How to Become a Professional Product Photographer

Learn what equipment and tools are essential for becoming a professional product photographer. Find out how to create an excellent portfolio of photos and apply to premium securities agencies.

How to Become a Professional Product Photographer

Product photography is one of the most lucrative and creative photographic genres, and it requires a good selection of equipment and a thorough knowledge of light. To become a professional product photographer, you need to have a digital SLR camera, a tripod, a white background, white bouncing cards made of foam cardboard, a table, adhesive tape, the right room with a window, and some additional items that can help you take better photos. A light box is a fast, simple and affordable lighting solution that makes things easier for beginners. Speedlites offer a good springboard for moving from natural light to studio light, but they have their limitations, especially when it comes to lighting for product photography.

If you want more control over the light source, you'll need to use a lighting setup for product photography with artificial light. In addition to the equipment needed for product photography, you also need to have the right tools for preparing the product. Everything you need to ensure that your product is clean and flawless for photographs is absolutely essential. You don't necessarily need to buy commercially manufactured backgrounds; however, having whiteboards that are perfectly clean will save you time when editing your images.

Once you have all the necessary equipment and tools for product photography, you can start creating an excellent portfolio of photos that you can use to promote your skills. You can apply to premium securities agencies like Offset or Shutterstock's premium division if you think your product photography is top-notch. If you're looking for creative freedom and flexibility, product photography may not necessarily be the best option for you. However, if you spend time defining the look of your brand and developing a style guide for product photography, you'll have an excellent point of reference that will help you create a collection of accessories that fit your brand perfectly.

In conclusion, I think the real question isn't whether you can become a product photographer, but how far you're willing to go to become one. DSLRs are a small investment, but you'll notice a difference in the quality of your photos when you start using them and spend some time learning how to select the right camera settings for product photography. If you really want to make progress in the photography of your products, but you're not yet ready to commit to studio lighting, the next step is to invest in a pair of speedlites.