Product photography occupies a central place in e-commerce, as it attracts customers and increases sales. Professional photography will give you the best-looking image, but only some new shop owners have that budget. The good news is that you don’t have to break the bank by hiring a professional photographer for quality images. Thus, DIY product photography is a great and affordable option to shoot beautiful product photos on your own!

Approximately 80% of online shoppers find a deterrent in substandard product photos — a DIY product photography setup helps create professional images to show potential customers exactly why they want your products. With the right tools, a little imagination, and the simple skills it takes, you can do it, too.

This guide will outline everything you need for DIY product photography and provide step-by-step instructions on how to set up your home studio. This article will show you how to create the best product images on a budget, whether you are just starting an ecommerce business or want to optimize your current store.

The Importance of DIY Product Photography for E-Commerce

Before we discuss equipment, setup, and process details, it is worthwhile to appreciate the significance of good product photographs. When it comes to e-commerce, product images are your first impression. Since shoppers cannot physically touch or try your products, they must rely on photos to decide whether to purchase. If you provide low-quality images, your product will seem cheap and unprofessional, causing you to lose sales.

At the same time, strong product photography creates trust in your products, presents quality, and attracts potential buyers. When done right, a DIY setup can produce professional quality results without spending the money on hiring a pro.

How to Create a Product Photography Setup — 9 Must-Haves

So, to build your DIY product photography studio, you will need a few essential pieces of equipment. Small, high-end equipment can be expensive, but you can spend some money to get quality photos. But with the right equipment and some ingenuity, you can capture images that look professional enough to ensure success for your e-commerce business.

So here is the lowdown on the nine most crucial gear/items you will need for your at-home product photography studio:

1. Camera

You can have your camera serve as your foundation for any product photography setup, but you would not have to spend on a high-end DSLR like the Nikon D810 or Canon EOS-1D. These are all great cameras but also costly—and honestly, for most e-commerce product photography, they are not really needed.

A digital camera in the $300-$500 range can be built for a budget-friendly DIY rig. Minimum of 12 megapixels for a camera for beginners, the Canon G series is perfect. It opens up more manual control so you can change things like aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc. While the camera is essential, it is only a third of decent product photos since lighting, composition, and editing are just as crucial.

2. Lens

When we talk about cameras, we should also think of lenses. Top-shelf glass, like Canon 100mm f/2.8L macro or Nikon AF-S VR micro-Nikkor 150mm f/2.8G, are great but might be outside your price range if you are starting. For an inexpensive solution, consider a 50mm lens, too. The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is a great deal, costing only ~$150. Use this lens to create a shallow depth of field. The images will be very sharp, which can help your product pop out against a blurred background.

Another option is the Nikon NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D lens. Though it doesn’t have autofocus and has slightly lower image quality, it is still a great value.

3. Tripod

A tripod is essential to ensure steady shots, particularly for close-up product shots. Minor camera movements can lead to fuzzy images. This is a problem when you’re aiming for clean, crisp images. A tripod will help steady the camera, making your photos sharper than shaky.

You could get a reasonable tripod for $20 to $50. It doesn’t need to be fancy; it just needs to keep the camera still. Find an adjustable tripod with many versatile features. It can be adapted to angles above the product or aligned with products of different sizes.

4. Lighting Source

The secret behind excellent product photography is good lighting. Natural light is the best way to shoot, but it can sometimes be a little unpredictable.

It is only occasionally possible to get the photos you need due to cloudy skies, nighttime, or just not having good access to natural light. If you do not have sufficient sunlight, you can replace it with indoor lighting and save the day. Budget-friendly LED lights are steady and tag adjustable. Tungsten lights are another possibility, but they tend to be more expensive and brighter.

If you’re on a tight budget, go with LED lights because they are the cheapest yet efficient solution.

5. Lightbox

A lightbox is a nursery tool with high power that creates soft, meek, and uniform lighting for your product photography. This is especially helpful when you do not have natural sunlight or are shooting in less-lit environments. A lightbox (or photo tent or light cube) is a small box typically made with soft diffusion material that usually has a white background and diffuses the lighting. Hence, it spreads evenly across your product.

A DIY lightbox is easy to put together. You can make it from a cardboard box, white poster paper, and fabric. This arrangement will help you manage your shooting light and prevent troublesome shadows from making your product photos appealing.

6. Tape

It may seem trivial, but tape is essential to keep everything together. If you use a physical backdrop, use tape to hold it in position so no unflattering bumps or creases show through and take the focus away from your product. Another option is to tape the product on the table to remain aligned in every shot.

Instead of using clear tape or white duct tape, consider using black tape. It lasts longer, works better, and is subtle enough that it won’t affect the appearance of your photos.

7. Clamp

Now, you might need one of the other tools, clamps, when putting together a set for DIY product photography. Clamps enable you to position lighting fixtures, diffusers, and reflectors so that you have greater control over the final output of your photos. They are inexpensive and available in multiple sizes. You can attach them to different surfaces or try using them on light stands.

8. Foam Board

Foam boards are a budget substitute for costly studio reflectors and diffusers. A white foam board can be used as a reflector. It can reflect light onto your product and even fill shadows. Black foam boards, on the other hand, can absorb light and provide visual separation. With it, you have more control of the light. Foam boards are light and easy to work with. They can also be cut in various sizes and shapes as per requirement. Thus, they are an excellent option for light control on a budget.

9. Table

You need something to hold your product and keep it as steady as possible while shooting. Find a neutral-colored table to avoid any shiny, distracting background that can take the focus off your product. In addition, the table must be big enough so you have ample space to set up and adjust your camera and lighting setup.

Ensure you have a balanced and firm worktop where the camera may be placed on the product overhanging off. You can take clear shots from different angles if you set your table in the right place.

How To Guide For Creating Your Product Photography Studio

Once you have all the tools you need, it is time to establish your own DIY product photography studio. Follow these five easy-to-follow steps to build your own home-based studio with a professional photography layout.

Position Your Table

The first step of your DIY photography shooting setup is a table. Pick a table in a neutral shade so as not to clash with your product images. Keep the table near a north-facing window, which will provide subtle, diffused natural light throughout the day. If you are unable to have natural lighting, artificial lighting is an option.

Set Up Your DIY Lightbox

You can make your lightbox from a cardboard box, white poster paper, fabric, and tape. Follow these steps:

Cut out one side of the cardboard box to form an opening where your product will sit.
Cut small holes on the remaining box sides using a ruler to measure approximately 2 inches from the edges.
Take the white poster paper (or fabric) and stick it along the inside of the box to form a smooth, reflective surface.
Attach some fabric or a piece of tissue paper over the light holes as your diffuser.

You can now start using your lightbox!

Set Up Your Lighting

Place your lightbox beside the window for natural light to achieve a good result. For artificial lighting, use two softbox lights on both sides of your lightbox. Aim the lights a little bit toward the front of the product to achieve soft, even lighting. Adjust your lighting positioning to get the best combination of light and shadow.

Prepare Your Reflector

You can use a foam board as a reflector to soften the shadows and give it that clean, “polished” look.

Put the white foam board on the opposite side of your light source to reflect some of that onto your product. If you need to deepen shadows, then a black foam board can be used as an absorber that sucks light up and provides contrast.

Camera Setup

Finally, set up your camera. Use manual mode to set the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. You are setting a high aperture so that everything in the shot will be in focus and having a low shutter speed to seize more light.

Use a low ISO to avoid gritty images. Use a tripod to prevent a camera shake. Look at your pictures after every shot. The important ones should be sharp and well-exposed.

Editing Your Product Photos

After you have captured the photographs, use photo editing tools to edit them. Simple photo editing tools can bring out the best in your images via brightness, contrast, and sharpness adjustments. You can also crop the photos and edit out any distractions from the background. If editing is not your cup of tea, you can use e-commerce photo editing services that provide results on a small budget but with professional-level outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What equipment do I need?

Camera (smartphone or DSLR), tripod, lighting (softboxes or natural light), backdrop, and reflectors.

2. How important is lighting?

Very important! Soft, diffused lighting ensures clear, professional photos with minimal shadows.

3. What is the best background for product photos?

Neutral colors like white or light gray, or textured backgrounds for lifestyle shots.

4. How to reduce shadows?

Use soft lighting and reflectors to fill shadows.

5. What should be the camera settings?

Aperture: f/8-f/16, Shutter Speed: 1/100 or faster, ISO: 100-200.

6. How to get sharp photos?

Use a tripod, focus on the product, and use a small aperture for depth of field.

7. Can I use a smartphone?

Yes, if the lighting is good and you edit the photos well.

8. How to edit photos?

Adjust brightness, contrast, color, and remove backgrounds if needed.

9. How to make photos look professional without spending a lot?

Focus on good lighting, stability (tripod), and simple, clean backgrounds.

10. Should I shoot from multiple angles?

Yes, show your product from different angles for a complete view.

11. How to shoot reflective products?

Use diffused light and adjust the angle to reduce reflections.

12. When to shoot outdoor product photography?

Best on overcast days or in shaded areas for soft lighting.

13. How to show size in photos?

Include a size reference like a ruler or coin.

14. How to shoot small or intricate products?

Use a macro lens or macro mode for close-up shots.

15. How to make product images stand out?

Use consistent lighting, backgrounds, and lifestyle shots to showcase the product’s use.

Conclusion

A DIY product photography setup can elevate your e-commerce success. With the right tools, lighting, and practice, you can create stunning images that attract customers and save costs. Start simple, refine your skills, and watch your products shine!

You can also read https://clippingpathlab.com/product-photography-101-equipment-you-must-have/

The Ultimate Guide to DIY Product Photography Setup for E-Commerce Success