1: Use proper lighting

Let’s start with product photography lighting. Without proper light, neither your product nor your background is going to appear how it does to you in person.

2: Use a tripod

Tripods might sound like a nerdy, unnecessary piece of technical equipment, but they make a huge difference in the clarity and quality of your product photography. And they are not necessarily expensive or difficult to use!

3: Shoot for the edit

Have you ever stayed up late, half-awake, to write a paper and thought, “I can just edit this in the morning.” Then, once the morning arrives, you have to start the entire assignment over, because your first draft is so sloppy that it’s taking more time to edit than it would to just scrap it.

4: Take a basic photo editing class

While editing should be minimal in most cases, it’s still a necessary skill to have in your product photography handbook. Making some small edits – like tweaking the saturation or even masking small flaws within your product photograph – can make a real difference to the finished product.

5: Take inspiration from brands you love

It is always helpful to look to others for inspiration. You likely already have some brands in mind that you love. Take a look at their product photography and ask yourself how a similar shot or technique could work for your products.

6: Get to know the rule of thirds

Most introductory photo classes, as well as many art classes, teach the rule of thirds, because it is a powerful tool. This rule teaches you to visualize your canvas as nine equal segments, like the example below. 7: Use simple props

When it comes to product photography props, do not get overly ambitious! Remember, the main focus of each product photograph should be the product. With that said, props can be welcome and help brighten the photograph for your viewers.

8: Take multiple shots from varying angles

If you have a fairly large line of products you need to shoot, it might be tempting to just take one or two of each product, then move along. However, this is not going to help with shooting for the edit (as discussed in tip #3!). Taking multiple shots from a variety of angles will show your customers exactly what your product looks like. Plus, it will help give you options when it is time to edit, and you won’t be left thinking, “Should we re-do this one completely?”

9: Put your product in context

It’s important that your prospective customers are able to envision themselves using your product. After all, if someone sees photos of your product online and can’t easily picture herself using it, why would she buy it?

10: Follow the product photography specifications

Amazon and Google Shopping provide tremendous opportunities for e-commerce advertisers like you. In exchange, of course, you have to follow some platform-specific rules when it comes to your product photography.