Product photography has gained importance with the rise in online shopping. Most small and medium businesses have made their websites and social media business accounts and have started selling online.

In online shopping, you cannot feel the product in your hands. All you can do is see the images provided by the seller. Hence, everything depends on the pictures. The more visually appealing and flattering it is, the more chances it will be purchased.

The customer first purchases the product through his eyes. If he likes the product, then only will he read the further description and price?

People selling on social media earn well for themselves just by posting their product pictures. If people like the pictures, they buy them.

Engagement will increase due to good product photography.

Hence, pictures play a vital role. Here are some of the dos and don'ts of product photography.

DOs

1. Click pictures from as many angles as possible – as people can only see your products on a screen, make sure you give them as many angles as possible. Flaunt all the features of your product from every side. The main camera angles which you can focus upon are: 

• EYE LEVEL- this is the most neutral camera shot. The camera points straight at the product, about the same level as the human eye.
• LOW ANGLE- here, the camera is lowered, and it looks up to the product.
• HIGH ANGLE – here, the camera is lifted above the product, and the picture is clicked from a height.
• BIRDSEYE VIEW- the picture is taken from a height as if seen by a bird in flight. It gives an overall look to the product.
• SIDE ANGLES- various side angle pictures can be taken to flaunt the minute features of the product.                  
   

2. Click pictures in natural light- always click photos near the window or in your balcony where there is natural lighting. Images in natural light are much more aesthetically pleasing than in artificial light. Plus, sunlight is for free, so why not make the best of it!

Sunlight distributes equally on the product and softens the colors too. If you take pictures on a sunny day and there is too much light, you can use diffuser sheets. This will soften the light.

If you are forced to click pictures at night in artificial lighting, purchase a ring light. It will directly throw light on the product and make the picture quality better.

3. Take pictures in white background- make sure the product's background is white, be it a white bedsheet, mat, wall, chart paper, etc. It will provide fewer distractions and will give a professional touch to your pictures. 

Take pictures in white background.

4. Good quality camera or phone – Using a good quality camera or phone is essential for product photography. Invest in a tripod so that you don't have to hold your phone while clicking pictures. This will reduce the vibrations and will maintain a proper angle.

5. Focus on the product – while taking pictures, focus on the product. This can be done by clicking on the product on the screen. This will also show you the exposure. To brighten the picture, you can increase the exposure, and to reduce the lighting, you can swipe down and reduce it.

6. Check the pictures – after clicking 1,2 pictures, see how they've come out. Then accordingly, change the angle, exposure, lighting, etc.

7. Use editing apps – use good editing apps to adjust the color, contrast, and look of the image. Well knows apps are Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, and Snapseed. Editing will enhance the look of your photos.

DON'TS

1. Do not zoom into your pictures- do not zoom in while clicking photos, which will reduce the pictures' quality.

2. Do not take pictures in low or poor light.

3. Do not clutter the background – add some color, and add some extra elements to your background. But do not overdo it as it will shift the focus of the viewers from the product. 

The product in this picture is the earring but they are getting overshadowed by the other elements of the photograph.

4. Do not shake your hand too much – whenever clicking pictures, minimize your hand movements. Shaky hands will lead to hazy images. Whenever we are clicking photos, we feel that our hand is stable, but that's not true. Our hands always vibrate and shake a little bit. Hence a tripod is recommended. 

Most of you must be thinking that a DSLR or an expensive high-end camera is needed for product photography. But I am here to tell you that this is not true. Any good android or apple phone is more than enough for clicking professional-looking product pictures.

All you have to do is follow all the do's and avoid the don'ts. If you do your product photography, you will save a lot of money. Instead of paying a photographer, you can invest in a photography tool. Even though the process is tedious, your hard work will pay off. 

So, stop procrastinating and improve your skills now. 

If these tips and tricks have helped you, do comment below and share your experience.

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