Getting good product photos doesn’t magically happen - not even if you have the latest smartphone, a fancy light setup, and a quality-made handmade product.
It takes time and practice to capture a good product photo.
If product photography were easy, every online seller would have amazing photos on their website or Etsy shop.
But a lot of makers and craft sellers often run into common product photography problems, especially in the beginning.
So if you find yourself wondering why you keep getting weird colors, bad lighting, or blurry photos, that’s okay!
In fact, I want to let you in on a little secret: Taking bad photos is actually not bad.
Let’s dive in and talk about it.
Bad Photos Are Part of the Process
Everyone takes bad photos. Even professionals. Granted, their “bad” photos may look great to the average person, but they keep adjusting until they get the shot they want.
The same thing applies to DIY product photos. When your photos don’t turn out the way you want, it's not a bad thing - it’s feedback.
Personally, I have taken tons of photos and a lot of them will never see the light of day. Some come out light, too dark, blurry and everything else in between. This is totally normal. it’s how you learn to get better.
Every “bad” photo you take is actually giving you information about something you need to change.
Whether it’s lighting, your background, the composition or focus. Every photo you take guides you toward getting the results you want.
Think Like a Photographer (Even If You’re a Beginner)
If you’re a maker trying to photograph your handmade products, it may feel overwhelming and frustrating.
But something to remember is every person you see that has great photos didn’t start out that way. They started where you are. That’s why I want you to start thinking like a photographer.
Pro photographers don’t always expect to get the shot right on the first try. Instead, they:
- Move their lighting
- Change the angle of their camera
- Pick a different background
- Adjust their props
All until they get the photo they want.
So, instead of saying, “I don’t like how my photos are coming out," start asking yourself, what specifically don’t I like about this?
- Is it the lighting?
- Is the photo blurry?
- Is the background too busy?
Taking a second to ask yourself these questions can help you shift from feeling frustrated and annoyed to trying to solve your problem. This is how you get better.
Understanding What’s Not Working
It’s easy to say “I don’t like my photos," but it’s another thing to figure out why. So let’s diving into how we can actually start problem solving so you create better photos.
To me, it’s a bit like trying on clothes.
Let’s say you try on a sweater and realize you don’t like it. Maybe you think it’s because it doesn’t fit. Okay, but why does it not fit?
When you get more specific and dig a little, maybe you realize it’s because it’s too tight or the length is too short. That’s is feedback!
This gives you important information about what to consider the next time you try on another sweater (go up a side and avoid short sweaters!) and hopefully find one that will work for you.
It’s the same thing with product photos. When you look at one of your photos, you can say:
- I don’t like this photo because the shadows are too dark
- The photo is too light
- The photo keeps coming out blurry and out of focus
This is valuable data!
Remember, there’s a solution for every problem you run into. Asking questions and working to figure out what’s going on will give you clues about what to do next.
Small Changes Make a Big Difference
Learning how to take product photos isn’t easy when you’re just starting out. But the good news is that making small changes can make a big difference in how your photos turn out.
Sometimes changing the camera angle, the background or moving the setup so the light hits your product more evenly can transform your photo.
When I taught a product photography workshop focused on lighting, the group of artists was blown away at how moving the light or taking the photo from a different angle could dramatically transform the look and mood of their photos.
Photography is a skill that anyone can learn. The more you practice and try things out, the more confident and better your photos will turn out.
Pro Tip: Take notes and photos of what you’re doing. I will often take photos of my setups once I get the results I want. This way, I can remember what I did and recreate the setup without having to do much guesswork.
Want To Really Learn? Take The Worst Product Photo Possible
It’s natural to want to get better at something and make less mistakes. But instead of focusing on how to get the best photo possible, why not try to intentionally take a bad product photo?
I tried this exercise before, and let me tell you, you learn a lot!
Next time you set up a photo shoot, try to take the worst photo of your product possible!
- Use poor lighting
- Use a busy background
- Put in as many props as possible
- Shake the camera to get a blurry shot
- Take the photo from an awkward angle
Then, look at your photo and ask yourself, what makes your photo look bad? List off what you notice.
- Is the lighting uneven?
- Do you see weird shadows?
- Is the background super busy?
- Is your photo blurry or out of focus?
This simple experiment helps you train your eye to spot common product photography mistakes. It can help you pay attention to what you’re doing to not get the photo you want.
That way, the next time you photograph your crafts, you’ll start to recognize the mistakes you’re making before you even take a photo and improve your results in no time.
Final Thoughts
If you’re new to photographing your handmade products, remember this: taking bad photos isn’t a sign you’re failing - it’s part of the process.
Every “bad” photo you take is an opportunity for you to step back and figure out what’s going on. It’s a test for you to gather information and make adjustments.
The more you give yourself the space to experiment, ask questions and make mistakes, the better your photos will get.
This stuff is hard so celebrate the fact you’re showing up and doing the work. This is how you grow!
It will get easier.
And let me tell you, you never know when the next “bad” photo will be the one that finally solves the problem you’ve been struggling with forever.
Now I want to hear from you. What’s one small tweak or change you made that made a big difference in your photos? Comment below and share your experience!