Essential Product Photography Composition Rules That You Need To Remember

ESSENTIAL PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY COMPOSITION RULES YOU SHOULD REMEMBER

A Presentation by MO Studios

INTRODUCTION Product photography composition emphasises your shot’s subject to draw viewers’ attention towards it.

There are specific rules you can follow to improve the composition of your product photography.

You can even combine a few composition rules to create a spectacular product photo for your clients.

This blog will include several rules in composition when creating product photography.

CAMERA ANGLES THAT HIGHLIGHT THE PRODUCT’S BEST FEATURES Camera angles not only make products more enjoyable to look at for viewers. The 45-degree downward glance of the product is similar to how we look at objects on tables and shelves.

In addition, the 45-degree angle makes the product seem more obtainable and realistic to the viewer.

Using the right camera angle can create depth and show as much of the product as possible.

However, some of the product’s features may not be seen if taken straight-on or from a top-down perspective.

Experimenting with different camera angles is essential and helps you choose the best angle that highlights the product’s best features.

USE NEGATIVE SPACE TO DRAW ATTENTION Photographers use negative space to help draw the viewer’s eye to the products in product photography. Using negative space also helps your product photos room to breathe.

In product photography, the text is often added to your images by designers to show details about the product, such as sales or new in stock. Allowing negative space means you can quickly address this.

Using negative space can be tricky, however. You should avoid making the composition look too forced. You can learn how to use negative space by watching billboards and other advertisements to notice how professionals use negative space.

USE FRONT AND CENTRAL PLACEMENT Compositional rules work well when applied correctly. But unfortunately, you often need to ignore the most common compositional rules in product photography and place the product in the centre of the shot.

It makes the product you are shooting the centre of attention. No distractions; the viewer’s eyes go straight toward the product. You can also show only a part of the product, letting the viewers imagine what the rest of the product looks like.

The product’s placement can be either in the foreground or middle ground. You can create depth through lighting or using colour contrast and reflections. However, you want to avoid giving your product a two-dimensional feel.

APPLYING THE RULE OF ODDS The rule of odds is a valuable product photography composition technique used by professionals. The rule of odds is valuable because it works on a very subconscious level.

It is easy for a viewer’s mind to organise an even number of objects in a scene. So naturally, therefore, that scene feels boring. On the other hand, an odd number causes tension and interest in the product.

If you have only one product to be shot, you can place items related to the product. For example, if your product is a kitchen appliance such as a blender, fruits and other kitchen appliances work wonders.

Using a bowl of fruit and other kitchen appliances helps create a story through a setting, making the product more believable.

USING RULE OF THIRDS IN PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY The rule of thirds is the golden rule that every photographer learns at the beginning of their photography career.

Unfortunately, the rule of thirds goes against placing the subject in the middle of the frame. Instead, it would be best if the subject of the product photo were the intersections of the horizontal and vertical lines.

The intersections on these lines appear when the frame is split into three equal columns and three rows. Using the rule of thirds makes the image more exciting as the viewer’s eyes have to search for the product.

USE FRONT AND CENTRAL PLACEMENT Differential focus is a photography technique where you choose the part of the image that should be sharp and which part should be out-of-focus.

You can place the foreground and background out of focus in product photography. Differential Focus is a great way to highlight the product in the foreground.

You can create a story through product placement, setting, and dressing of the scene, rather than only a straight shot of an item.

DYNAMIC DIAGONALS The dynamic diagonal composition is a widespread technique in product photography that professionals use. Dynamic Diagonals involve arranging or photographing your product with lines taken into consideration.

Lines are the most vital elements of design. You can use lines to place the viewer’s focus on your product. Diagonal lines also add a touch of movement to a photograph.

According to the diagonal rule, the essential elements of the picture should be along diagonal lines. Using diagonal lines help guide the viewers’ eyes from the frame to the product, emphasising the most crucial element of the scene.

Diagonal lines are a simple yet effective way for photographers to breathe life and energy into a static composition.

SHOOT FROM A TOP-DOWN PERSPECTIVE Shooting from a top-down or flat lay perspective is a great compositional technique photographers use to show off products in their photography. The top-down viewpoint in photography offers a unique look at a product for viewers.

Photos are most often taken at a 45-degree or straight-on angle. However, using a flat lay photograph makes products look more exciting and unique for viewers. Flat lay photography is a powerful look, intensified by a blurry, out-of-focus background.

Photographers often use this perspective in food photography. Using flat lay photography with a flat space offers an opportunity to improve the scene with extra items that creates a story rather than a plain image.

CONCLUSION These composition rules in product photography can help you find the best composition for your product photography.

However, it is worth considering that a different approach to every product is needed.

A product photographer’s job is always to create a composition that makes the product look the best. You should always follow their guidelines when creating product photography if you work for a client.

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