Take Photos Like a Pro: The Ultimate Guide to Product Photography Setup

It won’t be a big stretch to say that we live in the golden age of product photography. Not long ago, getting high-quality product photos was a herculean task. Hiring professionals to do a product photoshoot was probably the only available option, and that, too, was time-consuming and super expensive.

But luckily, in recent years, it has become much easier for retailers and online sellers to get good product photos without relying on professional photo studios. These days, smartphone apps can do the job for you. You can also go the DIY route and get decent images at home.

If you are interested in a DIY product photoshoot, we are here to help. In this article, we’ll help you get the ideal product photography setup. We’ll talk about the equipment, lighting, background, and product setup. We’ll also share a few tips and tricks to nail your product photography setup.

So, let’s get started.

Getting the right equipment

Let’s begin by talking about the equipment you’ll need for your product photography setup –

1.  Camera

Your camera is undoubtedly your most valuable tool for product photography. Luckily, you don’t necessarily need to spend a lot on a DSLR or mirrorless camera. That’s because the camera in your smartphone can do a pretty good job. Smartphone cameras have built-in AI capabilities, suggesting the best settings or automatically taking care of technical settings like white balance or ISO.

But that doesn’t mean digital cameras are no longer used. Professional photographers prefer these cameras because they can fully utilize the extra features. If you want to learn the intricacies of using a digital camera, consider investing in a professional one.

Depending on your budget, you can choose a DSLR or a mirrorless camera. Regarding camera brands, Canon dominates the market with a 47.9% share. Other prominent players include Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm, and Panasonic.

If you are unaware of which one to choose, you can stick with some popular cameras like Canon Powershot G10, Nikon D3500, Sony RX100, or Canon 5D Mark IV. Choose the one that suits your budget and your needs.

2.  Tripod Stand

The following important tool for your product photography setup is a tripod. It helps yield a steady and sharp shot and allows consistency in your product photos.

Although some top tripods can be pretty expensive, the average cost of a good tripod is between $100 and $300.  Here are a few good tripod options you can consider using –

• Manfrotto MT190XPRO4 – $299
• ZOMEi M8 Professional Camera Tripod – $270
• Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 263AT Aluminum Tripod – $160
• K&F Concept TM2534T- $130
• Gitzo GT2541EX Series 2 Explorer 6X

If you want something more affordable, you can easily find a few options on Amazon in the $10-$30 price range.

3.  Lenses

The lenses with your camera are usually sufficient for generating high-quality product photos. These standard lenses can perform all essential functions, such as zooming in and out, taking close-up shots, etc.

But if you need more advanced capabilities, you can consider getting specialized lenses like macro lenses. The most commonly used macro lenses are 85mm and 100mm.

You can also consider inexpensive options like the Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro lens, which is ideal for jewelry photography.

You can also find combination lenses in the market that combine the best features of regular zoom lenses and macro lenses. Some great options are the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM lens and the Nikkor AF FX NIKKOR 24-85mm f/2.8-4D.

4.  Lighting

Great photos are impossible without great lighting. You can choose either natural lighting or an artificial light source. Let’s discuss both.

a.   Natural lighting

Natural lighting is one of life’s great free accessories for photography. If the sun’s out and you have a good space with plenty of windows, that’s all the lighting you’ll need. Natural lighting will allow you to get incredible, well-lit photos.

The only issue with natural lighting is that you don’t have control over it. If it’s cloudy or raining, you won’t get the photos you want.

b.   Artificial lighting

Artificial lighting, however, gives you complete control over your lighting conditions. These lights allow you to complete your photoshoot at any time of the day.

It also provides consistent and sharp imagery. To begin, you need only a basic two-light setup, which you can get cheaply from Amazon.

You can also take it up a notch by adding further accessories like –

• Reflector – It’s a piece of reflective material like white cardboard or foam board that helps get consistent lighting across all angles. A reflector often bounces the light in a particular direction, like towards the main subject.
• Softbox – It usually comprises a translucent cloth attached to a light source, giving soft lighting to your main subject. It diffuses the light and reduces the intensity.
• Speedlight – It’s a small battery-operated flashlight that is more intense than regular LEDs. Its purpose is to add additional lighting in dark conditions.

5.  Backdrop

While you can choose multiple backdrop options, the most commonly used is the white backdrop. Since most online marketplaces accept images with white backgrounds, it makes sense to create a setup using one.

Some other benefits of using a white backdrop include –

• It is a simple and affordable option
• It is the least distracting
• It ensures an ‘as-is’ representation of the products
• It enhances color balance in the final image
• It gives a consistent look to product images

Background setup

Setting up the right background helps simplify the editing process and keeps the focus on the product you are photographing.

To set up the background, you can use the shooting table and keep it near a window to get natural lighting. You can also use a chair, put the back of the chair against a wall, and tape a white sheet of paper on the wall above the chair. Alternatively, you can also use clips to clamp the white sheet to the top of the chair and allow the paper to drape down. This will create a seamless white background.

If your product is much larger, like a piece of furniture, you can set up a white background by using a stand-mounted sweep or by using a much larger sheet of paper and taping it on the wall to create a white drape.

If that seems a bit too much to handle, you can also use a lightbox or a light tent. A lightbox is a wireframe box with translucent walls that helps create an evenly distributed light around the main subject. You can easily find a good-quality lightbox on Amazon.

Product setup

After setting up the perfect background, the next step is to get your product in the spotlight. While it may seem easy, properly setting up your product can take a few tries.

You need to ensure the proper lighting, angle, and positioning. Make sure the product is centered and on a flat, stable surface.

For smaller products like jewelry, accessories, or gadgets, you can use different props to support the product better. Standard props include mannequins, necklace busts, fabric, stands, hangers, etc.

Product photography tips

Now that you have the necessary equipment, you’ve set up the background and product, and it’s time to click photographs. To help you in the process, here we have a few tips for you to get good photos –

• Pick the right aperture—For clicking lifestyle images, it’s better to use the widest aperture. This ensures that your product remains the center of attention. When clicking catalog images, you can go with a narrower aperture. This ensures that product details aren’t lost.

• Take inspiration from other photographers. You can pick up a lot of ideas from other photographers. Notice the elements that make the image outstanding, like a certain background, angle, or editing. Then, try to incorporate some of these elements into your photographs.

• Use paper to eliminate the horizontal line—Take a large piece of paper, bend it at the horizontal line, and tape it to your floor and wall. This gives your product photos a seamless look.

• Experiment with styling – Play with different elements, try different accessories, and use different backgrounds. Styling will help you create an aesthetically pleasing image.

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• Keep the color tones natural—It is essential to Keep the colors accurate without altering them too much. Ensure your products look the same online as in real life. This is important to build trust among your customers.

Conclusion

There you have it – the ultimate guide to product photography setup. The things we discussed here will help you take product photos like a pro. You don’t need to implement all of the things we discussed. You can experiment with different setups and choose what works for you.

However, creating quality photos won’t happen overnight. It will be a journey of trial and error before you nail down your product photography aesthetics.

But you can make the journey easier by using specialized product photography apps. One such useful app is DoMyShoot, which gives you high-quality product images without the hassle of creating an elaborate setup.

Just use your smartphone camera, click a photo with the in-app guide’s help, and wait a few hours to get high-quality lifestyle and catalog images. It’s that simple.

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