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Product Photos – Studio lighting VS Natural light

Product Photos – Studio lighting VS Natural light

Product Photos – Studio lighting VS Natural light

Product Photos - Studio lighting VS Natural light

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:

 

This episode is not to debunk one source of lighting over the other but rather to talk about the difference in the two. My background is in natural lighting. Its the main source for all of my photography since I started my business. However, in the last year I have found many uses in studio professional lighting.

So to dive right on in… the true difference in studio lighting and natural lighting is control.

Continued… 

With studio lighting, the whites are whiter, in other words providing a crisp and more actual depiction of the colors. The shadows can be more direct and controlled in a professional setting. Though they can also appear a bit more harsh unless your light is balanced. The best part is getting to add or take away the lighting, shadows and drama in your images. Lastly, the clarity and focus is infinitely better and reflected in the end result.

So why might a photographer still choose natural light over professional lighting? The natural lighting provides a realness and softer appeal that the studio lighting lacks. There’s a better, intrinsic balance without shadow. As a photographer myself, I like the option of having the option to backlight my images and add an element of overexposure where needed. The natural lighting can also provide a warmer tone. I’ve also found in my work, that models’ skin tone, in natural light, to show more true because of that warmer tone from the sun.

The past few months I’ve really enjoyed mixing my lighting sources and options to fit each clients brand even better. So, tell me, are you a natural light kind of gal or is something more dramatic ideal for your brand?

Take a screenshot and share with me on Instagram as I dive in to more tips and behind the scenes of my product photography.

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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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One Tip to Take Better Product Photos!

One Tip to Take Better Product Photos!

One Tip to Take Better Product Photos!

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:

 

The WHO to your business is the biggest center focus for any marketing you may do now or in the future. I commonly throw out the term ICA which stands for Ideal Client Avatar.

Just in case you’re not familiar with the term here ya go! Your Ideal Client Avatar is the person you’re targeting when you’re advertising your product. When connecting with your ideal client visually, like through photography, think transformation: How can I show my ideal client that my product will provide the satisfactory difference they’re seeking?

So, how does that translate to your photography? Simple, that transformation (end goal) is your focus in the photoshoot.

Continued…

Determine the transformation and how it relates to the client by showing them where they want to be!

Here are a few examples I go over in this episode to help you get down the idea:

  1. Clothing Products – the ICA is almost always looking for a lifestyle and will relate to wanting to be like, look like, and/or live the lifestyle you portray that fits that clothing style. 
  2. Skincare Products – the ICA is almost always looking for textures. It’s not just about the look of the skin, but the “feel” that comes with it. So portraying different textures, whether of the product or the props used, are key to displaying the transformation.
  3. Jewelry – the ICA is almost always looking for emotion: the doting husband buying a stunning ring or necklace to celebrate an anniversary; an inherited family heirloom being passed to the next generation. The transformation is in how it makes your targeted client feel. 
  4. Digital Courses – the ICA is almost always looking for a transformation within themselves and fine tuning a specific skill or working on a specific goal. A common, often sought out goal is growing in social media presence; in this provide a specifically defined end result to be expected, i.e. grow by XX number of followers.
  5. DIY Digital Products – ICA is almost always looking for an outsourcing option without breaking the budget; seeking opportunities like purchasing templates to create great looking graphics without the pricey cost that comes with custom-to-brand  or someone else creating it for them

Need more help with your product photography? My main role as the Creative Director is to help your business by developing the ideas and concepts that tie your images to that ICA’s transformation in a way that helps you increase your sales, visual consistency and grow your audience.

Click here for a free consult to see how I can help 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.

Keep Listening

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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3 Ways to Display a Product in Images for Social Media

3 Ways to Display a Product in Images for Social Media

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3 Ways to Display a Product in Images for Social Media

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

I

f you’re not already utilizing social media in your business, it’s time to get on it, friend. Social media is one of the best marketing resources you can use as a business owner. It’s a FREE and easy way to showcase your products while sharing your brand message with your customers.

 

Before you take your photos, know exactly what it is you want to sell and how you want to sell it. When you understand your customer’s journey, it’s easier to provide them with what they need. This also allows you to tell a visual story in a way that appeals to your ideal customer. There are many ways to capture your product in its best light so I thought I’d share my top 3 ways to strategically display your product in images for social media.

 

Artistic Label & Product Display

While you want your product to be the main thing you present in your photos, don’t be afraid to show off your artistic labels and displays. Use this opportunity to flaunt your cute packaging and decorative labels along with your valuable product. Give your customers an idea of what they can expect when they purchase from you. Advertising the little pieces that make your brand unique is a great way to share your brand’s message, style, and personality. Your current and potential customers will appreciate your transparency.

 

Consider this – display 3 to 5, of the same type of product in one photo. Sticking with odd numbers adds visual appeal and make it easy to direct the eye to where you want it to go. I teach this method in the Flat lay Method e-course. This is especially popular for website banners. Mixing a display of various products allows you to market different things at once. You can also utilize this strategy if you’re selling a full package of products and you want to show what’s included when someone makes a purchase. The clearer you are about your offer, the less confused your buyers will be about you and your product.

 

Lifestyle

The second way to display your products in images on social media would be by using models and implementing the “lifestyle” look. A good example of this would be to utilize a model’s hands to hold your product. It’s one of my favorite techniques to show the texture and application of the item you’re selling. The hands, more specifically, because you can get in closer to the product itself while also tying in the human element.

 

Models are a great way to add the human element to your photos. Remember – people build connections with other people before they decide to buy a product. Your customers could love what you’re selling, but if they can’t relate to you or your product, they won’t buy. Models add that extra touch needed to make your product more relatable. Don’t forget to mix it up. You don’t want all of your photos to be closeups of your product and some hands. Instead, have the model show emotion with their face, body language, etc. all while using your product. Your photos are all about telling a story, so incorporate relatable elements that will give your photos the upper hand (literally).

 

Flat-Lay

The third and most obvious way to display a product in your images for social media is with a Lifestyle Flat Lay. This is my favorite thing because it gives you an aerial shot of your product in its entirety.

 

A solid and well-planned flat lay is great to show texture, the application process, and a variety of tools and supporting items that your ideal customer might find. A flat lay helps them see the product in a way that they would use it on-the-go or at home, bringing it into their real-life spade. If you really want to stretch your creativity and stand out you can use lots of fun paper cut-outs, blocks, flowers and other props for an artistic flat lay that pulls that editorial, high end, commercial look.

 

Flat lay photography can be a lot of fun, but to get the best results, there are a few things to consider. Check out my list of 7 do’s and don’ts for flat lay photography to help you slay the flat lay.

 

Conclusion 

There are many ways to display your product in an image for social media. Plan and implement a strategy before you move forward with the entire shoot. Time is valuable as a business owner so you want to be sure that you’re utilizing it as best as you can.

 

Like anything in life, it takes time to nail the perfect flat lay or product photo so remember to be patient with yourself and to have fun with it. Experiment with different props and colors (related to your brand, of course) and see what works best, what looks good, and what fits your brand. If you think you need some extra help putting together the perfect flat lay, check out my Flat Lay Method Course. I cover the basics of what it takes to make the perfect, Insta-worth images. You can also schedule a call with me if you have any questions or we can connect on Instagram!

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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.

Outsourcing Your Product Photos Pt. 2 – What You Need to Know

Outsourcing Your Product Photos Pt. 2 – What You Need to Know

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Outsourcing Your Product Photos Pt. 2 – What You Need to Know

It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the thought of outsourcing your product photos, especially when you know you can do it yourself.

B

ut overcoming your fear of outsourcing is another hurdle to conquer. It’s normal to feel this way when you’re doing it for the first time, so take a deep breath, overcome your anxiety, and outsource the work so you can focus on other parts of your business.

Here are 3 easy steps to help you let go of that fear:

 

Do the Math

Don’t worry – I cringe too when it comes to numbers, but when you realize the increased sales from better quality equals more money in your pocket – you will be outsourcing left and right. Know that outsourcing your photos means more opportunity to focus on:

 

  • Marketing your product
  • Engaging with your ideal customers
  • Creating more content

 

The payoff will be entirely worth it. Don’t think of investing in another photographer as a waste of money, but rather an investment in your business. Outsourcing your product photos to someone else with the same or better skill set than you will result in a higher Return on Investment (ROI). This is because you’re increasing your productivity levels by doing other important tasks that need your attention. In-house efficiency is vital for business growth, so take advantage of the opportunities to invest in a few month’s worths of photos and see the big-picture results. 

 

Ask Yourself Questions

Ask yourself questions like – would this save me time, stress, and money doing it myself? What can I get in done in that timeframe instead of focusing on trying to take photos? Does it make more sense to focus on marketing, creating products, and driving sales over 4-8 hours trying to do a photoshoot? 

 

When you can answer these questions with a solid answer, really think about the benefits you can have towards growing your company. Be sure you know the answer first before you decide to outsource. Like anything, it’s important to have a plan and a goal in mind. Time is money and it shouldn’t be wasted on things that can be handed over to other professionals in the business.

 

Brand Evaluation 

Another great way to overcome your fear of outsourcing is taking a step back and assessing whether or not your brand is ready to take it up a notch. Believe it or not, our businesses can easily dictate when it is time to outsource. The bank account balance looks good, your crazy busy filling orders, talking to wholesalers, etc. These are all things that indicate your business is growing and it is time to offload them before you fall behind on important tasks like customer service. The sooner you can outsource, the sooner you can focus on what you need to.

 

Conclusion

The fear of outsourcing your work is real. Every successful business owner has had the feeling, but has taken the necessary step for growth – and you can too. Understand that it may take a few trials before you find the right person but it’s all part of the process. Take what you learn and grow from it. It’s important to realize the successes that come from outsourcing your tasks. As business owners, we need ongoing support to help teach us the right things and lead us on the right path towards success. You can’t do it alone and this is why I offer more than just photography services. If you’d like to learn more, I’d love to connect with you! You can also find me on Instagram!

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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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