How to photograph jewelry correctly. How to properly photograph items for sale

Business card online store - product images. Proper presentation not only demonstrates the assortment, it encourages the visitor to make a purchase from you. Where can I find suitable photos? You can borrow them from competitors, on the manufacturer’s website, or scan printed catalogs, brochures, hire a subject photographer, or make them yourself. Let's look at the last option in more detail.

Which camera is suitable?

The first step to high-quality photos- availability of suitable equipment. You can find advice on choosing on the Internet; the cost of purchase starts from $300. An economical solution: borrow a camera from acquaintances or friends, find a photographer who will agree to rent out the equipment.

For subject photography Frame clarity is important, so it is highly recommended to get a tripod. It will help significantly improve the sharpness of images. Is such a purchase not included in the budget? Show your imagination by modifying surrounding objects for a tripod: books, chairs, tables, any stable structures at hand.

Good news: even using a 12 MP smartphone camera, you can take great photos. Thus, at the presentation of the iPhone 7, photographs were shown that were in no way inferior to photographs taken with professional equipment. You can even film a wedding and get a photo on your iPhone professional quality. For product photos, you just need to navigate through the basic manual mode settings. But you will still need a tripod and good lighting.

Lighting for product photography

One of important aspects The implementation of subject photography is high-quality light. Photographers use terms such as “soft” and “hard” light to describe it. Soft implies light, diffused shadows, while hard, on the contrary, implies sharp and dark shadows. To demonstrate the products of an online store, soft light is relevant: it is more pleasant for visual perception.

To avoid unpleasant embarrassments associated with poor light quality, use balancing devices:

• flash;
• reflector;
• softbox;
• light cube

If everyone knows about the flash, then the characteristics of the remaining attributes need to be sorted out. A reflector is a mobile structure made of a frame and reflective material stretched over it. Reflectors differ in size, shape, properties, and number of reflective surfaces. The price range starts from $20.

Softbox, as it were in simple words, this is an attachment to a light source that creates a diffuse effect, which eliminates unwanted hard light and bright glare. Depending on the size, type, and other characteristics, the price ranges from a few to $1000. If you wish, you can create this irreplaceable thing with your own hands. To build a softbox, you will need: cardboard, aluminum foil, glue, masking tape, screws, nuts, black paint, plus just a little free time. Detailed instructions or master classes can be found on the Internet. Accordingly, you will get an amazing alternative to a cheap softbox purchased, and its quality will be no worse than the factory sample.

A lightcube (lightbox) is a structure made of plastic or metal frames in the form of a cube, on each side of which a translucent fabric is stretched to scatter light. The product is placed inside such a light box and photographed. The price for cubes starts from $10, depending on the size and materials used.

Lightcube is appropriate if you:

• I like the white background in the picture;
• I want to have my own “mini-studio”;
• Interesting in subject/macro photography;

A lightbox will solve the problems of poor indoor lighting. This is its main advantage. You can also make a lightbox with your own hands from scrap materials.

Background question or what to place objects on?

Don't forget about a suitable background for your shoot. It plays an important role in the overall result of the photo shoot. A simple, pleasant background will not distract attention from the product you intend to sell. A flat, plain wall, plastic, A3 format paper is an excellent choice for these purposes. You shouldn't take the fabric - its texture is clearly visible in the photo.

It is advisable to think about the compatibility of the background with the subject, which logically leads to a competent choice of colors. You can take both neutral shades and those that can complement favorably color scheme goods. It should be noted that for products of light shades a white background is not used - the object will simply be lost on it. It's also important to remember:

1. Blue color is beneficial for light objects due to its contrast. The white and beige shades are noticeable on it. The item stands out, does not blend in, and is easily perceived by potential buyers.
2. Be careful with the red background: it is a bright, aggressive color. It can be an excellent sales tool (after all, it is known that colors affect perception and the psyche). However, remember: burgundy is gloomy, scarlet is too bright, raspberry is too flashy. It is better to choose calmer shades and make sure that they do not “overwhelm” the products offered and are combined with the background of the online store pages.
3. Green is the most profitable in terms of sales, because it encourages a person to make a purchase. The optimal color is a juicy light green shade, the color of young foliage. Use emerald carefully - it is also too dark for product photography.
4. Yellow. Lemon, lime, canary - no. Pear, saffron, golden, pale yellow, mustard, ocher - yes. Such colors are pleasant, fresh, and easy to perceive; they can complement violet, indigo, and some shades of green to their advantage.

As a guide to the correct combination of colors and building a composition in a frame, you can use well-known Chinese sites: Aliexpress, TaoBao. It is there that a considerable part of the products is photographed from a very favorable angle, which clearly demonstrates the advantages and hides some of the disadvantages of the products.

It is recommended to consider in advance the presence of a monochromatic horizontal surface. For this, for example, a piece of black velvet would be quite suitable, since due to its texture/color it has the property of absorbing light without forming glare.

Photo processing

There are many programs for working with pictures. By using graphic editors all sorts of actions are carried out: leveling light, brightness, horizon line, contrast, color rendering, and a host of other operations. All this has a positive effect on visual appeal graphic content. The most popular editing service is, of course, Photoshop. This is a multi-functional tool that even professional photographers use.

A “simpler” thing can be called Paint. It doesn’t provide huge capabilities, but you can crop, rotate, flip the image, and add text.

If you don’t go from one extreme to another and use services that are average in functionality, the following options deserve attention:

The auto-correction function, which is present in all presented tools, stands out separately. It speeds up the process of bringing a photo into a “marketable” form, automatically improving the white balance, making color rendition natural. Conclusion: without processing - nowhere.

You should select a specific service based on your own needs, knowledge, and the final result you are counting on. Important: when ordering graphic content from professionals, such tricks will not be needed.

Delegate processing

Despite the possibility of performing all the operations yourself, the work of a specialist is an easy way to resolve the issue. Many people are engaged in custom photography, providing services in all corners of the country, in all genres and areas. Freelance photographers are an economical option that will allow you to avoid wasting your budget and get good results. Such a person works on a “free” basis, without being tied to a specific photo studio. The price for his services is 2-4 times lower than in studios.

Depending on the urgency of the order, you can either distribute all the tasks to 2-3 freelancers, or delegate the task to 1 person. To search, use specialized sites and exchanges. Among them:

What else is important to know about photography for an online store?

When developing graphic material, take into account the specifics of the offered range. Are you engaged in selling goods that the average person cannot see every day in everyday life? Provide the potential buyer with as much information as possible about him.

For example, if the dimensions of the product are unclear in the photo, then put a ruler next to it and take a photo that way. The online store specializes in personal hygiene products, food, household chemicals, drugs, other chemicals? Scan the product's composition, calorie content, instructions for use, warnings, contraindications. They interest 80% of buyers in the process of viewing and choosing a product.

When selling household, large, or other appliances, it is important to provide photographs of all the wire connectors and other small functional parts available on the device. Let's say you're selling Cell phones. Take a separate photo of the camera, speaker, memory card slot, etc., depending on the specific model. You can get an even more enthusiastic reaction from the buyer if you add pictures of all the components: charger, USB cable and headphones.

Angle as a way of advantageous presentation

An important aspect in creating good sales photographs is the angle. The more extensive your “photo collection”, the more detailed the buyer will be able to examine the products offered. Depending on the specifics of things, there are different options for angles. You can use the classic angle - shooting at the subject level. Together with its simplicity, it is easily and naturally perceived by the human eye. So, if you don’t want to take risks and experiment, this option is ideal.

Other simple angles:

1. Shooting from below is one of the most popular (where the camera is positioned slightly lower than what you are photographing). The method will help to visually give the object significance.
2. Shooting from above will provide an opportunity to reduce the perspective to nothing and help the online store visitor evaluate the product without any optical flaws.
3. The diagonal angle is especially beneficial when shooting large objects, but you need to be extremely careful with it.

For a better perception and evaluation of the product by the buyer, it is recommended to combine many angles. Ideally, photographs of one item should go in the following sequence: front view, side view, back view, then it will be possible to present the proposed product in all planes.

Is the product available in several variations, different colors, with different decorative elements? Take photos of everything model range. Remember, the more detailed graphic objects are placed, the higher the likelihood of a purchase in your online store.

Are watermarks an element of copyright or an extra detail?

Watermark (translated from “watermark” in English) - part graphic image, which appears more transparent than the main subject of the frame. Using a watermark, information is placed on a photo that should be difficult to get rid of. This could be the name of the company, contact information so that communication with the seller is more accessible, or simply the declared authorship of the photo, the product itself.

In pursuit of originality of the photo, remember the main thing: the comfort of potential/real buyers is above all. Watermarks should not interfere with viewing the product, therefore it is more correct to place them either next to the item, or slightly beyond its boundaries, because you are selling the item located in the picture, and not the picture itself.

Now you know how to take attractive photos for your online store. Use this knowledge and attract visitors to your resource!

Karolina Svecova

Have you ever tried to photograph small crystals, cut glass stones or Swarovski type jewelry?

Every photographer who has set such a goal is faced with a problem when polished edges, which have good reflective ability, reflect the flash light and create the most severe glare on the surface, which even the almost omnipotent Photoshop is sometimes unable to correct.

Backlight sparks can also confuse your camera's autofocus settings and prevent you from creating beautiful images. beautiful objects.

Jewelry photography can be tricky if you don't follow some professional things. So! Let's look at five photographs in this lesson simple rules, which will help a novice photographer understand how to photograph jewelry correctly.

• Lighting

All jewelry, especially those with stones, must be illuminated the best way. It is through lighting that you can achieve that necessary effect in photography, when the beauty of a product is emphasized in the best possible way.

Diffuse (or also called diffuse) lighting is best suited for photography, as it minimizes the defects that form when light passes into shadow. You can use the one you have with both flash and natural light.

IN sunny days You can take the lightweight design of the photobox out of the room; there will be enough sunlight to completely illuminate the jewelry. If you plan to use flashes, be aware that built-in flashes or flashes tend to produce too much direct light, which is sure to cause flare on the crystals or unwanted reflections on the metal surface of the jewelry. Instead of an on-camera flash, it is better to use even ordinary models of household lamps. The illumination from them, passed through the walls of the photobox, will create the necessary intensity and diffuseness of lighting.

• Focus

Use the camera's built-in exposure meter if the design provides one, and select spot/partial exposure metering. The camera will expose a certain area of ​​the frame (approximately 8-10% of the total) and determine the desired exposure value based on the results obtained.

Why is the standard setting not suitable for digital cameras to matrix, or evaluative, measurement? Because the automation will try to “average” the entire scene and expose the entire image as “correctly” as possible. While this technique is universal for photographing landscapes or even portraits, it is absolutely not suitable for photographing jewelry. Small stones and Swarovski crystals need to be photographed with a more precise focusing mode, which means the camera needs to be set to spot metering.

Glare on the edges of the crystal can confuse the camera's autofocus, so the photographer should use the manual focus mode. Of course - use becomes mandatory.

• Composition

If you are photographing jewelry for an online store, you can limit yourself to depicting the item on a white background. Well, as a last resort, take photographs with reflection on a mirror surface. (We wrote about this in the material.)

Misak Nalbandyan

And if you decide to photograph a piece of jewelry with a touch of artistry, you should think about the composition of the photo. (You always need to think about her, but in this case- more thoroughly.)

The earrings can be placed on some dark or even better black platform. The black color will highlight small details and allow those same crystals to shine.

Bracelets and necklaces can be carefully placed or hung on monofilament threads, which will be practically invisible, and “traces” from them can be easily removed in the editor during post-processing. If you have decorative jewelry holders, use them. Place the jewelry on a glass handle or a special pedestal; it will look much more interesting visually.

Follow the principle - less is more. The surroundings should not be aggressive or distract from the jewelry.

• Watch out for glare

Jewelry photography can be especially finicky when it comes to silver, gold, or some other shiny metal. This surface reflects both the blinking from the softbox and the flash, so in the end the light can ruin the photo. To avoid unnecessary reflections, try tilting the softbox or flash at different angles. You may have to open the aperture all the way, but you will avoid direct highlights. It's normal to have some light on the edges and sides of the piece, but it looks unprofessional when it reflects directly onto the surface.

Use natural light whenever possible and you can avoid the problems associated with using flash. You will need a tripod and constant light sources. This technique allows you to reduce the shutter speed as much as possible, but the camera must remain motionless.

A little trick: Always wear gloves when you decide to “change the composition a little”, this will protect you from endlessly polishing stones or rubbing out finger stains in the editor. Nothing ruins a photo more than a big fingerprint in the middle of a beautiful medallion.

And always remember: when shooting jewelry, the devil is in the details!

This type of photography is similar to macro photography. Investing in a good macro lens or a set of extension tubes will make your life as a photographer a lot easier. And the thought of “doing without a tripod” shouldn’t even cross your mind. A tripod is as essential as lighting when photographing jewelry.

If you want to remove the engraving, play with light so that you can clearly see the shadows and grooves on the jewelry. The same is true for hand painted or complex beadwork. In general, with jewelry photography you have the widest opportunity to realize your creativity. Experiment!

So, you've decided to take your crafting talents to the next level and start selling products. self made.

You have created your blog, a group in contact or a store on a specialized website and...

And here photographs come to the fore. Yes, yes, when selling remotely, the main thing is to correctly display your product.

Your products are sold by the picture, because the buyer cannot see and touch the product “live.” Then why do so many craftsmen pay absolutely no attention to photographs of their products?

I often wander around craft sites and regularly see the same mistakes - photos that make me want to sit down and cry. A master may be a hundred thousand times talented, his work may be amazing in real life, but the photos kill everything.

Therefore, this article was born to help you increase your online sales.

Certainly the most The best way(if you are not a professional photographer, of course), this is to find “your” photographer. You need someone who specializes in product photography. Moreover, if you make jewelry from metal, stones, glaze (or other highly reflective products), then you need to look for a professional in jewelry photography. Yes, this is very expensive, but if your needlework has reached large volumes, the products are quite expensive and complex, then it’s worth doing just that. Because a thing that costs a lot of money must be filmed professionally, otherwise it is more difficult to sell. Also, filming and processing takes a lot of time, which you could spend on completing new orders.

What should novice sellers of handmade products do? Yes - take photos yourself.

Let's take a step-by-step look at how to prepare for photographing handmade products, take photographs, process them and publish them.

Equipment

1. Need a professional camera?

Ideally, you need a DSLR, not necessarily a professional model. But in the first stages you can get by with a more or less decent soap dish.

2. Professional equipment.

Of course, professional equipment will make your life much easier. However, it is not cheap. Therefore, needlewomen have long invented simpler methods)

The main thing in shooting from the point of view of the equipment of the place is the correct light, background and the absence of “disturbance”.

Many people mistakenly believe that photography needs to be done in bright daylight. This is wrong! The ideal option is to remove straight lines Sun rays and light from a single chandelier on the ceiling, which gives extra glare and shadows. To do this, you need a light cube (lightbox) and lamps, the location of which can be changed.

Buy 3 cheap lamps; most often you need to illuminate the product from the sides and back (or from above at an angle). It is good to shoot some products with illumination from below.

You can make a lightbox yourself from cardboard box and tracing paper. The dimensions of the cube depend on the size of your products. For jewelry and other small items, a small cube is suitable; for bags, clothes and other large items, a large cube is required.

Cut out windows on the sides and top of the box, cover them with tracing paper and you will have a light cube.

You can make a cube with a sloping top and direct the light from above at an angle.

If you shoot with illumination from below, then you need to cut out a window from the bottom of the box. Such a cube can be installed on a plexiglass table, under which a light source will be installed, or, in the absence of such a table, you can turn the stool (table) upside down, stick double-sided tape on the legs (so that the cube sticks and does not fall off) and install a lightbox on it .

There are many options, use your imagination)

The background is usually set to a sheet of white Whatman paper or colored paper. To photograph flat objects, a horizontal background is sufficient; for vertical objects, both a horizontal and a vertical background are required. Let's talk about choosing a background next.

3. Tripod.

When we hold the camera in our hands, the photographs will have so-called “shuffle” - blurring of details as a result of hand shaking.

Therefore, you must use a tripod to photograph objects. And you don’t have to immediately run out to buy a tripod) Beginning photographers place the camera on homemade structures - stacks of books, stools and other objects. In the future, of course, you will need to buy a tripod.

Preparing for shooting

Prepare your items for shooting.

On jewelry and other reflective items, you need to make sure that there are no fingerprints or other contaminants. Polish them with a cloth, remove all dust particles. Everything will be visible in the photo, even the smallest flaws.

On bags, toys, etc., check for loose threads and other imperfections. Clothes should not be wrinkled.

Think about the composition and background.

Complete your item with a scarf, flowers or other decor. Earrings, for example, are often removed by hanging them on a glass. A brooch can be pinned to a beautifully draped scarf. Place the interior doll on the chest of drawers next to accessories that match her image - a vase of flowers, for example. When photographing toys, try to give it an interesting pose and convey the character of the toy in the photo. The main thing here is not to overdo it. Accessories should not “clog” your product.

When photographing products such as bags, make the photo three-dimensional. Place rolls of paper in the bag so that the bag is not empty and stands instead of lying.

As for the background, 2 mistakes are made here en masse.

1. Everything is filmed against a white background.

Not all works look great on a white background. Sometimes you need to “play” in contrast, and white products on a white background are completely lost.

You can use paper and fabric as a background. Paper can be used: velvet, designer, corrugated cardboard. For vertically standing compositions, you can create a complex background: a wall and a horizontal surface.

2. Products are photographed against an overly variegated background.

Very often I see photographs taken on a bedspread or bright, colorful fabric. Such a background almost always destroys the beauty of the product. The background can be patterned, but the background pattern should not focus attention on itself.

Equally important is the correct selection of color and texture in terms of its “compatibility” with the product. The background should be in soft harmony with the color scheme of the product, or, conversely, be contrasting, but not cause rejection. It all depends on the nature of the subject being photographed. For example, dolls in the Tilda style are unlikely to look harmonious against a bright purple background? Also make sure that the background does not blend into your work.

Sergiy blends into the overly saturated background.

Shooting process

Remove the “auto” mode on your camera! Read the instructions for your device and shoot in manual mode. Turn off the built-in flash. If you have reflex camera, it is recommended to shoot in raw mode.

Set the white balance. When shooting at home, the most commonly used modes are “incandescent” and “fluorescent” modes. You can read articles on this topic and even learn how to adjust white balance manually.

Set the ISO, shutter speed and aperture values. There is no need to chase high ISO values, you risk getting grainy photos; values ​​of 100 are often optimal. But it’s better to open the aperture as much as possible. Let's deal with the diaphragm.

A special device is built into the camera lens; it regulates the diameter of the hole through which light enters the matrix. In our case, the larger the hole is open, the more light will come in, and the brighter our photo will be. The ratio of aperture size and focal length is called the F-number and is what is indicated in the camera settings. The lower the number in the denominator of this characteristic, the wider the aperture is open. Standard lenses usually have a maximum open value of 2.8 to 4. Special fast lenses have parameters from f/1.2 to f/1.8. We will be shooting at the widest setting on your camera.

Shutter speed is the time it takes light rays to hit the sensor. The shorter the shutter speed, the less light, and, accordingly, the darker the photo. We need a fairly long shutter speed.

Shutter speed is indicated in fractions of a second and is written either as a denominator number or as a fraction. Accordingly, the higher the number, the shorter the shutter speed. Try setting the smallest numbers, 1/3 for example.

Use macro mode to capture details and small objects.

When you press the shutter button, the camera moves slightly and again we run the risk of getting a shake. To avoid this, set the release delay mode.

For each subject, you need to choose the lighting option and the correct shooting angle - this is achieved through trial and error. Shoot your product 10-20-100 times, experimenting with settings and shooting angles until you like the result.

Look for interesting angles while shooting. This is exactly what people often forget and photograph everything from one point, pointing the camera strictly at the product. Try to “look” a little from above, perhaps this way the thing will look “more alive”. Change your shooting position!

How many photos of one item do you need?

For adequate perception, a potential buyer must be shown the entire item. Next, place photographs of the product from different angles, pay attention to the details and other nuances.

It is also necessary to show the dimensions of the product, for example, if it is a bag, take a photograph of it in the hands of the model so that you can estimate the dimensions.

In conclusion, the ideal option is to display your product in the interior or some beautiful composition.

Photo processing

After you have filmed everything, the material needs to be processed.

Sort your shots and delete bad ones. Don't be scared dark photos- all this can be adjusted.

Read the lessons (fortunately there are a lot of them on the Internet) on processing photos in special programs. At worst, there are online photo editors with a bunch of automatic modes.

You need to adjust the temperature, brightness and contrast, sharpness and then crop the photo.

The main thing to remember is the need to convey the color of the product as accurately as possible! It is a very unpleasant situation when a buyer is disappointed when there is one color in the photo, but in reality he receives an item of a completely different color. Of course, color rendering and monitor settings are different for everyone. However, process the photo so as not to turn yellow-red-blue.

You also need to crop the photo correctly. There should be free space around the product; do not cut the frame exactly to the size of your work. However, do not leave the “bug in space” effect. To create a harmonious photo, the “golden ratio” rule is used, which means that not everything should be strictly parallel and perpendicular and the product should only be in the center of the frame) It would be a good idea to read articles on this issue.

These things seem complicated, but in reality everything is not as scary as it seems at first glance)

Publishing photos online

First of all, you need to indicate your authorship, since there are too many cases when your works are “stolen” and assigned authorship to themselves.

Many artists simply sign the photo with their name. However, I would recommend labeling your photos with the address of your website/blog/store. Tag your photos for each site you post on. The point is that when a potential buyer sees your photo reposted somewhere, it will be easier for your potential buyer to find you by your website address than by searching for you by name.

As a buyer, I really dislike watermarks that cross the photo right in the center. I would advise putting markings in the corners, with a slight offset to the subject of the photograph - this way it will be difficult to cut off your sign, and at the same time the work will not be disfigured by your markings.

Another important point for publication - publish photos of sufficient size so that you can see your product without a magnifying glass.

A little piece of advice in the end: browse websites selling handmade products, look at photos that make you want to buy this item, and you will probably draw a lot of useful conclusions for yourself!

Wow, the article turned out to be long, but I hope it’s useful)))

If you are going to open an online store, you will undoubtedly need high-quality images of the products you offer to attract customers. It is best, of course, to entrust this task professional photographer with rich experience subject photography, but not everyone has such a financial opportunity. If you need to work within a tight budget, or you're originally into photography, why not try taking professional photos yourself? Follow these tips and make your dreams come true professional photo shoot into reality!

Let there be light

Natural light– the key to the success of any photograph. Typically the easiest to achieve best results during daytime shooting. It is not only the total amount of light that is important, but also its uniform distribution. For optimal distribution of light, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the meaning of the concepts “shadow” and “penumbra”.

A shadow is formed when the size of an object exceeds the size of the light source. Therefore, penumbra occurs when the light source is larger than the object being photographed. For getting quality results, it is advisable to strive to create a penumbra effect.

The photo below shows how diffuse (scattered) light helps distribute illumination evenly across the surface of the object, creating a “softer” image. To avoid the formation of dense shadows, use a diffuse filter: wrap the flash window with white adhesive tape or a white bag. With this design, the surface of the object will be uniformly and softly illuminated and will not reflect a bright light source.

Infinite white background

IN subject photography Preference is often given to a pure white background, as it helps the viewer's eye easily focus on the subject being photographed. The white background creates the illusion of infinity, where the horizon is replaced by soothing white light. To create a white background at home, place a piece of white paper or a piece of fabric so that the main part lies on the table, and the edge smoothly curves upward, resting on the back of a chair or some kind of box. The illusion of an endless white background will help put the photographed subject in the center of attention.

An unexpected way of looking at things

Nobody knows your product better than you. At the same time, a photo shoot is an excellent opportunity to see the photographed object in a new light, which may surprise even you. Try to shoot the product from unusual angles, take close-up photos, and constantly look for unique angles. Emphasize different angles of the object so that the image conveys the “story” of the product. You never know which angle will give the most impressive effect, so try to try out different angles.

Use a tripod and a timer

With the slightest shake of the camera, the picture may not come out clear and blurry. Moreover, the smaller the distance between the camera and the subject, the higher the degree of blur. A tripod will help you hold your camera steady for sharper, sharper images. high-quality photography. Even the simplest and most inexpensive tripod will help achieve the desired result. You may also find the camera's built-in timer useful to prevent camera shake and maximize image clarity.

Give the right sense of scale

To increase product recognition in a photograph, it is advisable to give visitors the right sense of scale. Include a familiar object in the frame, in comparison with which the user can easily determine the size of your product. For example, if you are selling a miniature doll, you can photograph it next to a regular pencil to give a clear idea of ​​its size.

Create a natural setting

Try to place your subject in natural conditions. This will help the potential buyer mentally picture your product in their daily life. Additional items can also help highlight the product's selling points. For example, if you sell watches, take a photo of the watch on your hand. If you're photographing a gift book, place it on the coffee table next to a small fruit bowl. To photograph jewelry or clothing items in a natural setting, it is advisable to take at least one shot of the item on the model. This way, a potential buyer will be able to mentally try on the item for themselves, and you will have the opportunity to highlight the characteristics of your target audience.

"Available in green, brown and blue"

If the product is available in different colors, show it to customers in all its glory! In many online stores, the product is presented in a single copy with the inscription “also available in the colors: blue, red and purple.” Combining different colored products in one photo will give the image a richer, more animated character and help highlight the appeal of the product. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Do not delete pictures from the camera

Don't be quick to criticize your photos. Be patient and download all the photos from the photo shoot to your computer, because they look completely different on a large screen. This way, you can select the best photographs and weed out those that are worse.

It's all in the details

If you want to highlight a particular detail of a product, you will need a close-up function. This mode is called "macro" and in most modern cameras it is indicated by an icon of a flower resembling a tulip. The macro function is often used when photographing small objects, such as jewelry or flowers. It gives the image a high depth of field and changes the large-scale perspective. This way the background remains blurred, which makes many photos more interesting.

Professional advice: If the macro mode is not enough to photograph a truly miniature detail, use a special extension tube. This professional technique will help you focus the lens on the smallest details.

Information from the site: http://caramelina.livejournal.com

1. Preparation

Taking pictures of things is different from taking, say, a portrait. The thing doesn’t spin around like a person and doesn’t try to check what you were filming (at the same time erasing frames you don’t like). You can place it in any way that suits you, and you can highlight it to your advantage. Therefore, there is no need to rush. Those who are in a hurry usually do it twice, but we will do it in one go.

The main thing to remember is: shooting beautifully is simple. Look at the thing, decide for yourself what you like about it and why. Texture? Color? Feeling? And only then arm yourself with a camera.

Let's start from the very beginning. Just as scenery plays an important role in a play, so does a good background for a piece. It’s good if it is plain (or with a small pale pattern). When choosing a color, try to ensure that the background and the item create contrast. For example, thermal (warm color of the item, cold background) or tone (light item, dark background). Why is this so? We photograph a small object; the fewer details outside this object, the more attention will be paid to it.

I don't have a studio, I photograph at home. To create a smooth background I use several large sheets of pastel paper. Colors: grey, blue, brown.

3. Staging

The sheet is fixed above the table. Part of it is reclining on the tabletop, pressed down on both sides by something quite heavy. It doesn’t matter how it’s secured, it doesn’t matter what you have on the sides, because it won’t be in the frame! Only the center where we will put our thing will be included in the frame.

4. Light

The next thing to take care of after the background is the light. It can be bright or dim, diffused or direct, it depends on many factors. I usually shoot on the dining table, daylight falls from the open window to the left.

What if it’s evening? Or is it so cloudy that everything comes out gray? No problem, I use lamps. You can use daylight, or you can use regular incandescent light.

In principle, we could stop there, but there is one more interesting thing - a reflector. If the light falls from the left, then shadows form on the right side. And the brighter the light, the darker the shadow. Therefore, on the right I place either a sheet of white paper or foil, which will be the reflector. The light will reach it and return at an angle, simultaneously highlighting the shadow.

The effect of the reflector is not too noticeable, but if you try to substitute a sheet of paper and then remove it, you can immediately see how everything changes.

There are objects that do not need tricky angles; a top view is enough for them. In this case, it will be even easier for you: the background can simply be a sheet of paper laid on the table.

Don't forget about the reflector!

Now we have everything ready to start taking photographs.

5. Setting up the camera

This part reminds me of what a pilot does before the plane takes off. So:

Depth of field

The first thing we do is set the mode in which we will shoot. For cups and other small items I use
macro photography (or aperture priority if I shoot with a DSLR). What does it give? Macro photography is characterized by the fact that photographs are taken with different depths of field. That is, the foreground is clear, but the background is blurry. What do we have in the background? That's right, background. And the more blurry it is, the better for us. And in front of us is the thing we are filming, it will turn out clear.

On my Nikon point-and-shoot camera, the macro mode is hidden inside and is not too obvious. I guess it will probably be the same for you too. Therefore, look through the camera settings, you need to find
the icon of a flower in a pot - this just means macro photography.

In these frames, one drawing is in focus and the other is out of focus. It turns out to be an interesting effect, and it is achieved with macro photography.

Now we check if the flash is disabled. Why? It’s very simple: in small point-and-shoot cameras the flash is made so badly that its flashes will ruin all the light that we just so carefully exposed. Blocking it with your finger or a piece of paper will not help.

In general, a flash is a useful thing, but I have only seen normal ones on DSLRs, and even then you need to know how to use them. And since the article is intended for soap dish owners, let’s just turn it off.

Set the white balance. Depending on the light used, we select the lighting mode: sunny, cloudy or incandescent. This is necessary so that the photo does not acquire an undesirable shade. (For example, if you shoot indoors with a regular light bulb and leave the daylight mode, the photo will have a pronounced yellow tint).

Firstly: this will save you from blurry frames.

Secondly: you can fix the camera and not hold it in your hands.

Thirdly: a tripod is absolutely indispensable when you need to remove a vase from different sides. It is enough to set everything up once and then just turn the object and press the shutter.

6. Shooting

Many articles have been written about the rules for creating photographs. Sometimes these rules contradict each other. The main thing is not to take them literally and trust your own instincts. If you make beautiful things, then you will definitely have the ability to photograph them.

Sometimes, in order not to invent a new idea, it’s worth watching how others take photographs. Just don’t copy blindly, try to analyze why it was shot that way. What is it about the photo that makes you look at it?

For example, I often take several shots to show a thing from different points of view.

I shoot the whole thing and separately in small pieces to show especially successful parts of the drawing. I love when the light is textured.
If the subject fits partially in the frame, I carefully monitor where exactly the frame will be cropped.

Sometimes I purposely tilt the camera so that the thing lies diagonally in the frame.

Think about it: if you are taking off jewelry, perhaps it will look good on the model, just like clothes, you can put flowers in a vase, and a photograph in a frame.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to take a lot of pictures. As a rule, over time the amount good shots per session increases, and the bad ones decrease, because you gain experience, your own developments, and techniques.

If you need to shoot from above, then the tripod moves so that the camera looks vertically down, and what you are shooting appears in the frame. . To do this, you may have to put the thing on the floor along with the background (if the tripod is small and can only gain sufficient height while standing on the table). Or everything is on the table if the tripod is large. It doesn’t matter that the height is high, because there is a zoom.

One more point: let’s say the conditions are such that you cannot use a tripod. Maybe you just don’t have it, and you’re not going to buy it yet. How to increase the number of clear shots?

Firstly: first press the shutter release halfway (the camera will focus), then press it all the way. When focusing, a slight hand shake is not a problem. And during the final descent, it will take half as much time, your hand simply won’t have time to twitch.

Secondly: do it while exhaling (or inhaling) like a true sniper