If your business relies on selling a product, including visuals of that product in your marketing campaign or website materials is a must. That’s hardly a mind-blowing statement. However, it can be easy to get lost in the familiarity and satisfaction with your own product. A consumer doesn’t know your product in and out like you do. Your images and videos of the product are often their first introduction to what makes your company special. The visuals need to present your product in the best light possible. Good product photography lighting is tricky to nail. It relies on case-by-case conditions. Here are some tips on how to get product photography lighting just right.

Light = Information

When it comes to digital photography, light equals information. The more light you have in a frame, the more information your camera is able to capture. This is a hugely significant factor in how your photos of your product will look. Not enough information, and your image will appear grainy and ill-defined. Too much information and the entire image becomes over-exposed. You can flood the image with light or create a high-contrast picture for effect, just make sure you’re doing so intentionally.

Control Your Aperture

The width of your aperture determines how much light comes into the camera. On digital cameras like DSLR’s, your aperture is often expressed as an “f-stop.” The lower the f-stop, the wider the aperture. The wider the aperture, the more narrow the depth of field. A narrow depth of field means part of your image will be out of focus. Again, you can use this to effect, just make sure you aren’t blurring the important part of your product!

Control Your Surroundings (As Much As Possible)

Finding the right balance is all about control. Daylight is great for a natural look. If you can use an existing light source like the sun, you’ll save yourself time and money. However, nature is impossible to control. Spotty cloud coverage can cause a major headache while shooting, because the balance and amount of light is constantly changing. Shooting indoors with lighting equipment offers more control, but typically comes with a pricetag.

Ready to Get Serious About Product Photography Lighting?

Doug Davis is a professional photographer with studio space in the Dallas area. For more than 20 years, he’s worked with major brands to showcase everything that makes their products sensational. To learn about product photography options, contact D-Squared Studios in Dallas, TX at 214-746-6336.