2 Reasons Your Products Need a Professional Photographer

by Crystal Hollman | Dec 1, 2020 | Content Creation, Podcast

2 Reasons Your Products Need a Professional Photographer

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Welcome to the Crystal Clear Podcast where we strive to empower the everyday creative boss to elevate and grow a business that matches your creativity and passion for creating products.

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Not sure when the right time to hire a professional photographer for your products might be? Confused about why it might be time to outsource to a photographer? Today I am diving into this headfirst on the podcast. I am sharing my top two (& most important) reasons your products need a professional photographer. My first reason for hiring a professional photographer for your product photography is when you are ramping up sales and getting ready to market your products. Seems simple but it can often be overlooked by many growing businesses. You have the marketing strategy in place. You have perfected the product, the label and your branding. Maybe you even have a website and some images ready for that. But now you need to ACTUALLY market the product and drive intentional marketing dollars toward getting your ideal client from a cold lead to a buying customer.

Continued…

In order to implement a good marketing strategy you need GOOD images to go along with it and often times you need A LOT of images so that you are able to try different tactics on different platforms. Investing in a professional photographer to asset in your market strategy by providing the images you get a professional touch and eye to help make the strategy be as successful as possible. A professional photographer can help you to bring out the emotion you are wanting your ideal customer to feel when they see or interact with your product online.

Bonus tip: Your business is going to get busier as those market strategies start to convert therefore you are going to have less time on your hands to perfect the images you need to continue marketing at a high level. Let a photographer take that piece off of your hands allowing you to focus more on nurturing all of the new leads you have brought in.

Hiring someone to help you with your marketing strategies and aesthetics allows you to have a proactive eye on your business instead of a reactive eye.

The second reason is product photography for a product launch. Hiring someone to help you with the photography for a new products allows you to get the detailed and special images you need that will allow your new product to stand out and become the center piece of your business. This will help you to have the images you need to get your new product on your website, implemented into your marketing strategies, sent to influencers to help with promotion etc. Hiring someone to come in for a product launch, especially when you’ve had someone help you professionally previously, allows for you to blend your new product into your current products while also allowing the new product to stand out and draw in new customers.

Speaking from experience, having someone on your team that is your go-to product photographer allows you to create a cohesive and smooth brand image across the board. Your photographer will be able to help you get the images, videos, and re-freshes you need with confidence. This is something that I specialize in – helping you coordinate the visuals you need for to create a successful marketing strategy to use on repeat. Head over to Instagram and shoot me a DM. I’d love to chat with you about all the ways a professional photographer can help you in your business.

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Comment, share on Pinterest, or even snap a screenshot and tag me on Instagram! I’d love to hear what you think about props for product photography.

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About Crystal

Corporate America had me at hello for 10 years. And just when I thought I was where I was supposed to be, God changed the narrative and helped me find more time for my husband and two beautiful girls through my own photography business. Now, I live for all things styled photography and serving the business community exclusively through styled imagery and personal brand photography.

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The 7 Do’s and Don’ts of Flat-Lay Photography

by Crystal Hollman | Jul 27, 2020 | How-To

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The 7 Do’s and Don’ts of Flat-Lay Photography

Flat lay photography is the fastest growing type of photograph for the product based business.

e have all seen those Instagram posts of the seemingly perfect, birds-eye view of a product surrounded by carefully curated props.

Flat-lay photography is a unique and appealing way to showcase your products without having to travel far for the perfect picture. But like anything in business, there’s a strategy to consider before you take your flat-lay photos.

Creating the perfect flat-lay takes more time than you think. Essentially you’re creating a photo that looks like you came across your product naturally. So here are 7 do’s and don’ts for creating the perfect flat-lay.

1 – Have Fun with the Colors

Do have fun with the colors in your photo. It’s one of the first things you notice about a picture, so don’t be afraid to experiment a little. Think about the visual story and the feelings you’re trying to evoke.

Don’t forget to balance the colors. You want everything in your flat-lay to flow together. Avoid using too much of one color, spread it out evenly, and stay on brand. When in doubt, stick to a similar palette when choosing your colors.

2 – Focus on Your Main Product

Do focus on your main product. Remember the reason you are taking the photo. What makes your product different from the competition? Showcase any unique details and focus on any interesting characteristics you want your customers to notice.

Don’t forget to make sure it’s not overshadowed. Arrange any additional props accordingly, but make sure the customer can tell the product apart from the rest. The last thing you want is your audience to be confused about what you’re selling.

3 – Add Variety

Do add variety in your props. The purpose of your flat-lay is to create a visual story in the most natural way. Consider where your ideal customer will use your product. What kind of items will you find nearby? Utilize your props to add depth to the image and have fun with it! Move things around until you find the perfectly imperfect shot.

Don’t forget to add texture. Using different colors, lights, and shadows all help tell your product’s visual story. The lighting alone can add more depth and create a three-dimensional feel. You can also use props with varying textures that can make the overall photo feel tangible and real.

4 – Use Balanced Lighting

Do strive for balanced lighting and soft shadows. While it is alright to have light and dark spots in the picture, try to keep it as balanced and as soft as possible. A flat-lay isn’t a good image for a spotlight with a lot of dark space.

Don’t forget shadows. Too much shadow in your picture can cause the image to get lost, but a little shadow adds natural depth and appeal. You can play around with your props and create shadows in the image that highlight your product in new ways.

5 – Shoot at the Same Time, Every Time

Do shoot any image at the same time of the day, every time. Consistency is key for any photoshoot. However, maintaining the same lighting across the board is extremely important for every image. Once you decide where to shoot the photo, utilize the natural light as best as you can to keep your photos consistent.

Don’t forget that you can shoot outside. Maybe your home or studio doesn’t have a lot of natural light. Instead, set up your flat-lay on an outdoor table. Be sure to have the right settings on your camera to avoid dark or blown out photos. To learn more tips on how to keep your photos consistent, check out my blog post here.

6 – Use White Space

Do give yourself ample empty or white space. Keep in mind, the style that you’re going for. Empty or white space can create powerful images if used correctly. Less is more and utilizing the space allows the eye to flow easily from each part of your photo before resting on your product.

Don’t photograph your photos in a square. While a square shape can seem great for a symmetrical flat-lay, you want to be able to repurpose your image for many different formats. It’s also better to have options for future content purposes.

7 – Get Closer

Do get closer to the product. Most images feel off or not put together because you have made the shot tighter by bringing in the props and closing up some of the white space. Spread things out, back your camera up, and let the white space do the work.

Don’t forget to play around. Your first shot might not work out, so take a lot of them! Move props around, take some props out, and add new ones in. Take a picture you feel showcases your product the best.

Flat-lay photography is a skill in itself. Arranging props to look like you happened across your product on a normal day can take some practice and lots of repetition. But keep these tips in mind as you go along. It doesn’t need to be complicated. However, if you feel that you struggle with curating photos for your business, check out my Flat-Lay Method Course. This course is designed for the DIY business owner looking to develop a process around flat-lay photography. You’ll learn things like camera basics and flat-lay setups. For more information, you can contact me here or we can chat on Instagram!

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