

Common Product Photography Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Sep 15, 2024
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To ensure a successful product photo shoot, several key steps must be taken to maintain quality. Here are five common product photography mistakes and simple solutions on how to avoid them.

1) Contaminating the Product
Remember, the camera lens will capture everything on the product. No speck of dust or scratch is too small, especially when using a macro lens. Even jewellery that looks spotless to the naked eye may reveal unexpected dirt or blemishes in a photo.
Solution: Handle products with care—wear nitrile gloves, and for jewellery, use ultrasonic cleaners or steam with small pliers. The cleaner the product before the shoot, the less work you’ll need to do in post-production, and the better the final result will be.
2) Over-Complicating the Setup
"Less is more" is a rule that should not be ignored in product photography. While shooting multiple products may require several elements, it’s important to leave room for the composition to breathe.
Solution: Keep the setup simple and balanced. Ensure you’re 100% satisfied with the arrangement before moving on, or you risk extra work in Photoshop or, worse, needing a complete re-shoot.
3) Insufficient Lighting
There’s rarely such a thing as too much light in a product shoot.
Solution: Always have more lighting options than you think you’ll need. Sometimes the original lighting setup may not work as expected, and you’ll need to adjust based on how reflective or matte the product is. Be prepared to adapt for every situation—whether the product requires stronger illumination or just a subtle touch.
4) Rushing the Shoot
Proper planning is essential for a smooth photo shoot.
Solution: Create a detailed shot list and give yourself enough time for preparation and testing. While some shoots may go faster than anticipated, it’s better to have extra time to ensure you’ve captured everything you need, rather than risk a rushed or incomplete session that leads to re-shoots.
5) Get What You Need Before Getting Creative
While creativity is crucial, it’s important to first focus on capturing the essential shots.
Solution: Start with the required content before experimenting with more creative ideas. Once you have the necessary images, feel free to explore and try new setups—the client may even prefer these extra shots. But always save these for last to avoid derailing the shoot if something doesn’t work as planned.
By keeping these common mistakes in mind and planning accordingly, you’ll save yourself a lot of stress and ensure the session runs smoothly and efficiently.