Top 10 Types of Product Photography you Need to Learn in 2024
Product Photography is what you can find everywhere. As it is the base of branding no matter what type of brand is.
Without compelling product photography, any brand can not achieve what it aims for. From the online universe of the web to the traditional ways like magazines, brochures, etc everything is ruled by appealing product photography.
Product photography is essential for selling products, ultimately sales and awareness are the main goals of product images.
Whether you are a beginner or a professional product photographer you need to know different types of product photographs to choose the right approach for your client or project.
10 Types of Product Photography Every Photographer Should Know
1. White Background Photography
White background photos are the most common and most used type of product photography.
As the name suggests it is done by placing the product against a white background.
This allows the viewer to focus on the specific details and visual aesthetics of the products.
It is mostly done for E-commerce, product catalogues, Websites, and advertisements to showcase products professionally and consistently.
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2. Use a Scale to Indicate the Product's Size.
This type of product photography uses scale to show the size of the product.
For example, if you are shooting for a brand that makes bags or water bottles then it would be advised to shoot it in real life.
It allows the user to see how the product looks and how it is used. It also works well to compare the same type of products available in e-commerce.
This type of photography helps consumers visualize how products fit into their lives and surroundings.
Ultimately it promotes convenience for the shoppers as they can see whatever they need to see for the purchasing decision.
3. Creative Product Photography.
Creative product photography involves thinking outside the box and experimenting with unique concepts.
Backdrops, compositions, and props are involved in this type of photography. This type of photography allows photographers to showcase products in imaginative and visually communicating ways.
capturing the viewer’s attention and leaving a lasting impression. Creative product photography is often used for branding purposes and to differentiate products in a competitive market.
Creative product photography opens the doors of creative liberty to product photographers. As they can use their thought process and imagination to create visually compelling images.
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4. Group Product Photography
As the name suggests placing the products in a group in product photographs for showcasing choices and options to the end users is called grouping.
These types of product photographs can be easily seen in women’s cosmetics, accessories, jewellery photographs, and other products that have a variety of products that target the emotion of making a choice.
Grouping the products is mostly done to showcase the size, color, shapes, and variety of the products.
These types of product photography help the shopper to select from the choices, and can ultimately promote sales due to product clarity.
5. Macro Product Photography/Close-up Product Photography
Macro product photography involves capturing extreme close-up shots of products to showcase specific details and textures.
This type of photography is ideal for highlighting the fine craftsmanship of products such as jewellery, electronics, or cosmetics.
Macro photography allows consumers to appreciate the quality and craftsmanship of products up close, enhancing their perceived value.
Among all the types of product photography macro photography is the most technical one.
This type of photography requires specific settings for the camera and specific lighting techniques that can make it easy to zoom in on the product.
6. Environmental Product Photography
Environmental product photography involves photographing products in their natural or man-made environment.
This type of photography helps consumers visualize how products fit into their lives and surroundings.
Whether it’s clothing in a studio or outdoor gear in the wild, environmental photography adds context and authenticity to product images, making them more compelling and connecting.
It also helps in generating engagement, public interest, and ultimately sales.
It gets easier for the shopper to visualize and make the purchase decision by seeing the product image.
7. Large-size Product Photography
Large products are much more challenging as they are heavy, huge, and need more hard work and technique.
Depending on the product the area, lighting, props, and required gear for managing the large-sized products.
These types of product photography are mostly done for large-sized industrial products like huge machinery, large-scale operational vehicles, etc.
This helps more in B2B businesses as these product images are more likely to be shot for the business, industries, or manufacturers.
In some cases, a basic studio setup is not capable of shooting large products in the studio. So you have to take your shooting essentials with you and visit the factory itself and plan a shoot.
Mostly this type of shoot requires more budget than the regular product photos.
8. Flat Lay Product Photography
Flat-lay product photography involves arranging products flat on a surface and capturing them from a top-down perspective.
This product photography type is popular for showcasing multiple products together or highlighting small details and accessories.
Flat-lay photography allows the shopper to see the product from different and unconventional perspectives.
This product photography type is popular on the social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest. They are most commonly used to show a variety of cosmetics, camera accessories, mobile accessories, etc.
From technology to clothing everything can be captured into flat-lay product photography. Many bloggers use this type of product photography.
9. 360-Degree Product Photography
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360-degree product photography allows customers to view products from all angles by rotating an interactive image.
This type of photography provides a more interactive shopping experience and can increase customer conversion and satisfaction.
These types of product photography are mostly done for e-commerce where the shopper wants to see all the perspectives of the product before making the purchase decision.
360-degree product photography is done by placing the product on a rotating platform. Position your camera on a tripod camera facing the product.
Now take multiple photos as the platform rotates gradually, and ensure each angle is captured.
Use editing software to merge all the images to develop an interactive 360-degree product image.
10. Action Product Photography
As the name suggests action product photography involves capturing product images in motion or they are being used by a model which is in motion.
This type of product photography adds power, energy, and dynamics to the product.
Action product photography is mostly shot for sports equipment, sports gear, cars, bikes, and some lifestyle products.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, product photography holds a variety of styles and techniques, each serving its purpose of showcasing products effectively. Whether you’re aiming for a clean and minimalist look or a creative and imaginative approach, understanding the different types of product photography can help you capture the attention of consumers and drive sales. Experimenting with these various styles can upgrade your product photography game and make your images stand out in a competitive market.
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