Product Photography....What Is It All About?

As a product photographer I'm here to break down the lingo of the business and help you, small business owner, make the best decision when it comes time to delve into professional product photography for yourself.

First things first, there are three types of product photos you can choose from: flat lay, lifestyle/modeled, and white clipping. Each serves a different purpose depending on your needs and what type of online business you have, or don't have - product photography is for every business.

Let's jump over the first jargon hurtle, flat lay. Despite the name flat lays are not always flat! A flat lay is any photo of a product, or products, displayed with like items on a photography background. This can be laying flat (hence: flay lay) or upright depending on the product and look you are seeking from your photographer. Flay lays are eye-catching and perfect for everyday posting to social media. Oftentimes a flay lay can also have extra space for catchy wording to promote a sale or new products. These flay lays below show products both laying flat and upright to show the variety you can get with flat lays.

Next up are lifestyle and modeled product photos. These two words can be interchanged, mostly, and you'll find many photographers mean the same thing when using either word. I don't. (Or at least not anymore the longer I've been doing photography and the more variety of products I've shot!) For me, I use lifestyle for products that need to be styled in a setting like a home; decorated and arranged in a beautiful staging area. Modeled shots are just that...modeled with actual people. These allow your buyers to see your product in action; how it fits, how it works, how they can use it in their own life. Both are useful depending on your products. You can see both lifestyle and modeled shots using my own home and a studio below.

And last is white clipping, or just a plain white background. There are several ways to accomplish this as well. Pure white clipping is mostly seen as the primary image for Amazon product photos, all background removed including any shadows. Some of my clients like to use a white background for their images, but still include shadows giving it a more natural look. And some need the background removed completely so they can place it on any webpage and still see the background colors. I've included each type in the images below.

So what is the best type of product photography for your small business? Well, I suggest a combination of all three actually (you can see this in action below!). Each gives a unique look to your product and provides your potential buyers with variety. Whether you are needing scroll-stopping images that flay lays provide, modeled and lifestyle images that show your buyers how their product will look on them or in their home, or you are needing an image where your product is the only focus, professional product photography is right for you. Don't let your competitors beat you at the same game, vamp up your online store and social media accounts with professional product photography today!

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