Product Photography

Online, a buyer can't touch, smell, or pick up your product before buying - so a good photo goes a long way. The good news is that great product photography is a skill any maker can learn, and you don't need a professional camera or a studio to do it well. Below are some helpful tips to get better results from your product photos.

Before You Start

Product photography will take a little practice before you get the hang of it. and your first few attempts might not turn out the way you want. Don't get discouraged. The more you take pictures and experiment, the better your photos will get. If you need inspiration, there's also no shortage of tips and tricks online to help you along the way. Take what works for you, leave what doesn't, and have fun with it. Your products are worth showing off.

A Few Tips to Get You Started

Shoot at your product's eye level, not from above. Getting the camera level with the product (or just slightly above) is more flattering and feels more natural.
Clean your product before every shoot. Fingerprints, dust, and stray fibers are invisible in person but very visible in photos.
Use a tripod, or improvise one. A stack of books, a shelf, anything stable. Eliminating camera shake makes a big difference.
Batch your shoots. Once you've got the setup right, photograph everything in one session if you can.
Stay consistent. When all your product photos share a similar light, background, and feel, your shop looks cohesive and intentional. That builds trust and helps people spot your products right away.

Photos to Include in Listings

Since customers are viewing your product online, the more photos and angles you have, the better they can get a feel for what you make. Here are the types of shots that tend to be most valuable in online listings and ads.

A clean hero shot: One clear photo of the product against a simple, uncluttered background. This is usually what shows up in search results and is the first impression.
A detail shot: Get close. Show the texture, the stitching, the glaze, the hand-lettering. This is where customers fall in love with the craftsmanship.
A scale reference: Help people understand how big (or small) your product actually is. A hand holding it, a mug next to it, something familiar that lets them immediately gauge size.
A lifestyle shot: A candle lit on a coffee table, an artisnal soap on the edge of a bath, a hand embroidered tote bag over someone's shoulder. This helps buyers picture it in their own lives.
Variations: If you offer multiple colors, sizes, or styles, show them together in one photo. It helps people see the scope of what you make and choose their favorite.
Your packaging: Buyers increasingly care about the unboxing experience. If your packaging is beautiful, show it.

Backdrops

Your backdrop frames and spotlights your product. Have fun with it.

You might be surprised what you already have at home that works perfectly.

A piece of white or cream poster board (curve it up against the wall behind your product for a seamless sweep)
A plain linen napkin or tea towel
A cutting board or wooden tray
A piece of wrapping paper or scrapbook paper
A tray or plate in a complementary color

Getting Creative

The sky is really the limit when it comes to more creative shots. Set up your products around your home, find a natural spot outside, or scope out an interesting wall or fountain at a local shopping area. When it comes to backdrops, Amazon, home improvement stores, dollar stores, craft stores, and thrift stores are all great sources. A few worth exploring: contact paper (marble, wood grain, and other finishes), kraft paper rolls, tile samples, and oops paint from the hardware store for an affordable way to create a custom colored surface.

Your Smartphone is perfect for pictures

You don't need an expensive camera for your product photography, especially if you are just starting out. A smartphone takes excellent product photos.

Before your photoshoot, take a few minutes to explore your camera settings - most phones have built-in features like gridlines for framing, manual focus, and controls for adjusting exposure and white balance. A little time spent getting familiar with what your phone can do makes a noticeable difference.

Lighting

Finding the perfect lighting for your products can take a little playing around, but once you see what works for your products, it is easy to replicate. You don't need expensive lights to get the look you want, access to a window is really all you need.

Natural light, especially on an overcast day, is soft, even, and shows the true colors and textures of your work. It's what professional photographers spend a lot of money trying to recreate in a studio.
Any window works, but North-facing windows give the most consistent, indirect light throughout the day, but don't let that stop you from experimenting with what you have.
Morning and early afternoon is usually the sweet spot, bright but gentle. If the sun is coming in strong, a sheer curtain can soften it.
Turn off your overhead lights when you shoot. Indoor bulbs and natural light have different color temperatures, and mixing them can give your photos a slightly off cast that's tricky to fix.

Shadows

Shadows can give your product photo depth and makes it feel three-dimensional. The key is keeping it simple and intentional.

A single, soft shadow anchors your product and adds dimension.
Multiple shadows coming from different directions can feel busy and distracting. Sticking to one light source, your window, takes care of this naturally.
For a clean, shadow-free look (for your hero photo), using a foam board as a reflector on the opposite side of the window will help reduce shadows. You can pick one up at any dollar store for about $1.

Editing

A little editing goes a long way. The goal isn't to transform your photo, just to clean it up a little

The most impactful adjustments are simple:

Brightness and exposure: If your photo looks a little dark, bring it up
White balance: If your whites look yellow or blue, adjusting this makes colors accurate
Contrast: A small boost adds crispness
Straighten: Make sure your product is lined up well in frame.

Some useful editing tools:

Snapseed (mobile): One of the best free mobile editors available; precise and easy to use
Lightroom Mobile: Subscription based on PC, Free version for mobile is more than enough for most makers
Canva: Great for resizing photos for different platforms and adding any text overlays
Fotofuze - Very easy to use, removes background with minimal effort.