While doing white background product photography may sound simple, that is not the case. That is because you require the right tools, equipment, and more to create the perfect product photographs. So, it is crucial to understand what it is.
White background product photography will reflect white light through the white background onto the product. Because of this, you will have a well-lit product that barely needs any brightness or contrast adjustments. On the other hand, a black background will have the opposite effect on your product.
Of course, those are just the basics of white background product photography. If you run an online store or brand, you are in the right place. Here is a comprehensive guide to white background product photography.
The Basics Of White Background Product Photography
According to Shopify, at least 50% of people who shop online think that product pictures are more important than ratings, reviews, and descriptions. Of course, that is because product photos help shoppers understand what you are selling. White background product photography is one of the best ways to show your products without distractions.
On the other hand, it is also one of the top ways to photograph if you have a tight budget for your online store. You will need some basic equipment, tools, and resources to execute this. However, you can also outsource product photography to a reputable professional.
The Top Considerations For White Background Product Photography
If you plan on doing white background product photography yourself, you will have to consider a few things. That is because creating such product photos is not a simple process. You will need to think about the products, shooting angles, lens, camera, etc.
Here are the top considerations that will help you understand how you can begin white background product photography:
1. White Background
Of course, the most important thing you need for your product photography is a white background. You can also use a lightbox, depending on the product. However, if you are not using that, then you will need a plain white background.
You can use a full white backdrop, white poster board, or a white wall for this purpose. For example, if you just opened your online store and are on a budget, you can use the white poster board. On the other hand, if you plan on using a white wall, you must ensure that it does not have any texture.
The best part is that you can easily find a white background from anywhere. These include places such as Amazon, as they have an endless variety of white background options for you to choose from.
2. Light Tent Or Box
A lightbox is a see-through box that will enable all the concentrated light to come through. However, it will soften the direct light, which is why you will get some amazing product pictures. The primary advantage of using a lightbox is that it will offer you a consistent light setting and eliminate too many shadows in no time.
There are many lightboxes you will find in the market that come with built-in lighting. On the other hand, if you have a higher budget, you can purchase a softbox and add lighting. The primary advantage of purchasing a softbox and adding lighting is that it will give you more control over lighting and can easily allow you to take pictures of products of various sizes.
3. Flat Surface For Product Placement
Of course, you will need a flat surface to place your product and take its pictures. You can use any flat surface for this purpose, such as a stool, chair, table, or anything else you might have. Remember that if you are using natural light, then you must place your chair or table near a light source, such as a window.
So, if you plan on using natural light, you must take this into consideration. It will help you decide what surface to use and if you can move it towards your light source.
4. Clamp Lighting And Bulbs
If you are not using a natural light source for your white background product photography, then you will require clamp lighting and bulbs. These will be your primary source of light, and you will need at least three of them. That is because such light sources will help you create the perfect white lighting effect.
We recommend that your purchase at least a hundred-watt daylight bulb for your clamp lighting. These are not too expensive, which is why you can easily get them on a low budget as well. It is the ideal solution for people who have just started their ecommerce store.
5. Product Photography Tripod
Yes, you can do your white background product photography without a tripod. However, if you have a tripod, it will help you create consistency in angles, lighting, distance, and more. That is why we recommend that you invest in one for the best product photos.
Here are some of the top things you must take into account when selecting a tripod for your white background product photography:
- Orientation adjustability
- If your tripod will be able to carry the weight of the camera and heaviest lens
- Built-in spirit level
- Stability
- Height adjustability
- And more
There are various tripods in the market, and new ones keep on rolling out. The best tripod will be in your budget and offer all these things so that you can have the best product photography solution in no time.
6. Camera
Now that you have all the basics down, the most important thing you need to have is a great camera. There are many people who use their smartphones for product photography, and you can too. If you are on a tight budget, you will not need to invest in a DSLR.
However, make sure that your phone is one of the following:
- iPhone 8 and above
- Samsung S8 and above
- Google Pixel and Pixel XL
Of course, if you require a long-term solution, it is best to invest in a DSLR. It will be a long-term investment in your product photography that will offer you high returns. The best brands for a DSLR include Canon and Nikon, and you can choose any one of their series, depending on your budget and preferences.
7. Photography Editing Software
Your white background product photography pictures will only be as good as the photo editing software you have. It will allow you to tweak your pictures after the shoot. There are many free and paid applications that will help you edit product photos.
Of course, the one you select will depend on your PC or Mac specifications, photography needs, budget, ease of use, and much more. You can select from various platforms that will offer you something unique. These include Lightroom, Photoshop, Pixlr, GIMP, and many others.
Step-By-Step Guide To Editing White Background Product Photography
Now that you know the top considerations and you have taken pictures according to the guidelines above, then it is time for editing. It can take some time to learn how to edit like a pro. However, here are some things you must begin with:
1. Eliminate Backdrop Edges
The most important thing you need to do is remove the backdrop edges. That means you must crop the product image appropriately so that the edges have been removed. Once you have done this, the focus of your product photo will be the white background and the product.
2. Adjusting Brightness
Sometimes the white background can also look dull and grey. That is especially true if you are trying white background product photography for the first time. So, you will have to adjust the brightness to make your product photo look bright and white.
You can do this by lightening the background so that there are no shadows or dullness. Be sure not to lighten it too much, or the product photo can end up looking fake. The key here is to balance the brightness.
3. Deleting Spots
Now that you have the perfect brightness level, it is time for you to retouch and delete any spots. That means you must eliminate any dust or fibers that are visible on your product or background. Doing this will give you a clean and sleek look that will eliminate all the distractions from your product photos.
4. Adjusting The Colors
You must adjust the colors with the help of saturation, exposure, and brightness. It will enable you to make the colors of your images pop. Besides that, it will also guarantee that the colors still match the actual product, as you don’t want to deceive your customers.
5. Change Or Remove Background Color
After you have edited the image, you can also change the color of the background. It will become much easier to take this step because of the white background. Many online stores use colored backgrounds for their products for landing pages and social media marketing.
6. Save and Resize
All platforms will accept different dimensions of product photos. That is why you must save the images and then resize them to the dimensions you require. You can save these images according to the size and ratio for each platform.
For example, if you are selling items on Shopify, you will have to resize the image to their accepted ratio of 1:1. You can do all of this after editing the pictures so that your product photos are ready to upload on all platforms you want to upload them to.
7. SEO Optimization For Product Pictures
Yes, after you have shot and edited all pictures, you must optimize them for SEO. That means you must name the pictures correctly and compress the final image. If you don’t compress the final image, it will affect the loading time of your social media platform or website.
Top Benefits Of White Background Product Photography
Here are the top benefits of opting for white background product photography for your ecommerce store:
1. Focus On The Products
White background product photography ensures that the focus of your pictures is on the product and nothing else. It reduces clutter and guarantees that there are no distractions for the potential customer. If you want to achieve these goals, then white background product photography is ideal.
2. Editing Ease
If you are a beginner and have just started your online business, then white background product photography is ideal for you. That is because it will help you easily shoot and edit your products without any hassle. In the long run, it will help you create some fantastic product photos without much hassle.
3. Versatile For Marketing
The best part about white background product photography is that it offers versatility for various marketing channels. That is why if you are on a budget, you can use these pictures for ecommerce advertisements and other marketing platforms. This is also the top reason why many online stores opt for white background product photography.
4. Adding Colors Is Easy
Finally, if your product photos have a white background, then you can easily add colors later. That is because many online stores add color to the background for social media platforms and landing pages. So, if you want to easily make your product photos pop on these various platforms, then you can shoot on a white backdrop for such ease.
Final Thoughts
That was your complete guide to what is white background product photography and what you need to know about it. You can follow these guidelines to enhance your online store and the trust that potential customers will have in you. After all, the product photos can make or break their decision to buy.
Remember to invest in the right equipment and tools while experimenting with angles and other things. Once you do all this, you will have an excellent solution for the best product photos that will look great on any platform. You can use them for social media campaigns, ecommerce ads, online stores, and more.
