The perceived value of your products and the trustworthiness of your brand are often judged on the quality of their visual presentation. That means that having beautiful, high-end product photos can be very useful.

However, not all online shop owners can afford to invest in a professional photography studio when they are just starting out. Home product photography offers an excellent alternative. Showcasing your products in your online shop with high-quality images can be the winning difference between a conversion and no sale.

Let's explore each of the elements you will need to set up your product photography.

1. Camera

You don't need a crazy full frame DSLR camera system. While capturing images with a Nikon D810 (~$2K) with a 105mm f/1.4 lens ($740) is amazing, it's also totally unnecessary.

So what is the best camera for product photography? I would simply start with what you have on hand. In reality, the camera is just one piece of the whole. A photograph is made up of a series of choices that incorporate lighting, exposure, styling and post-processing decisions.

Newer smartphones feature powerful camera lenses and settings that allow you to optimise your shots for the different types of light and environments in which you may shoot.

2. Capture images from a tripod for photographic consistency.

It is all too easy for this makeshift setup to slip during the shoot and cause inconsistencies in the appearance of your photos. If you place the camera on, for example, a stack of books, make sure that this arrangement does not change during the course of the shoot.

There is nothing wrong with you holding the camera when you take just a few product photos for your e-commerce website. But as your business grows and you take more photos of more products, it can be difficult to standardise the orientation of the product in each photo when shooting with your handheld computer.

To ensure consistency in all your products, you will need a tripod.

3. Choose natural light or artificial light.

Never underestimate how certain types of light can enhance (or hinder) your product photography. Remember, shoppers see an item best in person, where they can see everything they need to before they buy. The right lighting setup helps you reveal critical product features when all website visitors have to go on to a photo.

A single lighting configuration may not work for all products; a lighting arrangement that works for some products may weaken the appearance of others.

4. Use a sweep or portrait mode to highlight the product:

There is no one right way to place your product, lights and bounce cards; they can change drastically depending on your background. But don't choose a background based on what is easiest to create. Backgrounds should resemble how you want your buyers to perceive your product when they view it online. Consider first whether you want a white background or a more dynamic, real-world background. There is an easy way to achieve each.

5. Take a variety of images:

Don't stop at one photo per product. Just as your customers look at, hold, use and even try on merchandise in a shop, your website should capture a variety of images to simulate this same experience.

If you are photographing clothing, for example, capture the garment alone, i.e. stretched out on a white surface, as well as on a mannequin whose colour contrasts with the colour of the product. Then, for additional photos, have the clothing modelled on a person, allowing you to take photos of the product from the different poses and angles of the person.

Product photo configuration

Let's summarise what we have just received: here is a list of quick product photography setup tips that you can refer to and share with your team:

• Go for a camera, whether that means using your smartphone or not.
• Get a tripod that works for your camera of choice.
• Choose natural or artificial lighting: think about which option is best for your product and environment.
• Determine whether to fill or bounce the light.
• Select portrait or sweep mode.
• Take several different images to offer variety to your viewers.

Once you have your photos it will be of great help to promote your brand's products, if you don't have a website yet you can hire our service, this will give you online visibility. You can also check our marketing plans and unlimited design. We are here to boost your business, contact us!