50 Product Photography Ideas for Studio and Outdoor Shots
Product photography is a lucrative, enjoyable, and in-demand photographic specialty – focusing on presenting a product in the most appealing and sellable light possible. As such, there are boundless ideas of how to accomplish that goal. These ideas are intended to spark creativity and help photographers present products in the most visually appealing way possible.
This article showcases different ways to present products attractively and professionally, divided into key sections such as Outdoor & Natural Light, Studio, and Styling Ideas. To help expand your shooting horizons and get those inspiration gears turning, consider the following highlighted methods:
| Photography Idea | Key Effect |
|---|---|
| Shallow Depth of Field | Focuses attention on the product by blurring the background. |
| In the Plants | Utilizes nature to create natural frames around the product. |
| Natural Shadows | Takes advantage of ambient light to create intriguing shadow play. |
Outdoor and Natural Light Product Photography Ideas
1. Shallow Depth of Field
Shallow depth of field puts all the focus on the product itself. Shallow depth of field refers to photographs in which the subject is in focus and the rest blurs away into a beautifully creamy mush of color and texture. Although you can usually still make out what is supposed to be in the background, this effect puts all the focus on whatever is in focus! This is an extremely effective idea in product photography, in which you can add elements into the background that have to do with the product without being so blunt about it.
2. In the Plants
Become one with nature! Use plants to create a frame around your subject. Humans are biologically attracted to organic colors often found in nature, such as greens and browns. This can be a good pairing depending on what kind of product is being photographed! Look at utilizing shallow depth of field to have the plants make a compositional window or doorway towards the product.
3. Natural Shadows
Play with naturally occurring shadows. Naturally occurring shadows, such as a vase in front of a window, can make for really eye-catching images. Look around at the shadows created with ambient light and take advantage of them. This can be best seen with windows during noon light.
4. In the Setting
An editorial shot at its finest! A product placed into the setting you’d likely find it can make for a fantastic editorial shot. Editorial photography, to put it simply, is photography that tells a narrative. Now, what this has to do with product photography is that placing the item into a natural setting equals an editorial shot that can help sell whatever it is you’re capturing! Shots like these tell a story and offer a look into how that product can fit into your life.
5. Candidly Placed
This leads to the strategically candidly placed images. Often using a human model, instead of placing the product in a setting, you candidly place it into a field of view – like sticking out of a purse. This is great for products that are supposed to be travel friendly.
6. Use Hands
Hands add a lot to a product photo and have a significant influence on product photography. Hands offer a highly humanistic quality to photos, demonstrating that the items are used in a genuine way. Hands are also a great compositional feature, since they bring movement to a shot that might otherwise be static. So, don’t be afraid to add your hands into it!
7. Look for Texture
Textures can create a composition. Textures are a good compositional element to any image because even if you aren’t able to arrange all the elements the way that you want, you can still use textures to lead the viewer around the frame. If an entire image is flat and matte, there is not enough contrast or differentiation to keep a viewer interested. Play with a variety of different textures mixed in one!