How To Take Good Product Shots At Home

Photographer Mike Browne's back with a new tutorial and this time, product photography is his focus. As well as looking at composition, the use of light and how different lenses, as well as focal lengths, change the overall look of the shot, you'll soon see how being able to think on your feet and adapt are important skills, too.

Some of the important tips given in the tutorial are:

1. Know what you're trying to sell. For example, in this particular shoot it's all about jam and the labels on the jam jars. 

2. If applicable to your style of shoot, don't leave empty backgrounds as it's boring. Add interest with out of focus colour / product. 

3. Longer lenses with a small aperture are great for creating a shallow depth of field that will really help pinpoint focus. 

4. Use a cable release and mirror lock-up as you don't want to risk camera shake spoiling the shots.

5. When working with window light, keep an eye on the direction it falls and where it moves to as you don't want highlights shining on your products as it'll ruin the image. 

6. Ensure the auto focus point is on the item you want to be the main focus of the shot so it's sharp. 

7. Take numerous shots at various depths of field so you can decide which works best for you when at your computer. 

8. Check the layout of your products before hitting the shutter to ensure items are lined-up, labels face the correct way etc. 

9. Don't forget that light changes all of the time. 

10. Think on your feet and use items around you to enhance your images, change the strength of light etc. 

11. Always check your shots on the back of the camera, zooming in to look at the sharpness. 

Photo by David Pritchard

Learn More

After you've watched the tutorial, why not check out Mike's previous video on the rather interesting topic of 'fear's a creative killer'.  

Also, do visit Mike Browne's YouTube channel where more tutorials and tips can be found. He also runs www.photographycourses.biz where information on workshops, courses and more can be found.