Find yourself some space in a bedroom, office, wherever to set-up a table\/desk. Make sure you have an electrical outlet too. Tape the poster board or big sheet of paper to the wall and the desk, letting it curve where desk meets wall. Plug in the light and turn it on. Position your tripod and camera. Use the binder as a bounce and create a diffuser by cutting a hole in the shoe box and covering it with the napkin\/wax paper\/parchment paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s what our budget studio looks like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Editor’s Note:<\/strong> The desk lamp we used in this photo had a very yellow light. When you actually take product photos, try and avoid that much of yellow!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s seriously that easy to build your own “studio”. Now, just take pictures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe lifestyle photos\u2014your product out in the world, being used\/worn\/etc.\u2014is what you need. In that case, you’re probably taking a photo of a person. Models, while they know how to pose, how to wear something, and all the intricacies involved, can get very, very expensive (but their know-how is definitely worth it, depending on your budget).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have some outgoing, photogenic friends? Wrangle them into this project! When it comes to lifestyle product photos, you need to make sure you do some research. How are other companies in your space showing off their products? If they’re also doing lifestyle photos, how you yours be even better? How can you inject your<\/em> lifestyle into the photo?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out this lifestyle photo from ShipStation user Purple Elm Baby<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Their products are designed to be worn and also to hold a baby, to help make parenting easy. This photo gets that message across with every detail: we have parents out and about with their kids\u2014they just happen to be wearing one of them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a bit more help in the area of lifestyle photos, check out this article from Pixc.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There’s another technique that combines aspects of lifestyle photos with your own studio: flat lay photography. Flat lay photography is still about just one item, but it’s not the only item in the photo. Your background can and should be more dynamic, with props and color and items that fit the lifestyle<\/em> your brand represents, like in this Instagram post from Color U Bold:<\/p>\n\n\n\n And because we’re suckers for more and more resources, From Roses has a few more ideas on flat lay photography, available by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There you have it. Find the style that works best for you, your brand, and your products. Experiment with all 3 styles\u2014if you’re scrappy, you can get it all done on the cheap. And if you’re looking for what equipment you ought to use for your shoots, just click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"ShipStationBudgetDIYStudio\"](\"https:\/\/www.shipstation.com\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2017\/04\/ShipStationBudgetDIYStudio.jpg.webp\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nLiving the Life: Lifestyle Photos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nLay it Down: Flat Lay Photos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/BQwEpFdhRJW\/<\/center>\n\n\n\n
Here’s a great guide from Color U Bold<\/a> about finding the photo’s storyline, the right background, and a whole lot more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n