Paying for commercial photography can be VERY expensive. If you sell products, you'll need lots of photos of them in lots of different formats and you'll need to get new ones every single time you bring out a new product. Can you see the dollars adding up just a little?
Flatlay Product Shots
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| Natural White Flatlay |
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| Deep Etched Flatlay |
So flatlay basically means white background. You can either choose to go natural white, meaning you'll see all of the shadows and shades of white. Or you can go for "deep etched" which means the background has been completed eliminate and only clean white remains. Flatlay shots are what you'll use for your website, or on the retailers website.
They are also used often in magazines.
Lifestyle Shots
In order to show the vibe of your brand, you will probably also need some lifestyle shots, particularly if you are a fashion brand. These might be studio shots or done outdoors. If the product needs to be modelled, choosing the right model, hair and makeup is absolutely essential.
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| Master and Miss - Organic kids clothing. Image by Le Coco Photography |
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| Evening wear designer: Begitta |
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| Kinkit - natural remedies |
Lifestyle shots for Pinterest
I have to admit, i am OBSESSED with Pinterest and am on it at least once a day. Fashion images on Pinterest that seem to do really well are natural, journalistic style shots. Like a fashion blogger has picked this person out on the street and asked to take their photo because they are so damned fabulous.
How to do these shots yourself
OK so let's do a flatlay shot. Find a spot in your home that gets lots of natural, even light, make sure the light is not "dappled", you want soft light with no harsh shadows in it. Ideally the light source should be coming from the side. You always want to shot during daylight. And here is the biggest tip i could ever give anyone NEVER USE FLASH!. If your products are small, grab your self a sheet of white cardboard from the craft store or newsagent. Stick it to a wall using blue tack and bend it out onto the floor or a table. 'Eh voila' you have a photo studio backdrop. If you have larger products, try shooting in front of a plain white wall. If it's a product and not a person, grab a table and cover it in a white sheet and push that up against the white wall for your backdrop.
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| A piece of cardboard makes a great backdrop. |
Now for some lifestyle shots. If it's a product, create a scene where your product might naturally occur. Or you can try thinking about the vibe you want the brand to convey.
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| Glamm Living - Outdoor sofas |
For example if it's a beachy feel you are going for, shoot the products on sand, or modelled on a gorgeous girl on the beach.
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| Orchid Treasures - Jewellery |
Do i need an expensive camera?
OMG no! Seriously, even an iphone can take quite a nice shot these days. As long as you think about your lighting, composure and styling, it is possible to take some fantastic shots on any kind of camera. That important tip again, NEVER USE FLASH!
OK so how do i turn the shots i've taken into beautiful, print and ready shots?
All photographers edit their photos. They adjust the lighting, add some more saturation, sharpen it a little.... It's part of the process. It's what turns an ordinary looking photo, into a masterpiece! Here is a video i made that goes through how to edit your photos using Adobe Photoshop Elements to enhance your images and get them ready for both web and print.
So go on, grab your iphone or happy snap digital, turn that flash OFF and start shooting. It's not that hard i promise. If however, your shots are still turning out looking like a dogs dinner, it may be time to hire a professional. We offer basic flatlay shots for products via a postal service. Read more...
Happy snapping!
Nicole Herrick
Website and Graphic Designer
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