Tips For Taking Great Product Photos

Product photos are an essential marketing asset of any e-commerce business, including subscription box businesses. Those images are used for more than just listing products on your website. They SELL your products - and your subscription box. You’ll use those images on your website, social media, blogs, Pinterest, etc. 

Product photos are HIGHLY important to your business. Take the time and effort to make them the best they can be so you can put those images to work for you.

Spend a little time upfront with your pictures to save a TON of time later when you want to use them over and over again. 

Keep reading for my top tips for taking great product photos.

Make your product the star by using a background that displays it to its best advantage - without distracting from it. Photo backgrounds come in MANY different forms. 

I use a few different backgrounds to keep my photos looking fresh and fun.

I’ve taken things from the floor to a table for my product photos. I have a light-colored 4x4 table that does the job perfectly.

When choosing a background, the most important thing is that it is light so it doesn't compete with the color of your product. I love a light wood or white background. Be aware that background colors can change the appearance of your products. I have a turquoise table I sometimes use that can make my items look green!

You don’t need an expensive lighting system to take great product photos. 

When we first moved into the warehouse, we used the bright ceiling UV lights. More recently, we upgraded to a table set up with a few ring lights and softbox lighting. We also have a lot of big windows in the front that are perfect for taking great photos.

When I was just starting out, I took photos in the entryway of my house.  I would lay my background down and open the front door to let all that natural light in. 

Natural light can be beautiful as long as you take care not to be in direct sunlight. It's harsh and doesn't photograph well.

Now that you’ve chosen the perfect background and your lighting is on point, it’s time to "set the stage!"

You can photograph your products by themselves, just like the earrings above. Or you can create a "look" by adding coordinating items with home decor, jewelry, clothing, etc. These images help customers see how they can put your products to use. 

Here, I’m photographing pullovers. Instead of taking a picture of just the pullover, I created an entire outfit. Now my customers are able to easily imagine how they can fit my pullovers into their wardrobes.

I create coordinating looks for photos with:

• Other products I carry in the store like bags and earrings. This generates extra sales and increases average order value!
• Items I've purchased on clearance at other stores. When I am out shopping, I like to check the clearance section for a cheap way to stockpile items I can use all the time. I have several pairs of ripped jeans specifically to use in photos.

• Items from home. I grabbed this cute mug from my kitchen cabinet.  Don't be afraid to use some of your personal items.
• Items from Amazon. As an Amazon Influencer, I can create affiliate links from Amazon. I buy several things a month from Amazon to use in my photos because I want to make sure the quality is up to my standards before suggesting them to my customers. I earn a small percentage of sales every time one of my customers buys from my Amazon shop!

Find all my favorite subscription box supplies in my Amazon Shop!

When I compose my photos, I place my products strategically to allow room for my watermark. I watermark all my product photos. In the past, I've had my photos stolen and used on someone else's page. Placing a watermark logo on the picture helps to prevent that.  

I use an app called iWatermark from Apple.

Want to learn my quick and easy - and very low-tech - method? Simply place your finger right where you’ll put the watermark, leaving space in your flat lay to make sure you don't cover anything up!

Telling you about the watermark app on my phone was a hint about the type of camera I use for my product photos. I don’t use any fancy equipment - I use my phone to take all my product photos.  You can, too. Today’s cell phones have some of the highest quality cameras built right into them.

There’s no need for you to invest in a fancy camera. Using one requires a lot of time and effort to take photos and then edit them. Instead, just whip out your phone, snap a few pics, edit them right there, and move on!

Let's talk about editing. Even with great lighting and a well-thought-out composition, you may still need to edit your pictures. I use the Lightroom app on my phone to take a good picture and make it great! See how it brightens up the product and background?

Just be careful when using the presets in Lightroom. Make sure it doesn't alter the color of your items.

*Sarah’s tip: Update your pictures in Lightroom first, then watermark them.

I've shown you several ways to set up and take pictures using backgrounds, but I also want you to take photos called 'Lifestyle Images.' These are pictures where your product is being used or is in its environment.

This mug is full of coffee and in its natural habit so to speak.  I've taken this image in the spot where this mug will be used. It looks more “real life” and homey in a kitchen than if I took a picture of it against a neutral background.

When taking product photos, spend a little extra time and take multiple pictures of the same thing in different ways. 

Check out these pictures I did for my T-Shirt Club tee. I created four different looks at the same time. Now I have a new picture to post each week, several different pins, conversation starters to ask my audience which look is their favorite, and I can even write a blog about how to style the same tee in four different ways.