Most photographers know the basic technique to creative product photography because of their years of experience – using a tripod, setting your camera to the widest aperture, using a white or colored background, creating an out-of-focus background, and more. But what about those really unique creative product photographs? You know the ones. These are usually used for full-page features in a catalog or in ads for top brands.
These creative ideas for photography usually come while playing around and breaking some of the restricted rules of photography. If you are too timid and unsure in your product photography to step out of the box, you will probably never produce a truly unique product photo, such as what you see with big footwear brands like Adidas and Nike print catalog.
However, if you are ready to take the plunge, you may want to try these 9 tips for creative product photography.
Tip 1. Hanging Products for creative shoots
Now, placing products for trying a better view is not necessarily an unusual practice in and of itself. Maybe you should hang the product upside down, sideways, or in an unusual location whichever suited for your creative idea. Play around with it and be sure to take way more photos than is necessary, and try different light and shadows to explore more.
Tip 2. Shooting product from Strange Angles
Usually, the product photography is done using the camera at the same level as the product so that the shot comes out at eye-level. Most of the time, you have to be careful about shooting from odd angles, simply because it can distort a product. However, sometimes you can also get away with this, especially if distortion is a look you are going for or if the product is one that will be difficult to distort.
Tip 3. Trying Macro Shots in product photography
Keep in mind that most macro shots will probably need to be ones that are used in conjunction with normal product photos. However, they can be a great asset to a series of photos to be featured on a page of a catalog, or an eye-catching poster ad. Just be sure that your lighting is phenomenal so that your audience can see the tiniest details show up.
Tip 4. Show the Product in Weird Use
Grab the product, a piece of paper, and a pen and think of some out of the box ideas and draw them, this will help you in brainstorming in the initial phase. You may need to start with the more normal, everyday uses to get your brain up and running, but eventually, try to come up with some ideas that are really out there. Then look over your list and mark the ones that have great potential for a unique product shoot. You may need to do some digital editing/illustration skill or design with this, so plan out your idea fully before starting the shoot.
Tip 5. Use Photo Manipulation for creative products
This secret goes hand-in-hand with tip #4 above. If you don’t have any skills with photo manipulation in any software like Photoshop or Illustrator, you may need to hire a graphic design artist for help. However, this could be a great opportunity to learn these software’s for some seriously original creative product photography shots.
Tip 6. Incorporate an Interesting Background for creative product photography
Many creatively captured product photos stick with the rule of a plain background to put the focus on the product or to add another image in the background. Adding a unique background to product photography with some props and putting the main product in the foreground can really add interest and even improve how desirable a product is.
Tip 7. Keep Background in Focus than product
Sometimes in creative product photography, an off-focus background keeps the eye on the main product.. although, you may want to place, say, a food product with similar foods to suggest uses. In this case, keeping your product slightly in front but keeping the background clear can help promote this idea into another exploration for the shoot. Although, you can also try switching it to different sides at times and place the product alongside the props or even in the background.
Tip 8. Place Products Above a Reflected Surface
placing the product usually A reflection adds quite a bit of depth to an otherwise boring photo so add some kind of colors to a reflected surface you are working with. And don’t get stuck using a mirror. Try using photo manipulation or glass as a prop to reflect the image on the water. Or place the product in a shallow pan of water. Use hard light to enhance the reflection and edit later to further bring out the reflection.
Tip 9. Use Unique Stands for creative product photography
Setting products on fancy stands is a great way to add appeal to a photo just like editing does, it enhances. Take it to another level, though, by using items that you normally wouldn’t use for stands. That’s why we have shared these 9 tips for creative product photography to help you in enhancing your style. For example, an old box with some vintage texture can add some details to your shoot, another product turned upside down, a hand, a belly, the top of a head, geometric shapes, or even a photo manipulated stand.
Do check out our creative product shoots here!