Taking a product photo needn't be hard, especially if you only have one item per image, (groups of items are a different issue). The tools you'll need can be very simple, and in my first example I adopt the easiest possible way of working to produce a good result.
Tools:
1/ A camera capable of reproducing a product in detail
2/ A background
3/ Light
That's it!
Let's look at the three component parts;
1/ The camera may need a "macro" facility. If your product is small, let's say it's an item of jewellery, you'll need a camera to be close up, and super-sharp. Now I'm assuming we're using a compact camera here, but the same is true for any camera. It'll also ideally have a self-timer or some other means of shooting when you aren't actually touching it, to reduce vibration.
2/ Nothing looks worse than seeing your unrelated works environment in a blurry fog behind the product, except maybe an old coffee cup and your mobile phone! Find a big sheet of paper or a single colour flexible surface. Try to ensure it isn't highly reflective, but let's not use grey. Grey is dull and lifeless.
3/ Light. Ok, this is the most important part. No hard lights! Don’t aim your halogen desk light straight at your product! Sunlight is great: soft, diffused sunlight. Look for an area in your office which has light bouncing off walls, (which ideally will be white). Designate this as your set-up point. Failing that, let's use your desk lamp, but reflect its light from a nearby wall, or from a piece of white paper. Don't use a built in flash! Never, ever!!!
How to actually take that product shot.
1/ Set your paper background as a curve, if it's big enough. This enables the whole image to be consistent.
2/ Place your subject in the center.
3/ Allow as much soft light to fall on the subject as possible.
4/ Set your camera to flash - OFF. Set white balance to suit your environment. Set quality to its highest. Set "Macro" if you are very close to a small subject. Use a tripod, or place the camera securely and utilise its self-timer function.
5/ Make your subject FILL THE FRAME, or as near as you can.
6/ Shoot!
How does it look? Pretty good?
Please let me know how you get on!
Here's how the paper curves, and the light falls on it.
The square is the product, (in this case a Bluetooth Headset).
The curve shows no background joint, no clutter and focusses the eye on the product.
Here's the actual result.
(Of course, I won't kid you that this is good enough to be a "pro" result. It clearly is not).
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