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When you’re promoting your craft products, it’s absolutely essential to have great, well-lit photos. Crafters use product photos on websites, Etsy stores, printed materials, signage and more. Eye-catching photos can be the difference between a customer clicking through to your site, or moving on something else.
You can take great DIY product shots with just some simple tools and natural lighting. Lightcase Pro makes it even easier to take professional-grade photos in your home with a cell phone! Learn more and find out how you can enter to win a Lightcase Pro below.
Tips and Tricks for Great Product Photos
By Dominic of Lightcase Pro
Start with the PRODUCTS themselves.
Firstly get them looking their best – clean and polish them if necessary.
Next choose your BACKGROUND.
This will depend on your product and the look you are going for – do you want to create a mood or present it simply with a black, white or light grey background?
For an authentic feel, try to find an environment suitable for the product. For instance leather goods work well styled on a worn wooden table or use your work environment. For a very clean and simple look use white, light grey or black. Foam boards are useful as they stay clean and don’t crease.
For a LIGHT source, nothing beats natural lighting and it’s free, though use it wisely.
Find a spot indoors by a window with indirect light or outside in the shade or even directly outside on an overcast day. Position the Lightcase so that the light is diffused through the Polypropylene material. Look for a balanced light across the area of your shoot.
Choose the earlier part of the day for good overall colour.
CAMERAS – You can’t beat the quality of a good Digital SLR camera.
However you can take remarkably good photographs using a smartphone and a tripod if required. Make sure the camera is focused, the brightness is adjusted and the camera is steady. Resting the camera on top of the Lightcase stabilises the camera, but if you are shooting from the front you’ll get the best photos by using a tripod.
There are lots of great apps to edit your images with but you’ll get the best results starting with a great photo in the first place. Sometimes you can get camera shake when taking photos with your
smartphone – if so, try connecting your headphones and click the button on the headphones to release the shutter avoiding any camera shake.
LAYOUT – Make it interesting.
Flat lays are a great way of styling your work by introducing other objects to enhance your products and tell a story. Co-ordinate colour and textures of multiple objects. If you can ‘t get things to sit in place then stick a bit of blue tack to the undersides.
HAPPY shooting!! Have fun and get creative with your shots! Try placing the Lightcase flatlay over your hands at work and take a timelapse or instructional video to mix it up a bit and offer something different to your followers!
Enter to win a Lightcase Pro!
We’re giving away a Lightcase Pro to one lucky reader! Lightcase Pro is a professional pop-up photo studio, enabling you to take great product photos with ease.
Contest Rules:
- Commenting on this page will enter you to win the prize. Duplicate comments will be deleted and are not tallied.
- The winner will be selected at random from the comments on this page.
- You have until September 26, 2016 at 11:59 CST to leave your comment on this post. Comments after that will not be counted.
- Contest is open to anyone 18+ in the US and Canada. Void in Puerto Rico, the Province of Quebec and where prohibited.
- The winner will be contacted by the e-mail address provided in their account.
Answer This: Do you take your own product photos?
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OMYGOD thank you so much for this chance! I take my own photos with my smartphone and your product would help me take better quality photos and make my photos so much more professional looking! I would SO LOVE to win this Lightcase Pro!! I first saw your product on Instagram a few weeks ago and thought it was such an amazing idea, I SO hope I win!!
Yes, I do!
I do take my own photos for the vintage items I sell on ebay and etsy. I would love to win this. It would make a world of difference. Thank you.
I do take my own product puctures and sometimes it is very hard to achieve good lighting. https://m.facebook.com/AngelaLovesCrochet/
Awesome tips, thank you Dominic! I would absolutely love to win the Lightcase Pro as I take countless pics for my Etsy shop and believe this would be a great enhancer for my shots.
I’d love to win this lightcase for my daughter, a fledgling photographer
Yes, I do. I don’t have a light box, I improvise with a white translucent storage bin.
I don’t take my own product photos generally speaking unless it is a product that needs to have a pic to show condition or if it’s a unique item. I can see how much a Lightcase Pro would improve my photography game!
I usually take my own photos. Occasionally my 16 y/o daughter helps me. She has a good eye.
I often take my own photographs for my jewelry-beading collections. I work hard to make my bracelets, necklaces, etc.. but when it comes time to take that great pic, it never comes out very complimentary of my hard work! This is proving to affect sales I think. I’ve tried creating my own ‘box’ but it has never worked out. This light case would probably at least help my confidence in my own product, because it would show off what I know I’m good at!
I do take pictures of my own products.
I do take my own pictures. Although my home is the brightest place I try . Outside photos are always better but the lightcase pro would be phenomenal …. Especially for blah days and cold winter days
Not the brightest place …lol
What a sweet little portable photo studio! This would be very useful for taking photographs for my blog.
AWESOME giveaway I would love one of these for my photo taking. I enjoy taking photos of nature.
yes I take my own pictures not only everyday pics but when I am posting to sell items. This would really help out when posting items for sale in so many ways. Thank you
Yes, I have photographed my crafts. It is difficult at times to get the most accurate lighting to properly showcase the project. Lightcase Pro would be a great help.
Yes
Yes I take my own product photos.
I take all of my product pictures myself.
Yes, I sometimes have to take photos of something I want to sell and I have a tough time getting the lighting right. This would be very helpful.
I would love to win this prize. I am a Girl Guide leader and we are doing a photography challenge in November. This would be perfect to bring and show all our girls!
Not yet — want to try it.
I do take my own product photos! They never turn out the way that I want them too! The color always seems “off” or there is this unwanted glare from somewhere!!
Yes my husband and I both takes photos of our products, this would be a great help!
No, but I want to start selling my crochet products online. This would be awesome to get me started
I always take my own pictures.of my products. This would be a wonderful addition to my photography collection.
Yes, I always take my own product photos + I’m always looking for ways to improve them.
This lightcase is the difference between taking a mundane photo and a magnificent photo display! Thanks for the give away!!!
I need this so much.
Yes, I take my own product pictures.
Yes, we do. This would really upgrade the quality of our stone pendant photos.
I take my own photos and I’m terrible at it! I need a lightbooth like this because the wood of my dining table, combined with the lighting makes everything look yellow.
I have taken photos of my products in the past, but they never look as good as I would like.
I do take my own pictures, but winning this would be a HUGE help! Thanks for the opportunity!
Yes I do, but they never come out quite the way I want. I think this will help.
I did not take my own photos! I will now with the pointers you gave! TY
I do take my own product photos, & the Lightcase Pro would be perfect for taking better quality photos the way I’d like to be taking them! Thanks! Good luck everyone!
I take photos of things I create, but they don’t go anywhere. I’m not in a position to send them into the void for the whole world to see and therefore buy, worse luck. This looks like a very nice prize.
Yes, I take my own product photos!
Yes and they don’t always look as good as they should due to improper background lighting and shadows. This product would be awsome!
Yes, I take photos of my needlework.
This would be a big help to me as my photography is not very good.
yes, I take pictures of my sewing and embroidery projects and my husbands wood creations. Lightcase would be very helpful.
The options with such an item as this are endless! Sure would make my life easier and save a bundle of time!
Yes, I take my own photos of my products.
In it!
I don’t produce anything, but I do take photographs of possessions for insurance and inventory purposes, and could use the photos later if I wanted to sell some items.
I am just getting started with trying to make an income while crafting, all help is greatly appreciated. I have taken a few product photos with little success
I take my own photos most of the time with my smart phone because I’m still learning to use my camera 🙂 This would be a great tool to have! Thank you!
not yet
Yes, I take my own photos, but I am still very new at this. The Lightcase Pro would really help! It looks great!
I do take photos of our products.
What a great product!
I do take photos for ebay.
Yes, my daughter and I take photos of our craft items for her Etsy and eBay stores. My photos are terrible. Hers are much better.
I do not currently take my own product photos, but I would like to very soon!
I do not currently take pictures of products but that’s because I’m terrible at lighting photos. haha… This would be helpful in setting up a website.
Yes we do, this would be great for our business!
I need this.
This information gives me good pointers to help me improve. I’m not very good taking pictures.
Yes, I do take pictures of items to sell. Unfortunately I only have a tent for larger items. The “Light case Pro” would be great for smaller items.
This product looks like just what I have been searching for.
yes and hard to find the right lighting and background.
Yes, my husband takes pictures of the things I make.
I would love to start taking pictures of things I make and have the light box to make them look better.
Yes, I take my own pictures.
I do but with a regular camera and really could use something like this to help me produce a better looking photo…
I made a Wix website for my friend and this would allow me to take so much better photos of her produts.
Check out Camelia’so Candles on Wix.com
my husband would love this
Hello, Yes I take my own product photos. I do a lot of repurposing of items and sell them on my Facebook selling page. I need this light box real bad!
Yes, I take photos of my products and have problems. This might solve them.
This looks like the ideal lighting to feature your home made crafts!
This appears to have a more neutral background than the bluescreen I currently use.
Yes, we take our own product photos.
Yes, I take pictures of things that I make
Looks great! I would love to try it for my business.
Of course & this would be a great help.
I take my own pictures. I use a light blue backround to go with my business colours and the natural light of the sun.
Yes I take my own photos but still need lots of practice,
yes and I have trouble getting the sun in the right place to keep the shadows out. I would love one of these lights to make it my products look natural but great.
I do take photos of my products and the ideas listed in this article will help me. I’ve never thought about using a Lightcase. WOW!
Would love to be able to take great pictures of my home made projects.
I Do!!
This is a great idea! Whether you are taking pictures just for the love of photography or for business applications, this is of benefit to all. I would be delighted to win this and use for the love of photography and for launching a business! (P.S. Thank you for your website as well – with all the helpful tips!)
Looks very cool, I would love it for my start-up!
would like to try it because it is something new to me
Yes! Pictures do not always look the greatest so this would be very helpful!
Would love to have this for product pictures.
Yes – I’m just learning to take photos of my products and this looks like exactly the right tool for the job!
What a great product. I always have trouble with glare when I take photos of my artwork. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
This is a great idea! Presentation is definitely important.
I would love to win
Yes, I do photograph my own products. What an awesome idea. This light case would add to my sales with out a doubt. Thanks for the opportunity to enter your contest.
Yes I take my own photos good information thank you
I’d love to try it out for my own products and for friends and family as well.
Since my husband recently retired, he is following his lifelong dream of photography, and this would be a great surprise for him.
My husband would love to use your product to pursue his love of photography.
Not yet. Want to try it.
I love to take my own quilt/bags photo. I usually take them outside.
Yes, I often take photos of my own products and products for others. Thank you!
Qould love the oppertunity to try this!
I take photos of items that I resell
Absolutely – we sale books online and nice photo of the object really helps our customers make a good decision.
Yes I do take my own product photos.
This would be a great help to me because I take my own pictures .I am not the best picture taker so this would help me do better pictures. thank you for the chance to win this prize. God bless you
My husband and I have been trying to make a light box. We do gourd art, and need a portfolio. We have tried cardboard boxes and tissue paper , with No luck. Your product would be just what we need.
Yes, I take photos of all of my projects.
I am handicapped and can not always be outside to photograph.This would be so much fun!
Thanks for the suggestions and pictorial description of the light box. The lightbox is the solution to create a database of Pictures of fabric stash, pattern pages and tools to create aorking database. Shopping will be a breeze with quality photographs of my fabric colorways detail, and dreams for upcoming projects. And, I’d never have to make duplicate purchases again! Hope to win… ☺️
I take my own photos using as much natural light as possible. Sometimes I must include a sense of scale for a measure of the product’s dimensions….anything from a can of Pepsi to a Quarter to a ruler.
Yes I take photos and would love to try your product.
I have another use in mind for this item. One of my retirement craft projects is to photograph my collection of memorabilia from my sons adventures growing up and make some scrapbooks. This would be ideal!
No, I get my daughter-in-law to do it because she has a degree in photography.
I just started my business, so I would like to start off on the right way.
No, I have am not very good at photography. This might help.
Yes, I take my own photos. And I found these tips quite helpful, and while I am aware of most of the info provided, there is some very useful information that I will definitely be taking into consideration. Thanks!
This studio would help give my food photos better clarity and a more professional look. Such an interesting product!
I would like to take photos of all of my projects, so I can organize them.
Yes, I take my own product photos, and this would really help me present things beautifully and professionally!
I take photo’s of my products all the time and this would greatly help me and i would appreciate it!
I have to take photographs of my products all the time for my business and this would greatly help me.
I do take my own product photos. I like the idea of a box with better light though. that would be useful.
Yes I take photos of products, and think your product would help me hav better presentation.
Wow! Great info and what looks like a great product. Yes, I take product photos.
Yes, I take pictures of the craft pieces that I sell
Sometimes I do, yes
Would love to have this!
Yes, I do take my own product photos.
Yes I do take my own pictures. It might be why we never and I do mean Never sell anything. This could only help me do just that. Thanks for the chance to win.
I always take my own photos. I have been a photographer since the late 70’s.
i take my own photos
I do take my own photos.
Yes, I take my own photos!
Yes, I take my own photos.
This would help me out with my photos, thanks!
I take the photos myself.
I do take them myself. I created a light box out of cardboard and poster paper, which works okay. I started out using a nice Canon camera, then came to realize that my Android shoots pictures clearly enough and it’s a lot easier to work with in regard to uploading pictures. Thank you for hosting this!
Oh yes, I take my own photos and boy would this Lightcase Pro come in handy. Thanks!
I sometimes take my own product photos
My husband could use this! He would love it and it would be a great surprise.
My husband is an artist so we are always looking for ways to take great photos without paying for a professional photographer. This would be fabulous.
I don’t take my own product photos.
Yes, I do take my own photos.
I usually take my own product photos. Thanks for hosting the giveaway.
I would love to take my own product photos.
I do take photos our products sometimes getting frustrated with lighting though
I do take my own product photos.
Yes, I do my own photos.
No – I don’t.
Yes, I do! I don’t take good pictures though!
I do, but they are usually done in distracting backgrounds.
I’m trying to get started up on Etsy and this would definitely help create beautiful photos of my products.
I usually take my own photos.
I do take my own photos.
I do, but they are not always the best. Thank you for your tips 🙂
Yes. Both my husband and I take the photos, however, my husband is better at it than I am,
I would love to take better photos of my items!
What a great product to shoot photos with. Perfect for the instagram flat lay. Thanks for a great post.
I am a total novice to Etsy, I will be setting up a store and a photo setup would be an incredible help. My photos for EBay were always sub-pare. Thanks for the good information.
my photography is not very good
Yes I take my own product photos and have picked up some useful information thank you