5 tips for great shop photography

Hey, crafters! One of my duties here at the Goodsmiths blog is to write about photography, specifically tips that will help you show off your goods. In my former life as a craft magazine editor, I spent a lot of time at photo shoots and along the way picked up a few tips and tricks on making inanimate objects look better.

Here’s a list of my top 5 tips for better photos of your handmade products:

1. Shoot on a simple background that will help your product stand out. Busy, patterned backgrounds will distract shoppers from your product. Try muted, solid neutrals or colors instead. The product photos above from Instinctively Indie and Frankie Waffles show how colorful projects can pop on a plain white background.

Find a white tabletop, drape a wrinkle-free sheet over a table or tape a piece of solid gift wrap to a wall and across a table or bookshelf for a seamless background that will help your product pop.

Cropped photos from Dizzy Rhino (left) and Shortcake Designs (right).

2. Crop out distractions. Come in tight on your subject so it is the focal point of the photo. Try to leave a bit of empty visual space around it—you want to be sure potential buyers get a good look at the item—like the photos above from Dizzy Rhino and Shortcake Designs.

You can do this when you shoot the photo by getting close to your subject before you press the shutter release or after by cropping in image-editing software.

Products shot in natural light by Floating Cloud Pottery.

3. Use diffused natural light to give your product a natural look and to show the colors of the product realistically. Set your item on a surface near a window but not in direct sunlight, which will cause harsh shadows. See how the products above from Floating Cloud Pottery have soft shadows?

Examples of propped photos by Mary Littfin and Jazzy and Nana’s Creations.

4. Prop—when it’s appropriate. Occasionally props will help show off your product or give shoppers an idea as to its scale. But too much propping can distract, so keep it simple. The chair in the pillow photo by Mary Littfin gives you a sense as to how big the pillow is, and the jewelry torso shows off the Jazzy and Nana’s Creations necklace—and its length—well.

Detail shots from Shortcake Designs and Hannah Mia.

5. Add detail shots. Always be sure to show as much of the product as you can in your main photo, but If you have a large or very intricate item, include extra photos of the details with your listing. The shot of the dog collar from Shortcake Designs shows off the pattern and D-ring, while the detail of the bows from Hannah Mia gives customers a better idea of the texture of the material.

To get good details, crop in tightly, and try the “macro” setting on your camera to get in close.

So there are some quick tips for you. We’ll be doing more photography posts to help you show of your goods, so I’m curious: What other topics would you like to see here?