You don’t need to hire a professional photographer to have the best product photos on your page. If you’re a startup, then you’re most likely doing everything yourself anyway. However, not all of us are gifted with an eye for photography, but this doesn’t mean you can’t take good pictures of your products by yourself.
In the beauty industry, product photos can make or break a sale. People want a product that looks good first and foremost, so even if you have the best formula or packaging, customers aren’t going to buy your product if your pictures lack quality.
If your product photos need some work, here are the best ways you can improve:
1. Look for retouching services
If you don’t know how to make your product pictures look better but don’t want to do the shoot all over again, some services retouch jewelry, makeup, and other product pictures. This type of service can make your product look ten times better and more professional compared to your raw photos. Moreover, it can make your beauty products look high-end to appeal to more customers.
2. Clean your products pre-shoot
Before taking pictures of your products, clean them with a wet wipe or soft cloth, and use water or makeup remover if necessary. This will save you lots of time because you won’t have to edit specks of dust or smears of product in post-processing, making your work more efficient.
3. Pick the right backdrop
Make sure that your background matches what type of product you’re shooting and pick scenes that don’t take too much attention away from the main subject. A plain white background works best for most product pictures. You can also choose different colors, depending on the product and the mood you’re trying to set, as long as they don’t take the focus away from the product.
4. Invest in a better camera
Your smartphone’s camera can only do so much, so buying an SLR for your business can be a good investment. Choose a camera that is at least 16 megapixels or more; this value is enough to capture great still photos. The higher you go, the better the image quality you can get. And if you want to take professional-looking product photos, you must learn how to use the camera beyond its ‘Auto’ feature.
5. Use natural light
You don’t need professional studio lights to come up with incredible product photos. Natural light is not only cost-free, but it can also make your product look more authentic compared to those shot under studio lights.
6. Change your aperture
Modify your aperture depending on your product and its backdrop. If you are shooting with a plain white backdrop, any aperture will do. But if you’re shooting with some details in the background, use an aperture point that is just enough to blur the background and capture the details of the product. On the other hand, if you want to capture the product and the background in sharp detail, use a small aperture.
When shooting with non-plain backgrounds, it’s a good practice to take pictures in different apertures so you can have lots of options to choose from in post-processing.
7. Choose details carefully
Beauty products are often staged with details like flower petals, plants, jewelry, and the like. These details can enhance the appearance of the product and make the image less boring. However, be careful in staging your products with props. Just like backgrounds, they should not take the focus away from the main subject.
8. Don’t use flash
Flash can make your pictures look unflattering. If you need lighting, use natural light or DIY studio lights instead of the camera’s flash.
9. Buy a tripod
It’s easier to take photos with a tripod. Plus, you’re less likely to end up with blurry images due to shaky hands. Buy a small tripod and see how much it can make your photo shoots easier.
10. Edit your photos
If you’re not well-versed in Photoshop, Lightroom, or other editing programs, you can download numerous applications that come with pre-made filters. However, avoid over-editing your photos to make them look as authentic as possible.
Taking great pictures for your business is something that comes with experience and practice. To take your skills further, apply these strategies for your next product photo shoot. With just a few changes, you’ll be surprised by the quality of your images and, ultimately, your brand’s aesthetic.
