Do you need professional photos of your products but can’t afford to hire a photographer? Well in this blog, I will show you how to take amazing photos at home for your business! There are many ways to take great looking photos with minimal equipment and time invested. In this post we will show you how to get started by discussing the following topics:
– Choosing the right location
– Lighting and backdrops
– Props and accessories
– Editing and post-processing
Location, Location, Location
One of the most important aspects of taking photos at home is finding a space that will work well for your needs. Ideally, you want a room with lots of natural light. If you don’t have a room with good natural light, don’t worry – you can still create great photos by using artificial lighting.
You also want a space that will be free from clutter and unnecessary distractions like piles of papers, dirty dishes in the sink etc. If you have time, it is best to clean up your area before taking photos so there aren’t any distractions or mess for viewers when they view your images.
Blurring Backgrounds
The easiest way to blur out distracting backgrounds is by using a simple tool called depth-of-field. Depth-of-field refers to how much of an image appears sharp relative to what’s blurry around it. You can achieve this effect on most camera lenses by adjusting the aperture setting (the F stop) which controls how wide open the lens opens allowing more light through while making things appear smaller behind your subject matter which creates the blur.
Lighting Tips
When taking photos indoors, it’s important to use artificial lighting whenever possible. This will help you avoid harsh shadows and bright spots that can ruin an otherwise great photo. There are many types of artificial light sources that you can use, but we recommend using studio lights if you have them.
If not, there are plenty of other options like table lamps, clamp lights, reflectors and even your phone’s flashlight.
Lights, Camera, Action
You can use overhead lights or lamps to light the room. If you have a window that provides good lighting, try turning off all other lights in the space and using natural light for your photos.
Avoid using flash since it will create harsh shadows on your products that are difficult to remove during post-processing. Make sure that there’s nothing between you and the product such as trees or buildings which could get into your shot (or directly into lens). A tripod is useful if you want more control over camera settings like exposure time and ISO but isn’t necessary if you’re just starting out with photography!
To avoid having any distracting elements in our shots we’ll be shooting at home against an old blank wall of bricks.
Lighting and Backdrops
Once you’ve chosen your location, it’s time to think about lighting and backdrops. For small products, you can usually use a simple white backdrop or get creative and use a piece of fabric or a poster. If you’re shooting larger products, you may need to use a studio backdrop or invest in some lighting equipment. You can find affordable backdrops and lighting gear online or at your local camera store.
Props & Accessories
The best way to add interest to a home-shot image is by adding in some accessories or props that can help tell the story of how it would be used. For example, if you are taking pictures for an information product like a book, try placing it next to a notebook and pen so viewers get an idea about what they will learn when they buy into your offer. If you’re selling clothing or other fashion items then finding nice background pieces such as furniture sets or decorative vases will enhance their appearance while creating visual appeal at the same time.
Editing and Post-processing
Once you have taken the photos, it’s time to edit them! Some people will take all their pictures at once and then edit later – this makes sense if they’re planning on purchasing props or accessories that need to be shipped from a different location. However, most people prefer to edit as they go so that the pictures are ready for use after each shoot.
There are many great editing programs available, both free and paid. Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom are popular options, but there are also a number of good free programs like GIMP and Pixlr. No matter which program you choose, take the time to learn how to use it effectively – this will help you to produce better looking photos.
A few things to focus on in your editing process:
– Crop and straighten images. If you’re shooting against a backdrop or standing up, then this part is easy! However, if the product isn’t perfectly flat then you’ll need to use Photoshop’s warp tool (it looks like an old typewriter) before cropping it down. This will ensure that there are no awkward bits sticking out of the side of your image which can ruin its appearance.
– Adjust lighting levels/brightness until desired look achieved. Again, some people do this after they have taken all their pictures but others prefer to adjust each picture manually as needed depending on how much light was available for each shot. We recommend practicing both methods so you know which one works best for you!
– Remove any distracting background details. This is better done before cropping the image because it can be hard to tell what’s in or out of frame once all your pictures are lined up next to each other. Photoshop has great tools for this but Pixlr also offers some basic options which will suffice if they’re good enough for Instagram!
– Add text overlays and logos, etc. Adding a logo at the bottom right corner will help people identify who made their product images so that they know where to look when making future purchases. You can either insert an overlay layer over top of all your images (and then change its opacity depending on how much or little you want) or just add them into specific photos as needed.
– Remove any distracting background details. This is better done before cropping the image because it can be hard to tell what’s in or out of frame once all your pictures are lined up next to each other. Photoshop has great tools for this but Pixlr also offers some basic options which will suffice if they’re good enough for Instagram!
– Adjust lighting levels/brightness until desired look achieved. Again, some people do this after they have taken all their pictures but others prefer to adjust each picture manually as needed depending on how much light was available for each shot. We recommend practicing both methods so you know which one works best for you!
– Crop and straighten images. If you’re shooting against a backdrop standing up, then this part is easy
By following these tips, you’ll be able to take great product photos right from the comfort of your own home! Not only will this save you time and money, but it will also give your business a more personal feel that can help you stand out from the competition. Good luck and happy shooting!
Much Love,
Liz
PS. If you can’t afford to hire a photographer, don’t worry – you can still create great looking photos at home. Download my free guide ‘53 At Home Photo Shoot Ideas‘ now.
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