Hi Everyone
I'm Geoff, a professional photographer in Perth, Western Australia. I am passionate about quality images and looking forward to sharing some of my top tips with you over the next few weeks.
The Basics - Why quality images are important:
Sometimes in the local paper or on the web, you see poorly made images that look very amateurish and 'low budget.' Straight away you are on the defensive and the little voices in your head are making judgments. The first judgment is likely to be that you will want to discount their prices. A really good image and presentation is worth every cent. Think Apple products and their packaging. You know its expensive, but worth every bit of it because you are reassured by the professional presentation, the quality of the packaging and the beautiful artwork. And it feels nice.
Try searching for something on Ebay or Gumtree. First up you will want visual proof that it's in good condition. And if you are like me, you will want to see it from the back and sides, and maybe underneath. If you have to use your Iphone camera, make sure that it focuses on the main part of the product. I've attached a pretty good image I found, and a pretty bad one, to give you an example.
Practical tips:
- Rest your camera on something to avoid camera shake.
- Pay attention to the lighting and the background. (I always consider those things first).
- Don't let a busy background distract from your product. If you have a glass table, it might give reflections that enhance the look of your product.
- If the light is uneven, bring a lamp in close, and maybe set it high, 45 degrees to the subject. See where the shadows go and adjust for the best look. Remember that shadows describe shape and help your prospective client understand what it is that you are selling.
Good luck.
