Instagram Tutorial: Key Tips to Help You Photograph Products and Projects

Learn all the tricks you need to achieve great product shots on your mobile at home, with Beatriz Tormenta

It makes no difference that you’ve achieved an incredible project or product if you don’t know how to tell people about it. And product photos are essential to effective communication. Great images make your project stand out and persuade customers to purchase your product rather than a similar offer.

Beatriz Tormenta (@beatriztormenta) is an Instagram product photographer and content creator for all kinds of brands. She shares the key tips for creating great product photos she learned over the past six years. Don’t miss the video!

5 Tips to help you take great product photos

You need to know the image format before starting to shoot. In other words, the size and format of photos for Instagram, for your webpage or for a client are all different. And this determines factors like angle and perspective.

1. Light

Lighting is vitally important. Beatriz prefers working in diffuse natural light, as this makes any shadows and constrasts less marked, which allows viewers to get a clearer picture of the product. Try using a semi-opaque curtain or any other element to help you filter the light and reduce its strength. The photographer recommends avoiding blocking the light with your body and keeping any other elements out of its path too. The product must be the star.

2. The background

You need to consider the colors, texture and size of the product before choosing your background. Beatriz Tormenta recommends affordable options like a wall or furniture at home or in your studio, or other more professional items like photography background paper or cardboard. It all depends on your project budget.

3. The rules of composition

Some products work best in their natural setting, for example it’s a good idea to shoot bags with an outfit styled to include T-shirts or trousers. One of Beatriz Tormenta’s favorite composition tips is the rule of thirds. This system divides your image into 9 sections and recommends placing the starring product at a place where these lines intersect.

She also recommends using negative space. Place all your elements in one area of the shot and leave the other areas free, to make it easy for viewers to know where to focus. Experimenting with and combining the various rules is another good idea. Don’t miss this article if you want to learn more about the main rules of composition.

4. Angle and perspective

When shooting product photos, it’s very important to ask yourself what most interests you about the product (as a consumer). This allows you to adjust your photos using different angles and perspectives. From a wide shot to close-ups of the various product highlights.

5. The human factor

Finally, Beatriz Tormenta recommends taking the human factor into consideration. Although you’re shooting the product, it’s important to introduce a human factor to add context. This helps your viewer get a better idea of the size and scale while also ‘humanizing’ your product.

The products featured in the video are:

- Bag @olvidomadrid
- Scarf @peseta
- Chair @danillo_faria
- Oil painting: @antoniounikolas1

Love this tutorial? If you want to learn how to create appealing photo content to promote your brand and get the most out of Instagram, don’t miss Beatriz Tormenta’s online course: Photography for Instagram: Position your Brand.

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