The best way to advertise a particular product to a stream of potential customers is by using clear, crisp, and attractive images of that product. These images will travel far, and will be used on various platforms including billboards, social media, TV, and other visual means of advertisement. Product images give customers an idea of what they would be spending their money on, and the quality of these images is vital in convincing them to buy or invest in your product.

The advertised image of a product is its first impression. Before anyone decides to cop those new Yeezy slides or AirForce Ones, the images of these products play a vital role. Consumers carve their perspective of the quality and value of your product by checking out their pictures on the internet. This means that terrible product images may send a message of bad quality and product functionality, which directly leads to loss of clientele and sales.
The importance of product images to the development of a brand and securing sales has made the art of product photography relevant in the world of advertisement.

What is product photography?

Product photography is the art of creating chic and attractive images of a product with the sole purpose of driving sales by buyers. It also helps in setting the standards and value that potential buyers should expect from a particular product.
Product photography helps create images that will be relevant and appealing across a range of platforms, offline or online. People should be stunned by product photographs if they’re looking at it on a wide electronic billboard or in a small format like a business card or online ads.

The importance of product photography cannot be overemphasized; it is the heartbeat of product sales, and without it, manufacturing companies would be flying blind. Hardly will anyone buy a product without knowing what it looks like in terms of color, shape, and size. Potential buyers need to have a clear view of what products look like before they buy them, and the best way to optimize this need is to create epic pictures of these products. That way, consumers will see what they want to buy in high-definition and they’ll be further convinced to buy.

To create the perfect setup, you have to understand what you’re trying to portray the product as. Methods of approaching product photography differ based on the type of product, what the picture aims to project, and of course, the specifications of the client.

Here are some of the best product photography setups for brands

1. White background

Source: Megt Media

This concept is basic but effective. White backgrounds eliminate the noise and distractions in any product photography. With this setup, you will be drawing all the focus to the product since there’s nothing else that can catch the eye of viewers. It is probably the most common of all product photography setups, because its concept is quite clear and you’ll be needing less materials to execute it perfectly. For this setup to be efficient, expertise is a must. You’d instantly recognize the work of a novice using this method, so professionals are required too.

2. Product-in-Use

Source: Picture Correct

Many TV adverts make use images taken using this setup and it works like a charm all the time. All you have to do is to integrate the functions of the product in the ideal environment into the product image. For example, if the product in context was a laptop, a setup of this kind may show hands on the keyboard, and the screen displaying a webpage. This setup also helps to establish the size of a product, and in many cases, it helps potential consumers to decide if they will go for a bigger product type.

3.Mannequin setups

Source: Skyloft Studios

Obviously, this setup will mainly be used for items of fabric and the interesting thing is that this is a setup that will give you ease. Unlike the product-in-use setup, mannequin setups don’t require adjustment from time to time, all you have to do is change your angles. Mannequins come in a variety of sizes and postures. They offer 3D-imagery of the clothing, and give potential buyers an idea of it looks like when worn. With controlled lighting, it is possible to further enhance the 3-dimensional appearance of the clothing, thereby increasing the odds of customers getting interested. This setup really optimizes product photography, and you can expect nothing but positive reviews about it.

4.Outdoors

Source: Sarah Janele

You can combine this setup with some of the previously mentioned setups for optimization. Take crisp pictures of the product in natural outdoor environments like parks, on a skyscraper, by the riverside, or on a mountain. There’s a certain thrill that the outdoors create, and you can exploit that in creating superb product images. You can decide to create your own outdoor look by staging your own outdoor environment by adding props and accessories that make the product images more realistic and appealing to potential customers.

5.Close-up setups

Source: Expert Photography

This setup offers more insights into the product details, quality, and texture. It gives a high-end description of the product components, which might actually be the trick to sway some customers to trust in the product and purchase it. The discovery that this setup gives to consumers is the major reason why it drives sales a lot. People just love to see features that would’ve been otherwise hidden, and when they do, it intrigues them. This technique has been observed in some of the biggest brands in tech, medicine, crafts, and automobiles.

Lights, Camera....ACTION!

Note: You can execute any of the above product photography setups without hurting your pockets. Many of the accessories and elements required to pull them off are quite inexpensive and accessible.
Try out any of these product photography setups, and create magic without using a wand; just a camera.