Product Photography for Start-Ups: Where to Begin and How to Prepare

Starting a business is exciting, but showcasing your products online can be a challenge. Quality e-commerce photography is crucial for making a great first impression. Good photos can boost your brand, increase sales, and help customers understand your products better. However, many start-ups approach product photographers with little to no preparation, often with just a short message: “I need pictures. How much do you charge?” Without clear direction, it’s nearly impossible for a photographer to provide an accurate quote or execute a shoot that truly serves your brand.

Let’s get started on how to plan for your e-commerce photography project and set your business up for success. This guide will help you make the most out of a limited budget and approach photographers with confidence. I’ll walk you through what to prepare before contacting a photographer and explain why art direction and photography, while sometimes offered by the same person, are two different roles. Knowing what you want and being able to communicate it saves time, money, and frustration.

Understanding the Value of Photography

Photography isn’t just about clicking a button—it’s about storytelling, branding, and translating a product into an emotional experience. Lighting, props, backgrounds, and editing all influence the final result. What you can shoot for €1000 is drastically different from what can be achieved with a €10,000 budget. Having clarity on your budget and expectations will guide every creative and logistical decision moving forward.

If you don’t have a budget to hire a professional yet, that’s okay. You can start with the basics yourself, and you’ll set a strong foundation for your brand.

First, understand that good lighting is essential. Natural light can be effective, but sometimes you may need artificial light to eliminate shadows. Soft light sources help create even lighting, which is perfect for product photography. You can use light boxes or diffusers to achieve this.

Next, think about the background. A clean, simple background makes your product stand out. White is a popular choice because it highlights the product without distractions. You can use a sweep, which is a piece of paper or fabric that curves up behind the product, to create a seamless look.

Consider camera settings, too. Use a tripod to keep your camera steady and avoid blurry images. Set your camera to a high resolution so the photos are clear and detailed. Different products might need different settings, so don’t hesitate to experiment until you find what works best.

What to Prepare Before Contacting a Photographer

1.Define Your Needs Clearly: Know what kind of photos you need. Are they for your website, online shop (like Amazon), social media, or paid ads? Decide how many products need to be photographed and what types of shots you’re looking for—single product shots, group shots, lifestyle images, or white background photos. Also consider image orientation (horizontal or portrait) and whether you need specific dimensions for banners, thumbnails, or print. These details matter when planning the shoot and final delivery.

2. Know Your Visual Style: Put together a mood board with example images that show the lighting, style, and vibe you’re going for. Think about the colors, tone, and feeling that best represent your brand.

3. Clarify Your Budget and Timeline: Be honest about what you can spend, and understand what’s possible within that budget. Keep in mind that you’re not just paying for photos—you’re paying for time, planning, equipment, creative input, and editing. Also, agree on your project deadline early on.

4.Decide Who Handles Art Direction: Art direction includes styling, selecting props, and shaping the visual identity of the shoot. Sometimes the photographer can take on this role, but it’s double the work—and that means extra time and cost.

5.Understand That Every Step Builds on the Last: Once you’ve approved the style, props, and creative direction, big changes in the middle of the project aren’t easy. Shifting direction last-minute usually means starting over, which adds both time and cost. Stick to the plan to avoid unnecessary surprises.

Preparing Your Products and Props

Before the photo shoot, prepare your products and props carefully. This will save you time and ensure everything goes smoothly.

1. Clean Your Products: Make sure each item is spotless. Smudges or dust can be very noticeable in photos. Use microfibre cloths to clean glass or shiny surfaces. For fabric items, ensure they are wrinkle-free.

2. Choose the Right Props: Props can enhance your photos but should never overshadow the product. Think about complementary items that add context. For example, if you are photographing kitchenware, props like fresh vegetables or a cutting board can work well.

3. Organize Your Items: Arrange your products in the order you want to shoot them. Having a clear plan helps the session go faster. Group similar items together to maintain consistency.

4. Label Everything: If you have many products, labeling them will help you stay organized. This can also help keep track of which items have been photographed and which still need attention.

5. Have Backup Items: Sometimes products get damaged during the shoot, so it’s smart to have extras on hand. This way, you won’t have to stop the session to find replacements.

Set aside time to prepare your products and props properly. This effort upfront will pay off by making your ecommerce photography project run smoother and produce better results.

Defining Your Style and Art Direction

Defining your style and art direction is a crucial part of e-commerce photography. This step shapes how your products will be perceived, so it’s essential to put thought and effort into it.

First, determine your brand’s visual identity. Think about colors, themes, and moods that represent your brand. Do you want a modern, minimalistic look, or are you going for a warm, rustic feel? Having a clear visual identity helps in creating cohesive and appealing photos. Look up inspiration and make a mood board to guide the process.

Art direction and photography might overlap, but they are two different roles. Art direction involves deciding the overall look and feel of the shoot, including styling, props, and composition. Photography focuses on capturing the images based on the art director’s vision. If I handle both roles, it means more planning and effort, and often higher costs. It’s important to be clear about your expectations from the start to avoid confusion later.

Every decision in the art direction phase influences the next steps in the project. Once you settle on props, style, and briefs, changing the style drastically later on can disrupt the process. Changing your mind midway through can also increase costs because the previous work becomes unusable, and new setups need to be created.

Working with a Photographer: What to Expect

Working with a photographer can be a smooth and enjoyable experience if you know what to expect and how to prepare. Here’s how to get the most out of this collaboration.

First, do your research to find a photographer who specializes in product photography. Look at their portfolio to ensure their style matches your vision. Once you find the right fit, discuss your project in detail. Be clear about your expectations, share your mood board, and outline the style and props approved in the art direction stage. Clear communication from the beginning sets the tone for a successful project.

During the shoot, be ready to provide feedback. A photographer values your input to align the outcomes with your vision. Make sure you stick to the agreed style, props, and setup. Sudden changes can disrupt the workflow and incur additional costs as the setup needs to be redone. Respecting the agreed-upon plan helps keep the project on track.

After the shoot, the photographer will usually take some time to edit the images. It’s crucial to discuss post-production details beforehand to know what level of editing is included and what might cost extra. Editing can enhance the final photos, making them look polished and professional.

You’ll typically receive a gallery or preview of the images to review and select your final choices. If you’re unsure which images to go with or find it hard to envision the final result, it’s better to ask your photographer for input before making a selection—this helps avoid shifting directions later and keeps the editing process aligned with the original brief.

Once the selections are made, the photographer will take some time to edit the images. It’s crucial to discuss post-production details beforehand to know what level of editing is included and what might cost extra. This can include things like basic retouching, creating clipping paths, color correction, or more advanced image manipulation such as object removal or compositing.

Conclusion

Starting with e-commerce photography can seem daunting, but it’s a manageable process with the right steps. Whether you’re understanding the basics, preparing products and props, defining your style, or working with a photographer, each phase builds on the previous one. This structured approach ensures that your final photos will effectively showcase your products and resonate with your audience.

Ready to bring your products to life through stunning e-commerce photography? Contact Out of Focus today to discuss your project and get started on creating captivating images for your e-commerce store. Let’s make your products shine!