Photography for Small Business
Have you ever been looking for the perfect product and come across it, only to find you still have questions over how big it is, the colour or what it even is? This is why photographing your small business products well is so crucial to making sales.
Visual content has a huge impact, so let’s run through our top tips for getting the perfect shot.
1
Types of photography
When it comes to photography, there are three key types that small business owners need to produce to really sell a product well. These can be used across multiple channels, including your website or Etsy shop, social media and other marketing:
Cut-out
An image shot on a plain background so that it can be removed, leaving just a cut-out of your product.
Lifestyle
Think of lifestyle images as a way to showcase what your product is or what it does. Got a pencil case? Set it up with a few pens poking out, maybe next to a notepad.
Details
Avoid customer questions by getting detail shots that showcase what customers can expect, what’s included and what purchasers can expect to receive.
2
Be the creative director of your business
Whether you realise it or not, you are the creative director of your brand.
By wearing this hat, you can open your business up to a whole world of creative options, joining your brand, products and inspiration together to create a strong visual identity. When you do this, you can then create consistent imagery every time.
Start with a Pinterest board, mood board or a scrapbook to get your ideas down so you can translate them into your next set of visuals.
You should include:
- Swatches
- Image references
- Competitor research
- Logo/branding
- Colour palettes
3
Getting the shot
Once you have an inspiration-packed vision of what you want to shoot, a capsule kit can help to make sure every shot is a success. Here’s what to include:Backdrop or space set up
Depending on what your space looks like, there are some simple hacks to achieve a dreamy, photographic background. From A0 art card and plain fabrics to wallpaper swatches from your local hardware store, pick up a selection of backdrops you can use to mix and match your shots.
Tripod or phone holder
Invest in a good tripod that can help you create hands-free content. There are options for overhead holders, desk clamps and even suction cups, depending on what you need to shoot.
Props
Rather than getting overwhelmed and having too much stuff to choose from, try to divide your prop box into two sections: everyday styling and seasonal props for events like Christmas and Mother’s Day. This will help you change up your content to drive sales for key times of year.
Lighting
Lighting tends to be the thing that trips a lot of people up. When it comes to your set-up, you can opt for natural light or synthetic light. Do your research based on your space and decide if you need to invest in lighting or if you have the option to set up an area near a natural light source.
