Product Photos – Do’s Don’ts (Part 1)

by Crystal Hollman | Feb 8, 2021 | Content Creation, Podcast

Product Photos – Do’s Don’ts (Part 1)

Dos and Donts of Product Photography (Part 1) (4)

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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.

Things mentioned in this podcast episode:

Are you looking to DIY your product photography? I am sharing my top 5 do’s and don’ts when taking product photography. This is helpful if you are trying to take the pictures yourself at home or to help you know what to expect if you are outsourcing your photography for the first time.

Do’s and Don’ts of Product Photography:

Do branch out and use more than a white background. My favorite place to go for backgrounds is Stile and Co. They have a wide range of backgrounds that are great for any type of photo and they are easy to clean and store.
Don’t leave your images unedited. Even if you are just using your phone to take your pictures there are still ways that you can edit your photos. The lightroom app with some presets is a great place to start!
Do collect props that fit your brand aesthetic. This will allow you to switch things up and still stay on brand. This can be as easy as picking something up from Target that fits your brand.
Don’t aimlessly pull random things from your home. This will show in your images. Especially if it is something that is used like shoes or make-up.
Do look for clay and hand made items. Clay is very trendy right now so look for these types of things on etsy or even your local goodwill or antique store.
Don’t forget to play with your lighting. This could be playing with how the sun hits your window and blinds or by adding dramatic lighting or shadows. This is a great place to start with more education in your DIY photography journey.
Do incorporate pops of color. But only if it fits your brand. It doesn’t have to be bright or crazy. It can be a subtle pop of color that you use on your website as an accent color.
Don’t stray from your branding. This leaves your business looking busy, lacking direction and zero consistency. So when you are looking for props and other ways to add color don’t stray from your branding.
Do refresh your images periodically. Don’t keep your images in a constant loop. You have to devote time to create new images and content in order to keep everything up to date and fresh.
Don’t underestimate the power of professional photography. Even if it is just one shoot to give you new and fresh content to allow you to have a consistent brand appearance take the jump and outsource it.

Have more questions about product photography? Shoot me a DM on Instagram. I am happy to answer anything for you!

Like this episode?

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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← Developing New Ideas for Product Photos Finding Mentorship and Growing Your Business with Kelsey Chapman →

About Crystal

Crystal is the Creative Director, Photo Stylist, and Commercial Photographer behind Crystal Clear Creative Studios. From increased sales, visibility, and trends to conversions and full production, Crystal and her team, experts on the subject matter, provide clients with confidence to take your photography and videography needs off your plate. We support you in your growth with the creation and implementation of transformative ideas.

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The Best Digital Journey for Your Photos (From SD Card to Social Media)

by Crystal Hollman | Sep 17, 2020 | How-To

The Blog

The Best Digital Journey for Your Photos (From SD Card to Social Media)

The digital journey for my photos is just as important as the photography shoot itself.

nce I’ve taken the images that I need, the next steps I take determines how they’re going to look on my websites, social media platforms, client websites, etc. Here’s what works best for me that might work best for you. Learn the best digital journey for your photos from the tips I recommend all my clients.

The Uploading Process

There are several ways to upload and share your photos to your computer. Depending on the file size and how many images you have, you may need bigger cloud storage like DropBox or Google Drive. If you’ve outsourced your product photography to a professional, this will most likely be how they will share your photos with you. The sharing feature makes it easier for you to get your shots without diminishing the quality. Using additional storage also helps keep your computer free from too many files on the desktop. iCloud is another great option to use if you’re taking your product photos yourself.

I prefer to use Lexar Professional SD Cards they are generally more reliable and come in a larger size so they fit well for someone who likes to snap a lot in one sitting. I insert my SD Card straight into my computer, where I can immediately upload the raw files into the cloud storage. I avoid uploading the photos directly to my computer because I take so many, and it could fill up space on my Mac desktop quickly.

Best Photo Editing Programs

Some of the best photo editing programs to use are Lightroom (my personal favorite!) and Photoshop. Both have a learning curve if it’s your first time using the program, but photo editing is what takes your photos to the next level. Lightroom is easier to master and is geared more towards bloggers AND photographers, which is why I like it so much. Its a quick easy adjustment to the light, hence its name. Lightroom allows for all the presets we love but also to get that light and bright look that I love! But even as a beginner, it’s a great tool to learn and use. Tons of pro photographers use it as a primary editing tool.

If you’re taking your own product photos, I’ve created some simple presets you can use to add the finishing touches and maintain consistency. They’re geared to be similar to my style but also to help with adjustments fitting flat lays or products. So whether you’re on the go with the mobile Lightroom app or working from home on the LR desktop, the CCP Presets gives you the basics guide for the presets and installation. I even added in a quick video to give you tips on what you can adjust based on what color or light setting you might want to change.

What Not To Do

Some things to avoid when it comes to your product photography are taking screenshots and saving smaller versions of the file to your computer. You also don’t want to download it to your phone and then use that size to upload it to your website. Your phone is meant to auto-size in some cases so you can end up with a low quality image that way. At the end both screenshots and smaller versions you save to your phone can diminish the quality of the original image, leaving you with a blurry photo. Although it’s easier and more convenient to do, it’s not worth it. Never use any but the original or edited photo on your social media or websites. It looks extremely unprofessional.

File Formats To Save Your Photos In

The best file formats to save your photos are JPG and PNG, this is key when you are exporting them from Lightroom or Photoshop. When you’re shooting in a camera you want to make sure to save your files in a RAW file format, this tends to keep a lot more information stored from the image and gives you better editing ranges when it comes to light and color. The RAW file will leave you with more information to work with when editing, and you’re less likely to diminish the quality of the picture in the process. You can also recover more than you can with a standard jpeg. That just means if you’re looking to add more light where the image is darker then you won’t have as good a chance at recovering that if the file isn’t a RAW file. However, you cannot share the files until they’ve been post-processed in a photography program like Lightroom or Photoshop.

JPG and PNG are ready-made images that almost all social platforms accept. You can share these easily and have more room to store your photos since they take up less data. However, when you edit and resize them repeatedly, the image quality begins to degrade, leaving you with a blurry image. To avoid that make sure to always copy from the original file or jpeg to avoid that.

Conclusion

Once your photos are edited and ready to go, it’s time to upload them to your website and social media. The digital journey is a process that takes some work, but the results can end up in more sales and a loyal following. If you need help with any of these steps, send me a message, and I can help. We can also chat on Instagram!

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Using the Science of Color to Attract Your Audience in Photography

by Crystal Hollman | Sep 3, 2020 | How-To

The Blog

Using the Science of Color to Attract Your Audience in Photography

Social media is one of the best marketing resources you can use as a business owner.

here is actual science to colors and what attracts your audience. So it is time to stop being a skeptic and start getting on the branding bandwagon as we dive into how you can use the science of color to attract your audience in photography. It goes as deep as using colors and contrast to focus your audience’s attention to one place.

You can use brighter colors to attract and energize or use muted and neutral tones to show calmness and cleanliness. The message you want to share with your audience will depend on the colors you choose that also represent your brand. Here are a few tips on using the science of color to attract your audience in photography.

Know Your Brand Values

Before you decide which colors best fit your company’s brand message, you need to know your company values. What is it about your product or your company that makes you stand out from the next business owner creating similar products? Who is the audience you want to attract? Understand your customer’s journey before anything else. When you know your ideal audience, likes, and dislikes, it’s much easier to market your products.

Classify Your Colors

Once you are clear with your brand values and who your ideal client avatar is, you can choose which colors best fit your message. Classifying your colors helps your audience understand your brand and can dictate their behavior and decision-making.

Choosing the right colors can also evoke emotion with your ideal customers. What is it that you want them to feel or experience when they see your products for the first time? Both colors and product photography are among the first impressions people will get from your business, so being mindful of both is extremely important. Your choice of colors can influence customers to buy your product if done correctly.

Color Psychology

If you’re not familiar with the science of color or what each color might mean, let’s break it down. According to Small Biz Trends, each color has its meaning. For example, red associates with excitement, green is health and nature, purple is wisdom, blue is tranquil, orange and yellow are cheerful, and so on.

Each color can affect a person’s mood in many ways, so it’s important to consider these associations before choosing which colors you want to incorporate into your business.

Incorporating Colors into Your Business

Decide which colors represent your brand and resonate most with your ICA. You’ll then want to incorporate these colors into your business, on your website, in your packaging, in your advertisements, etc. The key is to stay consistent across all platforms to create brand recognition. Use the colors often to grab your customer’s attention and improve your brand’s visibility.

Conclusion

This is why I find beauty products, skincare, and clothing companies to gravitate toward my style. I value things like clarity, organization, and creativity and have created my brand to focus on concepts like structure and innovation.

There are no right colors to choose from. Consider your brand message and which colors best serve that. If you need help understanding how to incorporate colors into your business, I’d be happy to connect with you! I also share some of my best tips and tricks on Instagram!

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How to Communicate Your Product Photo Ideas to Your Photographer

by Crystal Hollman | Jul 23, 2020 | Business Ownership

The Blog

How to Communicate Your Product Photo Ideas to Your Photographer

When you reach the stage where you’re ready to outsource your product photos, communication is key.

ou want to make sure that you are relaying all of the important information over to your new photographer taking over. Your photos are the first images your customers will see before they buy. There’s a lot of pressure to showcase the right thing. But what does that mean exactly?

Here are a few key ways to communicate your product photo ideas to your photographer so you get exactly what you need.

It’s All in the Details

You want to be as detailed as possible when you are handing over an important task to someone else. From the orientation to the style preferences – give them as much information as you possibly can to yield a successful photoshoot. In this case, there’s no such thing as too much information. This is a business investment, so make sure your photographer knows exactly what you want. Some details to include are:

Orientation – what position do you want to place your product?
Props – which props do you want to use to enhance your visual story?
Angles Overhead – highlight the product’s details from every angle.
Detailed or Broad Shots – what about your product do you want your customer to focus on? What kind of daily set up can you find your product in?
Things You Like – more lighting vs. darker lighting
Things You Don’t Like – do you prefer one color over another?
Style Preferences – choose the style that fits your brand and let your photographer know.

Be as transparent as possible with your new photographer so that they can create your ideal photos. Use this opportunity to brainstorm with other professionals and share your message with your ideal customers.

Provide a Full List

If you have certain ideas for your products, create a list, and show it to your photographer. Include whether or not certain products fit a package and be sure to leave room for creativity, collaboration, and advice. Consider the look you’re going for – minimal, editorial, or lifestyle. Once you choose, stay consistent with your brand and tell your product’s visual story as best you can by keeping your customer journey in mind. If you’re struggling to provide a full list to your photographer, think back to why you are doing what you are doing and who you are doing it for.

Remember, you hired your photographer because you liked their work. Show them your full product list and let them do what they do best. Everyone works differently and there’s no right way to do something.

What’s Trending?

As a business owner, it’s essential to check out the competition every once in a while. See what others are doing and get ideas of how you can turn it around to fit your business and your brand. You want to factor in things that are popular in terms of color trends, photography trends, moody or bright lightings, etc.

Market research is necessary anywhere you go. If you’re unsure – poll your audience, ask them questions, and see what they’re interested in. Something as simple as a poll can give you all the information you need. Don’t be afraid to ask your audience for feedback because most of the time, they are more than happy to give it to you. Polling your audience also gives you a better idea of what people want and what their interests are.

Consider your Ideal Client Avatar (ICA). What do you want them to say about you, your brand, and your product? Is it fun, happy, functional? Is it for teens, moms, or dads? The more you know about your ideal customer, the easier it will be for you as a business owner to know how to serve them.

Conclusion

Outsourcing your tasks like product photography is a vital part of growing your business. Giving someone the responsibility to take creative control of your product photography allows you to focus more on other aspects of your business. You gain back organization and structure, but most importantly – time. Keep in mind the things you want your photographer to know and share any tips you may have for them. If you struggle with outsourcing anxiety, check out my blog post here, I share some tips and tricks to help you overcome it. It’s time to free your mind for creativity and continue to scale your business.

If you want to learn more about how I can help, let’s connect! You can also connect with me on Instagram!

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3 Ways to Get the Best Lighting for Product Photography

by Crystal Hollman | Jul 20, 2020 | How-To

The Blog

3 Ways to Get the Best Lighting for Product Photography

Lighting is one of the most important aspects, if not the most important aspect, of photography.

t can set the tone, the mood, and create certain emotions if utilized properly. It’s all part of the visual storytelling process.

But if you are unsure where to start, natural light is the best light to begin with on your photography journey. To get things going, here are 3 ways to get the best lighting for your product photography.

Use a Filter

White curtains are a MUST-HAVE if you are using natural light. However, roll up the blinds all the way if you have them. Using curtains is an easy and affordable way to help soften shadows and make lighting more controllable. If you are doing a photoshoot at home, here’s what you should do:

Pull your blinds up
Tack up a white curtain to cover the entire window (I said tack because you might not want them permanently and that’s okay)
Only use white, semi-sheer curtains to diffuse the light and avoid coloring issues

This setup works great for North/South facing windows AND windows that face the sun directly. The goal is to make your product photos look as natural as possible. Filtering the light can take away any harsh lines or shadows you may not want, but play around with them until you find your ideal shot.

Reflect the Light

Using a reflector can also reduce shadows, eliminate unwanted darkness, and brighten up an image where needed. You want to reflect the light where you can and this is why the L-shape set up is the most popular.

In low light situations, a photography reflector might be better than a whiteboard – this is the one I have in-studio and at home with me. A reflector can quickly bounce light back on the product and in a more intense fashion than the whiteboard. This is also a great tool for things like jewelry, diamonds, high-end pen sets, and shiny objects where you want controllable light reflection. Just be careful when using the silver side of the reflector when shooting on white! Silver tends to reflect more light.

Turn Off Overhead Lights

Every pro-photographer will tell you this is a must. Your indoor lighting for everyday use is not your friend and without the proper lighting equipment, it can cause lots of lighting issues and color problems. That’s because different types of light emit different types of colors. Some are cooler and others are warmer. For example, have you ever noticed that weird orange tint that makes your photo look too “warm” when taking a picture inside? This is because of the overhead lighting.

If you’re using natural light, turn off all other light sources – lamps, overhead lights, etc. Alternatively, if you are using artificial light – close the blinds and block off all other sources of natural light.

Pro tip – check your white balance, too. This is what distinguishes the color in your photo. If you mix different light sources, it confuses your camera and you end up with different colors in one photo.

Go outside when needed. A shaded patio is better than poorly lit windows (hence cute coffee shop flat lay photos!!).

These may sound like minor details, but they make ALL the difference when it comes to taking professional-like product photos. If you’re just beginning your photography journey for your product photos, keep it simple. Start with natural light until you become more comfortable. Then, you can step it up a notch and invest in the proper lighting gear needed to make your photos pop! You can also check out my blog where I list 7 Do’s and Don’ts of Product Photography.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me here. Or you can always connect with me on Instagram where I share tips and tricks to help get you on the right path.