5 Tips To Get Stunning Product Shots

Trying to get content for posts on Social Media can be a challenge.  You want to show your businesses' products, but you have a hard time making it look professional.  Here are 5 great tips to up your Product Shot game.

1.  Take it outside.

Indoor light and distracting backgrounds can often make your product shot off-color or bland.  Think about the product you are shooting.  In the photo above it looked so much better to have the shoes outside.  I brought a milk jug full of water that I poured on the ground before I took the shot to get a great reflection.  This shot would have fallen flat indoors with poor lighting and no dynamics.

Parking your product by some natural light is probably one of the easiest ways to achieve a great photo.

2.  Shoot With Natural Light

Whether you are shooting with a cell phone or a high end camera, the biggest contributor to great pictures will always be lighting.  If you can use natural light it will always yield the nicest pictures.  Put your product near a window to get your light.  If the light is to harsh, put some sheer drapes or some type of diffuser over the window or light source

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Placing your products in an environment that suits them is key.

3. Think Contextually

When arranging your product and the elements you choose around it, think about where the product will be used, who it will be sold to, and what will attract the buyer.  If you can capture a story with your picture you will have a better chance of selling that item.  Try things like, putting a drink on ice, or a sports watch on a paddle board.  Try to think of places or situations you would likely find your product in use. 

Stage your photo with basic composition.

4. Stage Your Photo

To point to the subject matter and create interest sometimes it is good to use basic photography techniques like the "rule of thirds".  Place objects around the subject, but keep the subject as the focal point.  Sometimes it's nice to organically point to the object you are featuring.

Sometimes the best props are right under your nose.

5.  Keep It Cheap

Sometimes the best props are right under your nose.  Don't be worried about spending a lot of money.  Use the textures around you.  Instead of buying an expensive flash, use natural light with a curtain or even a thin white shirt over a window.  Use some laminate that you have lying around to put the product on.  Don't by a reflector when you can just go to the craft store and pick up a cheap white chloroplast board.

Summary:

I hope this helps you take your product shots to the next level.  Remember, it's not the gear that you have, but the creativity that you take to the shoot that makes the biggest difference.  

Remember, we are always here for you for all your photography, videography and Social Media needs.  Call us today @ 780 808 3274

RAW Vs JPEG, Which is Right For You?

The age old debate, RAW VS JPEG.  It shouldn't be a debate, as there is a place for both.

Shooting RAW vs JPEG is a decision that just about everyone who takes pictures faces at some point.  There are very strong opinions about which is better but, that is the wrong way to think about it.  Each has its strengths and weaknesses, so let’s go over those to see which is right for your application.

Simple Definition of RAW and JPEG

Take a look at the subtle differences from the top photo to the bottom.  The top is jpeg, without editing, the bottom RAW.  You can just get those details that get lost in a JPEG when you edit a RAW image.

JPEG

JPEG files are processed right within the camera.  They are the camera manufactures ideal settings for contrast, brightness, noise reduction, sharpening, color settings, and many other in camera settings.  These files are finished and can be viewed, printed and shared immediately after the shot.  JPEG files are compressed and much smaller in size, as it is a “loss” file format.  This means that much of the initial image information and detail is discarded and cannot be recovered.  Dynamic Range detail, which is simply the amount of tonal range detail from the darkest shadows to the brightest highlights, in JPEG files is significantly reduced when compared to RAW.

RAW

RAW files are unprocessed snapshots of all the detail available to the camera sensor.  Because RAW files are unprocessed, they come out looking flat and dark compared to a jpeg.  RAW images need to be processed on a computer with editing software from your camera, or third-party software such as Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Aperture, (see links below) or others prior to being able to share, print or display the photos.  Because the files are uncompressed they are much larger than their JPEG counterparts, so they take up more space and make most features in your camera slower.

An Easy Way to Think of It.

One way I like to think of RAW and JPEG is by comparing it to food.  Let’s face it, most things make sense to me when they fulfill my hunger. 

You have full control over RAW, but JPEG is fast and convenient.

Let’s say you have a raw piece of tenderloin steak sitting in front of you.  At this point you have full control over how you want to cook the tenderloin.  You can choose it rare, pan fried, what spices to throw on it, barbecue, marinated, and the list of options goes on.  Cooking your steak you are able to get it done perfectly and just the way you liked it, with a little practice, but it took time out of your day to accomplish.  This would be the same as a RAW format in your camera.  The product you see in front of you is not exceptionally appetizing, but with some work, it will be delicious and just the way you want it.

Now let’s picture that you are meeting your friends at a restaurant and you are running late.  You tell them you want a tenderloin steak, but you don’t tell them how you want it done.  You get to the restaurant and you like it medium rare, but it’s medium, you like pan seared, but it’s grilled.  You try the steak, and overall, it’s pretty good.  You sit at the table and it’s ready for you to eat, and you can enjoy your time with your friends.  This is JPEG, ready to use and convenient, but not always as good as it could have been. 

As you are beginning to see, JPEG is much more convenient and allows you to take more pictures, which is great in some situations, where as RAW might be more for photos that take time and patience.  I have broken it down into specific situations where I think you might want one over the other.

Although you have full control over RAW, you need a program such as lightroom to achieve good results.

5 Situations Where RAW is Better

Portraits, inconsistent lighting, street photography, landscapes, tripod work (zoom lenses), and artistic product shots.

5 Situations Where JPEG is Better

Sports or action, nature, social media sharing, candid shots, camera burst modes.

My Recommendation.

As you can see, there are clearly applications where one works better than the other.  Cameras when you buy them by default, shoot in JPEG format, and usually in the highest quality possible.  If you are thinking about getting into shooting RAW, then I suggest you start slowly.  In your image size settings, you will find a setting that is RAW + JPEG.  This allows you to get the instant access of your in-camera processing, but allows you to take out the RAW file into an editor and practice putting your own touch on the images.  This will take up considerable space on your memory card, but is the safest and easiest way to get into RAW photography.  The only time I would not recommend this, is shooting in 4-10 frames per second burst modes.  All cameras use a buffer to process the images in the background, and this setting will not allow you to go near as fast.  If you are looking for an inexpensive software that is very comprehensive, check out these links from my Amazon Affiliate page.

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5 Reasons You Don't Need To Buy A DSLR

So what camera should I buy?

When I’m out on a photo shoot, people often ask me what type of DSLR camera I recommend.  (First let me say when we say DSLR camera we are talking about a Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera, one that has replaceable lenses.)  I could easily turn them to any number of cameras like the one I use professionally, but instead I usually encourage them to stick with their cell phones or compact cameras.  Sometimes I get the feeling that those same people are thinking I’m a camera snob that thinks I’m better than them.  Let me clear the air and tell you why I think 90% of people are better off with a cell phone camera or a compact camera.

5.  They Are Not Convenient To Use

"the best camera is the one that's with you"

One of the most over used quotes in photography is “the best camera is the one that’s with you.”  Most people outside of the photography world assume that larger cameras take better pictures and although there may be a sliver of truth to that, it's the wrong way to think. The truth is that owning a larger DSLR camera seems like a good idea until you stop using it altogether, because it's too inconvenient to travel with. I'm a professional photographer and own a couple of DSLR’s.  I do not ever casually walk around with my professional cameras. I pull them out for paying jobs, and I pull them out for individual images that I have already scouted, otherwise I use my cellphone camera. If you don't already carry a dedicated camera with you today, you certainly won't casually carry around a DSLR.

4.  Your Pictures Won’t Be Any Better With A DSLR

Factors such as lighting, timing, and composition have far more impact on great photos than the camera ever will.

Most people don’t realize this, but I would say that over half of the pictures that they love on the internet are taken with cell phones.  Amazing pictures are more about the perfect lighting, the perfect timing, and then playing with the settings on the camera such as shutter speed, ISO, aperture for depth of field, and taking your time for perfect composition.  80% of people never touch these settings on their cameras, and yet that is what makes the difference between a great photo, and a typical photo.  Compact cameras and cell phone cameras have become so great at capturing quick photos in auto, that in most cases they will turn out better looking photos than the dedicated DSLR’s.  This is what they were designed to do.  DSLR’s have their own benefits that I’ll get to in number 3.

3.  You Are Paying For Features That You Won’t Use.

Do you want to sit at a computer for hours making sure your photos look great?

DSLRs are powerful cameras because they have more manual options than other compact cameras. If you aren't already using every manual feature of your current camera (even if that is a cell phone), what makes you think that you will become interested in manually controlling a much more complicated DSLR? 

Are you interested in manually choosing your White Balance with a Kelvin setting? Are you itching to choose your cameras ISO based on your current lighting conditions? Does slowing down and choosing your shutter speed and aperture before every image you take excite you? Do you know how to use Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop so that you can process the raw images that your new DSLR can produce? 

If you aren't interested in learning to use a DSLR in full manual, you probably don't need this type of camera. 

2.  DSLR’s Need Accessories

Often it's the accessories that cost more than the camera.

Whatever the price of your new DSLR, you’ll find yourself spending hundreds of dollars on top of the original price.  First off you will need a memory card.  Because of the size and cost, you will find yourself wanting a camera bag.  Because of the weight of carrying it around, you might want a comfortable strap.  Also be prepared to lose your lens caps on a regular basis.  Flashes are also common purchases for a DSLR, all adding up to more expense.  This leads to our last point.

1.  What You Actually Want Costs More Than You Think

Individual lenses can easily cost 2x more than what you paid for your camera, and they make the biggest difference in equipment when it comes to quality images.

I was thinking that this category could have been covered in #2, but it is slightly different.  While the above features mentioned can add up to $500.00 extra in a hurry, it’s the replaceable lenses that are one of the most cited reasons for buying one of these cameras, that will run up the cost. 

The DSLR’s usually come with decent lenses, but they are slightly vanilla in nature.  Many people will want a macro lens, telephoto, or perhaps a wide angle, and this is where the big cost can come in.  A starting lens can easily be had for under $200.00 but they usually have smaller apertures, plastic housings, cheaper lenses, let in less light, and lack features like image stabilization.  To get features that the professional photographers use to get the shots that the average customer wants (background defocus, sharp images, fixed aperture zooms, etc), prices can easily exceed thousands of dollars per lens usually outpricing the camera body.   These lenses are also more crucial in getting perfect images in most cases than the camera bodies themselves.

So What Type of Camera Should I Buy?

In conclusion I will recommend some great little cameras for you, and remember, for most people, carrying around a great little convenient camera or good quality cell phone will be your best opportunity to take great pictures.

The first thing I would recommend is that you take just one week, of upping your photo game with the camera or cell phone that you have.  After that, if you enjoyed getting into the mindset of taking quality pictures by not letting the camera do all the work, then it may be time to go to a DSLR and start the steep learning curve. 

If your cell phone is out of date, the advances in photography between the years 2014 and 2017 are staggering.  Any new cell phone from 2016 and onward will give you fantastic results, especially in full auto mode.  Some of the notable ones are the iPhone 7, 8 and X; the Samsung S7, and S8, and the Google Pixel and Google Pixel 2.  If you want add even more quality, step up to their bigger brothers, (the plus models) which all have a few more camera specs in them to get your automatic pictures looking better than ever.

Compact zoom cameras are incredible these days.  Some of them can zoom 30x and more (all without getting an extra lens), and they fit into a pocket or a purse.  They will also allow easier access into playing with aperture, shutter speeds, ISO and color balance.  Some of them even allow you to shoot in RAW format. Here are some noteworthy ones and a great DSLR to consider from my Amazon affiliate account.

Please share this blog with another friend who you think could use some advice on a camera.  Also, let me know in the comments what other articles you would like to see posted here to help with your photography game.

You can take great images with just about any type of camera