You Can Use Your Smartphone to Take Beautiful Product Images
Y’all its 2019 our smartphones have amazing cameras on them. We’ve all seen the “Shot on iPhone” billboards. I’ll admit that when the cameras on our phones started to significantly advance and especially when portrait mode came out, I was excited and scared at the same time. Excited because the quality is incredible, the photos I can take with just my phone present an opportunity for a great shot even when I don’t have my heavy camera in hand. Though I got scared like many other professional photographers have with the fear of becoming obsolete. However, that fear is a rather irrational one. A great shot isn’t just created with an expensive camera, a little creativity is necessary, but you can do it! Even non-pros can create gorgeous images and save a ton of money taking great shots by themselves, we see it everyday on Instagram, but you just need to know a few things first. Let’s look at some completely unedited images I snapped on my iPhone. I’ve decided on a few interesting items for subjects, ha. Let’s dig in…and yes, I did eat the pineapple, but I did not drink the whiskey, I shot these very early in the morning…
Find Your Light.
The holy grail of a good shot no matter what equipment you are using is lighting. Whether you are taking a shot of food for your recipe blog or an outfit flat lay for your boutique’s Instagram or of a person modeling what you sell you need good light! Natural light is and will probably forever be my favorite light source and its readily available to all of us for free…the sun hasn’t started charging us for usage yet. ;) So even if that shot makes the most since in your kitchen because you prepared that delicious plate in your kitchen if you don’t have a great window letting in plenty of natural light you need to get creative a build a mini-set near a window to get your shot. The same applies to any image, find your light my friend. Here are two shots of the same thing, one in a poor lighting situation and one in the right natural light situation.
Bad light in my kitchen with a light on and very minimal natural light.
Better light under a window.
Far prettier to look at!
Ugly light in my kitchen.
Natural light near my window.
Make It Interesting.
This one can come easy if you have a little creativity flowing through your blood and if you know what you are after in creating an attention-grabbing image. I love adding props. Adding interesting items will actually make your product shot more attractive. And while creating an interesting shot is the goal, it will also needs to make sense to our senses, so pay attention to how straight your image is. If there is a windowsill or any sort of horizon or background line in your shot make sure it’s straight in comparison to your subject. I shoot laying on the ground sometimes, and often I’m in some sort of ab crunch that can make getting a shot difficult to get my horizon line perfect if my core is screaming. If I was shooting far enough away I can usually crop the image to correct it. However, bear in mind your goal should always be to try to get it right in camera because it will save you time or worse happens, and you aren’t able to crop your image. Below are examples of creating an interesting image with props in comparison to lack thereof and a straight shot versus a crooked shot.
This is dramatically crooked to drive home my point ;)
Still a great iPhone shot, but maybe you want something a little more interesting.
Just straighten it up.
Props are awesome if you ask me. But does it help that I do this for a living and tend to have lots of fun things around the studio to add in to product shots.
Shooting In Portrait Mode.
Now maybe you don’t have portrait mode yet on your phone, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a great shot, but I want to show you the difference between portrait mode and just a regular camera shot. Even if your fancy phone boasts portrait mode not every shot you take would be better in portrait mode. Again, this depends on what you are shooting and the end goal of your image. Portrait mode applies depth of field to your image and light plays a massive role in a great portrait mode shot too. Depth of field is applied when the aperture is adjusted in your camera. Depth of field in super basic terms can be explained by how in or out of focus the foreground and background is around the subject of your shot. Pros shooting with pro cameras are adjusting this setting among all the other settings because we are shooting on manual, but that’s not why you are here so I will keep this on subject. The portrait mode on my iPhone 8 plus adjusts by itself when I move, but there are now smartphones with cameras that you can adjust your aperture. I was so excited about my new iphone when my husband surprised me with it as a gift strictly because of portrait mode, but he also recently informed me that iPhones/Apple are actually behind their competitors in this technology. Apparently Android smartphones are even more advanced, whomp whomp. Check out the Best Camera Phones according to AndroidAuthority.com. To break down aperture in the way it was first explained to me that I actually understood you want think of aperture as a window. Just like the size of a window determines how much light comes in, your aperture also determines how much light it lets in your image along with the depth of field. If you really want to dig into understanding aperture better I suggest this article: “How to Understand Aperture in 5 Simple Steps”. I’m a show me, don’t tell me type of learner so if you are like me these images may help you understand this portrait mode setting better.
Notice how the background is also in focus. This is not in portrait mode.
Portrait Mode or adjusting your aperture will give you this effect.
Without portrait mode.
With portrait mode.
Follow these three guidelines and they will help you create better shots of your products for your business, social media pages and your blogs by using just a smartphone. I still recommend using a pro or at least a pro camera for some shots. It can be a real struggle using a smartphone image on your website for things like banner images, and if you plan to send your images off for print advertising that might be a better job for a pro too, you will run into file sizes and other time-consuming tech-y stuff.
As always should you need some assistance, I’m happy to help. I offer just product photography too. And don’t worry I’ll be shooting with my good camera and lenses. I use all the necessary lighting techniques to get the best shots and curate them to fit it your brand, which may mean a little perfect prop shopping and a few good hours creating and editing your images, but I love it! Just click the big yellow button to get in touch!
Talk to ya soon,
Linds
10 Flat Lay Photos Created with Props You Have Around Your House
Flat Lay Photography Tips and Tricks
Being a collector of many random things and a product photographer has its perks when it comes to creating beautiful flat lay photos for my clients. The down fall is storing everything. I recently converted my detached garage into my little workshop/studio specifically for creating a space that I can store and display the many of the props I use in my flat lay photography sessions. I also had a glass garage door installed so I have plenty of natural light to use when I’m not using my studio lights also.
I have had several very specific requests from my photography clients on the props they wanted in the flat lay photography I was hired to design and photograph for them, and in those cases I have to go “prop shopping” from time to time. However, my favorite shoots tend to be the ones where I have a little more creative freedom, these are typically from my clients who have me on a retainer or who have hired me multiple times. My repeat clients know I will give them tons variety and shots they may have not thought of, and I always make sure that the props, lighting, and mood of the image are on brand and also make sense for the product being photographed, but that doesn’t mean I can’t get creative with the props I use.
Today I’m sharing with you the props I have used, why and perhaps the strange places I have acquired some FREE props for my flat lay photography.
From Trash to Treasure Product Photography Props.
The first flat lay photo below was shot for Wine Society and it’s one of my most re-pinned images on Pinterest. I feel like I got lucky on this one considering that I dug these flowers right out of a trash can while out walking my dog. Ha! I use to live next to a venue that in held weddings from time to time, so on my routine morning walk with my pup I walked past a big dumpster with the lid off and these beautiful flower arrangements were tossed on top of a heap of garbage. My client at the time had me on retainer for a number of shots to turn in each month so I took advantage of these free flowers, saving me time on going and buying flowers and my client money on the added expense of prop purchasing. At the time, Wine Society had just launched this flavor of wine and this couldn’t have worked out more perfectly.
1. Trash can flowers and canned wine.
Though this brand has multiple flavors that both men and women enjoy, this flavor and the design on the can is super feminine, therefore the pink and white flowers were perfect for this shot.
Slightly Weird Flay Lay Photography Props.
Like I mentioned, I’m a collector of many random things and because of that I can usually gather a good amount of props to use for my flat lay product shoots without going shopping. When I die I deeply sympathize with whomever will be the lucky one selected for the job of going through my things to get rid of. If ghosts do exist I hope I can watch the perplexed looks on their face as they question, “why the hell would someone have so many random things?” For example; coconut shells, bunches of dried weeds and flowers, old bottles, drift wood, rocks and broken pieces of marble and granite, bartending tools and the list goes on. ;)
2. Keepin’ it creepy.
This Halloween-themed shot was for the same wine company as the above. Their red flavor is delicious in case you are curious I suggest giving it a try and they deliver straight to your door too. #winning. Anywho, this shot was for geared towards Halloween (obviously ha!). Give me a reason to play with dry ice and I’m in.
What’s in the shot? The product of course, and an old dried gourd that I have had on a shelf for years, some dead dried roses, a skeleton hand bottle opener, an antique bottle with a “Muriatic Acid Poison” label I bought on a trip to London, and a skull face recipe book that belongs to my husband. I did have to run out to purchase dry ice for $7 at Kroger.
3. Creepy Collaborations.
A different shoot, same Halloween theme, same wine company. For this image I got to play with dry ice again. Wine Society was collaborating with Thirsty.com for these shots too. Being a bartender for years before picking up a camera helped with not only getting fun shots, but I also followed the recipe correctly (which probably wasn’t totally necessary and this drink was my “after shoot reward”. Bourbon and red wine, who knew that would be a delicious combo?
Props: A skeleton hand from my embarrassing large collection of Halloween decor, a bottle of whiskey from our “brown liquor that we don’t drink, but keep for guests shelf” (label hidden), an orange peel, and a few more bottles from around the house, a stick from outside to hold the cherries garnish… and more dry ice. I had to purchase more dry ice and the cherries for this.
4. Blacked Out Beards.
From a recent product shot for Brio Product Group’s new Blackout Beardscape Hair Trimmer. Again, when you are shooting your flat lays you have much to consider, like who is the product for, how does the brand you are shooting for use photography in marketing their products; what platforms and/or their website and so on. This is a masculine product and an even more masculine design, I considered this when deciding on what props I would use as well as my backdrop color and light (which is natural light for this one).
What’s in the shot? Two of my husband’s pipes, an old dog tag that belonged to my mother (from the 70’s when everyone had a dog tag, it was a trend, she was not in the armed services), some coffee beans (we use a french press and grind our beans each morning so I had these on hand), dried weeds that hang on my wall in my workshop, an old rusty rectangle thing that I picked up off the ground somewhere and have no clue what it would have ever been used for or apart of, and some tweezers. Simple enough, cost $0. Again, I’m not only saving myself time, but also my client money.
5. The Matte Black Trend.
Same masculine product as above. I pulled some grooming tools from a travel kit we have, and threw in a jar of hair product that I use to tame my mane (when I actually style my hair, which is a rare occurrence), used only natural light and wah-lah, on brand and in the style of the “Blackout” product.
Eat Your Fruit.
My husband likes to cook, I’m a lucky girl, he also likes to grocery shop (not me!). He keeps plenty of fruit in the house so I always have plenty for any flat lays that might require some colorful fruit for the shots, then we are forced to eat our fruit, ha!
6. Fruity Flat Lay.
Another beverage company, Perfectly Cordial, a cocktail mixer company needed some shots for their website and social media. I pulled out some old bartending tools I picked up at Goodwill, threw in a piece of coconut shell that I brought home from a trip to Jamaica (there’s a memory attached to it), a wooden cutting board also from Goodwill, some mint and rosemary from our herb garden and sliced up some of that delicious color-popping fruit, oh and a cocktail glass with some ice that my client provided when dropping off the product to my home studio.
7. Flowers and Fruit.
Wine Society’s white wine in a can called for a simple shot with a little fruit and few coral-colored flowers. Using only the fruit I had in the house at the time and some flowers off a bush on my morning dog walk, I pulled the scrim back on my soft box for bold light look (which always reminds me of Miami, Florida for some reason), rearranged my props and snapped a few different variations of this.
8. Rocks, Rosé and Yep, More Fruit.
When I come across something I think I might use in my product photography and flat lay shots I bring it home. I guess these rocks are granite and/or marble, honestly I’m not sure. I had a friend who rented a tiny little studio apartment in a relatively rough part of Nashville, and under a tree in her yard were a bunch of broken pieces of granite, marble and other types of broken rock. The trash and super tall weeds surrounding this stuff led us to believe it was up for grabs, so I tossed a couple pieces into the back of my truck. A peach, a plum, raspberries, blueberries, black berries and strawberries were purchased for this one. We usually have quite a bot of fruit, but not all of these at once, so I had to make a trip to the produce section for this. I spritzed everything with water for an added “chilled” effect, since rosé is served chilled.
9. Red Lips Call for White Teeth.
Another product from Brio Product Group, teeth whitening strips. I was hired to photograph plain white backdrop shots and flat lays for this new product. After snapping the plain white background product photos, I turned off my studio lights and brainstormed on what props I could use that would portray the message a company would want for teeth whitening products. I do own red lipstick, but I never wear it, like ever, but you know, there’s always a chance I might feel frisky so I have some on hand and this was perfect for these shots. Anyone who wears red lipstick knows if you don’t have perfectly white teeth that bold red lipstick won’t look so great.
10. Coffee, the Curse of White Teeth.
As touched on early, we keep whole coffee beans in the house, and I like to keep them in a pretty glass jar, I don’t want to look at the bag they came in on my counter! I was also wrapping up this product shoot when I went to refill my coffee that morning, when I realized another curse for keeping your teeth white is coffee so this would be a perfect scene for teeth whitening strip product shots. I also just happened to be drinking out of a white coffee cup, so I flipped the logo around to not be seen in the shot, poured out a few coffee beans, sprinkled a few more around and used natural light again so I could incorporate some dark shadows to bring out the brand’s black text on the packaging and the “black” coffee. Good thing you can’t see how much sugar I put in my coffee. HA!
And there you have it friends, some simple examples for your next product flat lay photography shoot. I don’t like to use the term “hoarder”, rather I like to justify my “collections” by using as much as I can in my product photography. Though I’ve been collecting odd objects or what may seem mundane to many, for years, I finally have a reason to keep collecting by using them in my photography. I also use lots of these collected items in decorating my home and studio as well. The key to collecting found objects is to make sure you keep it organized, everything must have a place. Otherwise you may end up on an episode of hoarders or stumped on a place to store it and find yourself frustrated with clutter. Marie Kondo would most likely have a panic attack if asked to step into my workspace since her whole message is “if it brings you joy”, but for me it does bring me joy to have these items on hand and ready to be in photograph that I’m getting paid to design and shoot. Again, again, again, it saves me time and my clients money, as well as being a hobby while I’m out exploring the world. I hope this helps stir some new creative energy for your next product shoot. Good luck and most of all have fun with it!
Talk to you soon,
Linds
Lucid Linds Photography and Creative