photos more alive.
9. Highlight the Product
Make your product the main star of the shoot by hanging it, placing it outdoors, or showing it being used by people.
Think of where buyers use your product and shoot it there in its natural setting. Don’t let it get eaten by too many props, though.
10. Take good care of composition and balance
Again, never overpower your product in your images.
Always make sure you are presenting your product realistically to avoid the wrath of frustrated customers.
Follow the rule of thirds and use vertical lines if needed. Click here for a detailed how-to on using the rule of thirds and lines.
Best-selling photographers use these tips for their stellar photos, and you can do them in your photoshoots today. By knowing the secrets to crazy stunning product photography, you will never have a problem with sales again.
Product photography styling can be intimidating, but these surefire tips will help you in your journey.
However, if you don’t want to bother with any of these, you can book a FREE creative call with us to discuss what you have in mind for your project and we can brainstorm TOGETHER!