Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Product Photography - Inside or Outside??

Up until now, I've always taken my photos with a white background. I think it helps the photos pop. But I don't always think it captures the true colors of the wood. I've been experimenting with outdoor photos and was hoping to get some feedback.
 

I like that the outdoor photos give the wood a more natural look and feel. But I'm not sure I like the shadows. Do they bother you? Do you even notice them? I know I won't be able to take my photos at the ideal time, so shadows will always be part of them.


Is the white background less distracting? Or boring?

Do you take your photos inside or outside...and why?
I'd love any feedback on these photos you would like to provide. Thanks!

23 comments:

  1. I take my photos inside, almost entirely, but in natural light. I sell vintage linens, many of which are white, so I can't use the ubiquitous white background I associate with Etsy. I think you could try some outside photos when the sun isn't so strong and maybe on a broader background so we don't see the grass, etc. I do think including at least one photo in a "real world" (not all white) setting is important!

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    1. Yes, I think a larger background would work better. Thank you for your input :)

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  2. I take all my photos outside so I deal with shadows a lot! I don't have a lightbox so taking photos inside doesn't work for me since all the colors are distorted. Using a white board to sit objects on outside helps because the highlight gets rid of most shadows without messing with the object being photographed.

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    1. Hmmmm...maybe outdoor and white is the perfect mix. I'll have to do some tests...that might just be the answer! Thanks :)

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  3. I take all of my pictures outdoors - the trick is when to know exactly when the sun hits the spot where you take your photos so you don't get the shadows.

    I definitely pictured taken outdoors gives a item perfectly lighting and enhances the item. Also using a white background is preferable as you have nothing to distract from the central focus of your item. How about taking a piece of board and painting it white then placing your item on it.
    Good luck!!

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  5. Product photography is so challenging! I like all your photos but the wood looks different in each type of light. I would suggest going with what look as close to how the wood looks in person so the customers knows how it will actually look.

    I have found that natural light is always best for showing an item most accurately. I personally don't mind a white background. Props can be beautiful but can also distract from what you are selling. The shadows don't bother me either.

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    1. I agree about the props. They can be pretty, but sometimes distracting. Also, I hate having to come up with different props for different items...lol. I tried with some of my wedding items, but didn't like the outcome.

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  6. I've always taken my photos indoors and struggled with it a little, to be honest. I know they always recommend including one photo on a white background because it makes it easier to be included on blogs or in print publications, so some people recommend using a light box for that reason alone. But as a customer, I actually prefer to see things in natural light (and sometimes with other items in the background) so you can get a better sense of color, size, etc. I like your boxes in the outdoor photos better!

    I would recommend shooting outdoors as much as you can, obviously weather impacts that greatly if you get a lot of rain, and then still include a product photo every now and then on a white background in case an editor happens to browse your shop and wants to include a product. Since you have a lot of similar wood products, it would probably be fine not to have a white background on every single item. Editors would still have lots to choose from, and I think customers are actually more drawn to photos in a natural setting (provided it's still a clear photo with good lighting, etc.).

    Also, since so many of your items are custom, it would be really great if you had photos from customers that you could include too (like a wedding guest book on the table at an outdoor wedding reception or something)...bonus if you get a photo from a professional photographer that you can use! Sometimes there are licenses with that, so I guess you'd have to make sure with the customer that the photographer is ok with it too, but I've seen many other Etsy sellers who make hair accessories or jewelry include customers' wedding photos in their listings, so I know it can be done. Maybe you just have to include the photographer's name and copyright or something, like photo courtesy of such and such photography. Anyway, sorry this comment is so long! :)

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    1. I would love to get more photos from wedding settings! I have a few, but need to just start asking for them or give a discount if people are willing to provide them and get permission from the photographer.
      Thanks!

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  7. I like the clean white background, but I think that photographing your items outside adds dimension to the shots. To address shadows, I use a piece of white foam core. You can see examples of it in this post.
    http://www.randomcreativeart.com/2015/03/behind-scenes-diy-lowel-lights.html
    It seems gimmicky, but it's a really affordable, effective way to reduce shadowing significantly.

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  8. As far as product shots go I like the white background :) Although the wood looks more natural outdoors, the shadows would bother me. Rose has a good solution to that!

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    1. Thanks, Duni! I'm thinking maybe white background, outside is my best option. Best of both worlds perhaps :)

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  9. Hmmm...tricky question! I've shot both indoors and out, but currently do only indoors. In these particular photos, I think the indoors currently look more professional. I get bad shadows indoors because of who my apartment is situated and I use foam core with aluminum foil wrapped around it as a homemade reflector. Something like that might help you out. And how would the box look on the grass instead of the table? (It looks exactly like a simple folding TV dinner-style table that I used when I took pictures outside!). To me, having the wood box on the wood table and then seeing other things in the background is kind of distracting, but I think the wood against that beautiful lush grass would look really nice.

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    1. Hmmm...I hadn't thought about putting it in the grass instead. That might give a nice contrast! I wondered about the wood on wood look if it would work well or not. Yep...folding TV tray...lol!

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  10. I use natural light inside on a white background. To me that's -perfect- for wood and what you do and for the vintage items I use to sell. I'm finding for my new business of handmade body care products it looks horribly bland. I think it depends on the item, since yours are so nicely branded without added background or texture the white works well. Also to me the lawn makes it look obvious it's shot in a back yard which takes me out of the "illusion", whereas if you put them on a stump or on a pile of sawdust or in a very wooded background it would make it look more branded/exotic/luxurious/craftsman/etc.

    I put too much thought into product photography at all times, haha. I used to do it for a living and it can be hard, but yours looks very beautiful and professional. :D

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    1. Thank you for your input, Vanessa! I wondered if the backyard shot would look unprofessional as well. I'll have to do some more looking for a better location :)

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  11. I see others already made the suggestion, but my initial thought was a compromise of a white backdrop in outdoor or natural lighting since you don't have a light box. A large piece of foam core or an extra large piece of white poster board should do. There are plenty of links on pannier st for DIY light boxes, too. ✨✨ Your boxes are beautiful! ✨✨

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  12. This is a tough one! The outdoor lighting gives a lovely warm and natural feel to the photos. The white background makes it clear and simple what the product is. I guess it depends on what feel you want to evoke from your product imagery.

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  13. You have quite a variety of answers here, Edi, but I will add one more. I prefer a white background because I think it is less distracting overall.

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  14. While I don't like the shadows in the outdoor photographs the indoor photographs have a less natural appearance..
    I'd say stick with the outdoors but experiment with taking pictures are different times of the day.. and crop better.. the box on the table works but the inch of grass peaking in on the top doesn't.
    Hope that helps.

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  15. I take photos indoors, always. I have a soft dispersed natural light in that room and I believe it is best for what I want to show. But you know that my items are large textiles so I do not have much choice. With your beautiful pieces you have more flexibility. Actually you could combine both types of photos; it is more trouble to make, but it might be worthwhile for items you repeat a lot. I do not like shadows but you can choose time of the day and light direction so that the shadows are behind the item.

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