Product photography hacks for commercial purposes

In the world of e-commerce, visuals are king. High-quality product photos can make the difference between a potential customer adding an item to their cart or clicking away to a competitor’s site. But professional photoshoots can be expensive and time-consuming, putting them out of reach for many small businesses and startups.

The good news is, with a few simple hacks and DIY techniques, you can elevate your product photography game without breaking the bank. In this article, we’ll share some of our favorite tips and tricks for capturing stunning product images that will make your e-commerce store shine. From leveraging natural light to crafting the perfect background, read on to learn how you can create professional-grade product photos on a budget.

One of the most important elements of great product photography is lighting, and the best light source is often free – the sun! 

Taking your photoshoot outdoors or next to a large window allows you to harness the power of natural light. The soft, diffused glow of indirect sunlight can make products look their best without harsh shadows or glare.

To maximize natural light, aim to shoot during the “golden hours” just after sunrise or before sunset when the sun is lower in the sky. This creates a warm, flattering light that enhances colors and textures.

If the natural light is too bright and creating shadows, you can use a sheer white curtain or sheet of translucent plastic to soften and diffuse the light. This simple hack gives you more control to achieve the perfect lighting.

When shooting indoors with natural light from a window, use a reflector on the opposite side of your product from the light source. A white foam board or sheet of poster board works well to bounce light back onto the product, evening out the illumination.

Consistently using natural light for your product photography, whether indoors or out, creates a cohesive look and feel for your e-commerce store. It conveys a sense of authenticity that resonates with customers.

The background you choose for your product photos plays a key role in making items pop and communicating your brand aesthetic. 

You don’t need an expensive studio setup to get a clean, professional-looking backdrop. A large sheet of white poster board or roll of seamless white paper makes an ideal blank canvas to make your products the star of the show.

For a creativity boost, try positioning your product in relevant contexts using themed backdrops made of wood, metal, tile, or fabric. Visit your local hardware or craft store for affordable options.

If a physical backdrop isn’t practical, you can easily fake it in post-production. Shoot your product against a solid color background, ideally green, then digitally remove the background and replace it with your desired backdrop image. Many free and low-cost photo editing apps have this capability.

Consistency is key with product photography backgrounds. Choose a cohesive color palette and set of backdrop materials to use across your product lines. This unifies your images and creates a strong brand identity.

Using interesting materials and relevant environments as backdrops in a consistent way allows you to creatively showcase your products while maintaining a polished, put-together look for your store. It makes a strong impression on customers.

Taking a great product photo is just the first step – skilled editing is what makes images truly shine. 

Even if you’ve captured your product with perfect lighting and backdrop, every photo can benefit from some editing to bring out its full potential. Luckily, photo editing doesn’t require expensive software.

There are many free and low-cost photo editing apps and web-based platforms that have all the essential tools. Start with the basics like cropping, adjusting exposure and color balance, and sharpening details.

More advanced editing techniques like removing backgrounds, adding shadow effects, or adjusting color vibrancy take your images to the next level of professionalism. Many apps have user-friendly tools specifically for these purposes.

Creating a set of editing presets for aspects like filters, exposure settings, and color correction allows you to give all your product photos a consistent look and feel with just one click. This is key for brand cohesiveness.

Make it a goal to retouch every product photo before adding it to your e-commerce store. Polished, edited images that have a consistent aesthetic will elevate your brand in customers’ eyes and convey quality and credibility.

Artful product photography is about more than just pointing and shooting – composition plays an essential role in creating images that delight and convert customers.

The classic “rule of thirds” is a fundamental of composition that creates visual interest. Imagine your frame divided into a 3×3 grid and position your product along the lines or at the intersection points for a balanced, pleasing image.

Don’t be afraid to play with perspective and camera angles to feature your products in new ways. Shooting from above, below, or at 45-degree angles highlights different attributes and shows off products’ unique shapes and textures.

Try grouping multiple related products together and use props that showcase the product in action for an engaging lifestyle photo. This spotlights ways the customer can use the item and cross-sell effectively.

Look for opportunities to use leading lines, symmetry, framing, and even props like greenery to draw attention to the product within the overall composition. Be intentional about every element you include.

Take ample photos from multiple angles and arrangements so you have plenty of options to choose from. Thoughtful application of composition techniques will offer fresh perspectives and create scroll-stopping images that drive sales.

Reflectors are an essential and affordable tool for any product photography toolkit that give you greater control over lighting without needing expensive equipment.

A reflector is simply a surface that bounces light back onto your product to accentuate features, even out shadows, or add a pop of brightness. White foam boards or poster boards are a great DIY option that are cheap and readily available.

To use a reflector, place it at an angle opposite your main light source, whether that’s a window for natural light or a lamp. Tilt and position the reflector to guide the light onto areas of your product you want to highlight.

Foam board reflectors work especially well for filling in shadows on your product or backdrop that are too dark. Bouncing just a bit of light into those shadowy areas creates a more balanced, evenly lit image.

For a different effect, you can also use colored or metallic reflectors. A gold reflector adds warmth, silver creates a cooler light, and black reflectors act as flags to subtract light for moodier images.

Reflectors are key for creating professional lighting setups without a big budget. Their affordability and simple usage make them invaluable tools for crafting beautifully illuminated commercial product photography.

While DIY product photography hacks offer bootstrapping options, investing in professional CGI product photography can be a game-changer for e-commerce businesses.

CGI, or computer-generated imagery, allows for complete creative control over every aspect of a product photo, from the angles and lighting to the colors and environment. This means showcasing products in their ideal state every time.

With traditional photography, you’re limited by the realities of physics and your studio setup. CGI transcends those limits and makes it possible to visualize any concept, no matter how imaginative or complex. 

CGI product photography is often more cost-effective than traditional photoshoots since it eliminates the need for physical prototypes, studio rentals, complex lighting setups, and model or photographer fees. All that’s needed is a digital product model.

The CGI production process is also much faster than orchestrating a live photoshoot and going through rounds of edits. Once a digital model is created, it can generate hundreds of images from any angle nearly instantaneously.

At Welpix, we specialize in creating stunning, photoreal CGI images for e-commerce businesses. Our state-of-the-art rendering software and skilled 3D artists and designers bring products to life in vivid detail while ensuring a rapid turnaround and affordable pricing. Consider outsourcing your product photography to us and discover the incredible potential of CGI to showcase your products and grow your business.

With the product photography hacks outlined in this article, you’re well on your way to capturing professional-grade images that will make your e-commerce store shine. From harnessing the power of natural light to cleverly using backdrops and reflectors, these simple DIY techniques can elevate your product photos without a big investment.

However, when it comes to achieving truly exceptional, high-impact commercial photography, CGI is the ultimate tool. With its unparalleled creative flexibility, flawless photorealism, and cost and time efficiency, CGI empowers you to bring any product vision to life. At Welpix, we are proud to be at the forefront of this cutting-edge technology, partnering with e-commerce businesses like yours to create stunning, conversion-boosting product imagery. Let us help you unleash the full potential of your products and your brand with our innovative CGI solutions.