One of the prime influences when it comes to making choices nowadays is product photography. Whether you’re selling online via your store, using Amazon, or even on any other form of social media, a set of high-quality images of your product is all that sets you apart.
What needs to be known more to most is that different types of product photography fit the purpose, the audience, and the goal. Studies show that posts with product photos have 94% more views.
Read on, for we will deep dive into the types of product photography, their singular purposes, and the equipment the camera needs to get it just right.
1. Studio Product Photography
Studio product photography is generally considered the gold standard for clean, high-quality images taken in a controlled environment that really focuses on product details with a keen eye toward texture, color, and features.
Studio photography typically has a minimal background possible; most, however, use a white or neutral background so the product would always be the focal point. This allows them to see the product in its actual state in front of potential buyers.
Ideal for:
- eCommerce websites
- Catalogs
- Social media ads
Equipment Needed:
- Lighting: Softbox lighting is a necessity for studio photography. The photo quality will be paramount without any sharp shadows, ensuring professional results.
- Backdrop: Neutral-colored backdrops are the most commonly used. With the kinds of backdrops that can be utilized in product photography, white or black is an excellent option if you intend to achieve a polished appearance; otherwise, there are other backdrops that you can utilize if you prefer more creative shots.
2. Lifestyle Product Photography
While studio product shots are solely focused on the item itself, lifestyle product photography incorporates settings that reflect where and how the product might be used.
This niche focuses on showcasing a product in use to help buyers envision using it in their lives. This is very effective for fashion apparel, home decor, and accessories.
Ideal for:
- Social media
- Blog posts
- Banner ads
Equipment Needed:
- Lighting: For lifestyle shoots, you want to be shooting natural light as much as you can. You want the light to feel free of contrived or overproduced in any way-which, of course, is in contrast to studio photography.
- Backdrop: Backdrops for product photography in a lifestyle setting take on many shapes depending on the environment in which the shoot is to be performed. For outdoor shoots, the environment is basically the backdrop, and for indoor shots, more often than not, home settings are used, such as tables, shelves, or countertops.
3. 360-Degree Product Photography
360-degree product photography is increasingly the means through which customers have a full view of your product. It typically consists of multiple photographs taken from different angles and stitched together, offering users the ability to rotate the product and see it from all sides.
Ideal for:
- eCommerce platforms
- Luxury goods
- Technology products
Equipment Needed:
- Lighting: Uniform lighting ensures consistency from whatever angle. Soft lighting is best for avoiding harsh shadows.
- Backdrop: Since the product is going to rotate, make sure your backdrop is constant throughout your shoot. Usually, a white or black backdrop is used for cleanliness and no distraction from the image.
4. Macro Product Photography
Macro photography zooms in on the minute details of your product. What it does is that it’s especially useful with products such as jewelry, electronics, or anything that needs close attention to texture or craftsmanship. You want to make sure that you highlight intricate details that get lost in standard shots.
Ideal for:
- Jewelry
- Watches
- Craft items
Equipment Needed:
- Lighting: A ring light or soft lighting is necessary to avoid overexposure. When zooming in, even the tiniest shadow can be jarring.
- Backdrop: Neutral colors are used during macro photography. In speaking of types of product
- photography backdrops: White stands as a pretty safe option because it will keep your products’ details as the most focused attribute.
5. Ghost Mannequin Photography
Ghost mannequin photography is one of the popular techniques in fashion photography in which an illusion is created to show that the clothes are worn, but the model is not shown. Photograph a model or mannequin wearing the product, followed by a shoot of editing out the figure and retaining in focus the apparel only.
Ideal for:
- Apparel
- Accessories
- eCommerce stores
Equipment Needed:
- Lighting: Soft lighting ensures that the texture, folds, and design of the clothes pop out without going into sharp shadows.
- Backdrop: White or light-colored backdrops are preferred when choosing the type of backdrop for product photography in ghost mannequin shoots to keep it tidy for the apparel to shine.
6. Flat Lay Photography
Flat-lay photography is based on the idea of laying products on a flat surface and taking shots above. It’s perfect for showing several items within one frame or creating visually appealing compositions with complementary products. Flat lays are most common in the beauty, fashion, and tech industries.
Ideal for:
- Social media content
- Website banners
- Lifestyle blogs
Equipment Needed:
- Lighting: Natural lighting works quite well, especially if you want a more relaxed feel. You can use softbox lighting, though, if you want to draw from the features of the product.
- Backdrop: Flat lay backgrounds range pretty well: some like using wooden tables, marble surfaces, and even colored paper, depending on their style. Considering the different types of backdrops for product photography, you need to know the overall theme and message you wish to convey.
7. Product Photography with Models
Such would include products to be worn or used, such as clothes, accessories, and equipment for fitness, where there is nothing more demonstrating their usability than featuring them with models. This is because customers get to see the fit or function of the product and imagine it more easily when using the merchandise.
Ideal for:
- Fashion retailers
- Fitness brands
- Skincare and beauty products
Equipment Needed:
- Lighting: Most of the time, natural light would suffice, but if you happen to be indoors, then you should use softboxes or reflectors to keep the light soft and flattering.
- Backdrop: The backdrops that would be used for product photography here will have to complement the model and the product. Fashion shots are pretty flexible with outdoor locations or indoor minimalist settings.
8. Creative Product Photography
Creative product photography breaks the mould with avant-garde angles, props, lighting, and backdrops that fuse strikingly. It is effective in advertisement and branding campaigns for attracting the attention of people and saying something about the personality of a brand.
Ideal for:
- Ad campaigns
- Branding materials
- Social media promotions
Equipment Needed:
- Lighting: You can use both natural and artificial lighting, depending on the effect you want to achieve. Colored gels, spotlighting, and dramatic shadows are not out of the ordinary in creative shoots.
- Backdrop: The backdrop here may be anything from neon colors to textured materials. When considering types of product photography backdrops for creative shoots, think out of the box. Play with colors, textures, and shapes to create visually appealing backbones.
9. White Background Product Photography
Also known as catalogue photography, white background product photography removes all distractions, leaving the product as the only focus. This clean and professional look is highly important for eCommerce websites, especially on Amazon or other marketplaces where consistency is crucial.
Ideal for:
- eCommerce platforms
- Product listings
- Online advertisements
Equipment Needed:
- Lighting: Consistent, soft lighting is a must to get the product shot sharp and clear. Harsh lighting should be avoided since it may show distracting shadows of the product.
- Backdrop: A white or light-colored background is necessary in this setting. The reflective surface should not be used so as not to create distracting glare in the picture.
10. Group Product Photography
In group product photography, several products are photographed together in a single shot. This is a good type for businesses that want to promote bundles, kits, or complementary items. Group shots can show how products work together, which is a great upselling tool.
Ideal for:
- Bundles
- Gift sets
- Subscription boxes
Equipment Needed:
- Lighting: Lighting should be uniform to ensure each product is visible in the group shot. This may be done with softboxes or diffusers.
- Backdrop: The background will be kept minimal so as not to distract from the products. White or light-colored backgrounds will usually suffice for group shots since the collection remains the focal point of the product.
Types of Product Photography Shots
Knowing your way around the shots of product photography will help you select the right composition and style that fits your product. Common shots include:
- Close-ups: Emphasize the minute details like texture or material.
- Wide shots: They show a complete view of the product.
- Lifestyle shots: Show the product is in use.
- Action shots: Showcase the product in action, which is particularly appealing when it comes to things like fitness equipment or technology gadgets.
Types of Product Photography Lighting
Lighting is one of the essential elements in product photography. Different lighting arrangements can transform your whole product. Some common types of lighting for product photography:
- Soft lighting: Excellent for dispersing shadows, and it builds a clean and professional look.
- Natural lighting: Best for lifestyle or outdoor shoots, as this can make it more relaxed and natural.
- Hard lighting: This provides dramatic shadows and is often used for creative or artistic photography.
- Reflective lighting: The process is achieved to enhance the shiny or reflective products, generally done with objects like jewelry or even computer devices.
To know details on product photography lighting, click here.
Conclusion
Well, product photography is rather more than just snapping items. It is an art that calls for attention in terms of lighting, backdrops, and shot types.
Whether it is an eCommerce store shooting or a social media campaign, knowledge of the different types of product photography will definitely help you choose the right style for the effective presentation of your products.
