Example of product photography in my pop up photo tent...could use a bit more light! (and maybe more cowbell)

I have been really fortunate over the years to be able to work professionally building eCommerce websites for wonderful brands. My career has allowed the best possible on-the-job training at everything from web marketing to web design and even product photography. Most companies (even big brands) are still pretty scrappy about the way they get things done on the web and there are a few important tricks they use that will help make any product you sell online look like a million bucks. I am so excited to be able this experience with our loyal and talented Craft Ideas Weekly fans! Hope it is helpful…

It is easy to see that few things are as important online as good, high-quality, detailed pictures of your work. Whether you are selling your art or crafts on sites like Etsy, Ebay, or Amazon or just showcasing your work for friends on Facebook, there are some secret tricks of the trade you can use to make photographs of your crafts look really professional.

Gear That Will Let You Photograph Like a Professional:

Not all of this is essential, but this is the typical set up used for product photography on a professional eCommerce website:

Digital Camera

Tripod

Tent

Photo Lights

(optional but nice: Photoshop or other photo editing software to correct color, etc. )

The Most Important Things To Know:

Lighting
Controlling the light in your pictures is the number one thing that will make your products look clear and detailed. The goal is to minimize shadows on your product and maximize white light. Many companies do this by simply shooting photos in a “tent” with photo-ready lighting made specially for shooting small objects. Here is the one I (and actually some well-known web sites you probably shop on) use:

http://www.amazon.com/PBL-STUDIO-COMPLETE-LIGHTS-STANDS/dp/B001B8G4R8/

If you don’t have access to a tent and don’t want to purchase one, you can improve the quality of your photos by simply taking the object you are photographing outside or near a bright window. It might not look like it came from a photo studio but it will certainly create a warm inviting photo that showcases the details of your work.

Angle
Shoot all of your images at the same angle. Many of the companies I have worked for shoot products straight on (not angled up or down) and straight on at a 45 degree angle for their primary product shots. Play with angles to see which ones you like best and take several…better to show many good photos of your work than too few.

Use a Tripod (or steady surface)

Pictures of objects come out much better when the camera is very steady. I have found that a tripod is a necessity but in a pinch a heavy box on a sturdy table will work to hold your camera still too.

Too Much Zoom = Less Detail

You will have to spend some time practicing with your camera to learn about what works for you. Luckily with digital cameras, you can take a bunch of photos and see what they will look like on screen almost immediately. Try getting your camera close to your object and see if your pictures remain clear. You may have to play with the settings on your camera to get the photos to come out. Once you figure out your formula, you can pretty easily repeat it for photographing all the items you create (especially if they are the same size and shape.)

Sets and Accent Accessories – Keep It Simple

Most sites keep the background of the product photos very simple to put the focus on the product. As you get more comfortable with your equipment and style, you can play with adding complimentary fabrics, backdrops, even marble surfaces underneath your objects to make your photos a work of art.