While photographing our new collection I thought up some handy tips for other in-house photographers. In this article I will be exploring techniques for product photography that are useful for small items and close up details.

1. Lighting

A crucial factor in product photography is consistent lighting. Ideally you want to get a good pair of studio lights that can be positioned either side of the subject and give a soft even light.

If you are on a budget then two spotlight lamps with bright daylight bulbs will get a similar effect. You may need to compensate for the low quality light by using the settings or a filter on your camera to adjust the warmth and exposure.

Always take a few test shots and review them on your computer to see how it looks before starting. It almost always looks different to the display screen on your camera and then you can further adjust the camera settings to get the right balance.

2. Background

The safest option is white but it entirely depends on the subject. If the colours in your collection are mainly white or a light colour they will get lost in the background and be a nightmare to work with in photoshop later. For things like screen prints on white paper or tea towels a light grey or complementary colour background is better.

Paper or fabric can be used to create you background by hanging it on a wall or on a table against a wall. If you have photoshop skills you can get away with layering a few A2 sheets over each other and editing out the joins later but for an easy life get a nice big piece of quality paper or fabric.

If you can stretch the budget and are planning to take more photos in the future then invest in a roll of paper or fabric that can be cut down when it gets marked or scuffed from use.

3. Tripod

Any photography is instantly improved by a good sturdy tripod. Even pressing the shutter button creates movement and will blur any fine detail you are trying to capture.

Once you have tested your images and got your perfect settings you want to keep your camera in the same spot that the settings are adjusted to. If you accidentally knock the tripod and change its position, it will take in light andcolour differently to where it was and the pictures will come out differently.

Once you have it in place get some cheap masking tape and mask out a square around the base of each leg of the tripod. This will tell you where its supposed to be but keep it in place by adding a blob of bluetack to the legs to stop them from sliding around.

4. Camera

A good DSLR is a must even if you have to beg, borrow or trade for one. The more pixels the better and RAW setting is necessary if you want to print any of your images larger than A4.

DSLR cameras give you more control over the settings but usually have excellent auto settings as well if your not familiar with how exposure and shutter speeds work.

If you are photographing very small items or lots of close ups it may be worth getting a quality macro lens. Most cameras have a macro setting that will be effective up to 10cm away but you will need a tripod.

5. Photoshop

This is your final tool. You want your images to be as near to perfect when you take them but inevitably there will be variations.

The clone stamp tool can be used to get rid of smudges, dust blobs or creases in the background. The level adjust can be used to change the exposure and brightness of the images so that they are all the same.