Effective Catalog Photography and How To Get It   by Jenny Dillon

You should think of your catalog photography as the gate guardian to your sales. Quite simply, the product pictures will be the initial element that sparks your customer’s interest. Only once they’re visually hooked will they look closer for more detail. You might have a fantastic provider of cheap catalog printing but they can only work with what’s provided and as the old saying goes, you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear!

Great catalog photography is an art in itself, and it’s something that’s worth working at. Arm yourself with a basic understanding of the factors that influence your photos and you’ll be more likely to produce good results. You might want to consider hiring a professional freelance to take care of your catalog photography for you, although by following the tips here and by putting in some time and effort, you’ll be in a good position to achieve success on your own.

Perhaps one of the most critical factors in producing a great photograph is lighting. By using a soft light you will achieve two important things. Firstly, your product is shown clearly, picking up on color and texture, and its overall shape and appearance. And secondly, you’ll avoid those horrible dark shadows that come with flash photography. One effective method of getting natural light for free is to simply take your shooting session outside on an overcast day.

Keep your background simple. Plain white or pale colored backdrops are often used in Product Photography as they don’t distract from the main event. Avoid busy or overly bright backgrounds as they’ll compete with what you’re trying to sell.

Focus is key. Make sure every bit of the featured product is in focus. If you know your camera well, this should be achievable, and you need to keep within your camera’s range. Close up shots of tiny items will need the right type of lens. It doesn’t matter if the background is out of focus; in fact sometimes this is done deliberately for effect.

Always use a tripod for your catalog photography. Taking hand held snapshots is all very well when you’re on vacation, but any camera shake will completely undermine your product photographs.

You can use props to enhance the picture, but make sure they are always clearly in a supporting role. If your customer looks at the photograph and ends up wanting to buy one of the accessories you’ve used, you’ve completely missed the sales opportunity!

It’s also important to make sure that your printing company is going to turn your product photographs into something attractive and effective. Make sure you choose a cheap catalog printing company that offers high quality and excellent customer service.

About the Author

Jenny Dillon writes about how businesses can streamline their printed marketing materials. For cheap catalog printing services choose http://printninja.com , the online printing company that combines all-American customer service with high quality, low cost color printing fulfilled in China.
Tabletop Product Photography : Backdrops in Product Photography