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 How do I photograph thee.... let me count the ways!  By Obsidian Taking photos of any product you want to sell online is extremely important. This is the only way a customer can see the product. The picture can not only give an indication of your workmanship (by allowing the customer to see how well the pad is made), and what the fabric and shape look like.... but it also reflects on how professionally you view your business (and thus how professionally others will view you), and shows how much care you put into displaying your product. Much like how a shop display would influence the buying decisions of customers in a real life shop, a photo of an Internet based store is just as, if not more important. When I come across pictures of products that are dark, grainy, poorly aligned and not looking the best - I do have to wonder if the seller takes as much care in sewing the item as they do photographing it (eg not much).... Likewise if I see photos that show the seller has put some thought into displaying their work as nicely as they can, then I assume that they are the sort of person who will take time to make sure that their products are well made. If I like the look of the photo I am more likely to buy that product.   (Personally I find the one on the right more appealing) Don't forget that customers will usually see only a small version ("thumbnail") of your photo at first, and if that small picture gets them inspired then they will load the larger view. So if your photo doesn't look the best in that thumbnail view (grainy, poorly lit etc.), then it is unlikely that the customer will bother to have a look at the larger view. The "first impressions last" rule applies to product pictures as much as anything else. You need to show the customer how good your product is and inspire them to part with their money to buy it. If your photos are unappealing then it's likely your products will be unappealing to customers too. Don't forget to crop out the irrelevant stuff! Again remembering that most people will be seeing the "thumbnail" picture only, So the whole photo will be reduced in size. So if your photo has a lot of background in it, then the actual pad becomes just a small part of the overall photo. Just like when you're looking at someone's happy snaps "That black speck that you can't really see.... that's the eagle...." It's frustrating in a holiday photo, but more annoying when a customer just wants to see your pad, not half your yard too :) plus it ruins the mystique.... the "ohh that's in interesting speckled background" then becomes "ohh, it's taken on someone's crappy concrete stairs"  
More than one view Sometimes you might like to include more than one picture of the pad. Because customers can't pick the product up and have a look at it from all angles, they can only see how the pad looks from the photos you offer. It's therefore a good idea to have photos showing the back (underneath) of the pad, how it snaps closed as well as the top. Removing the background altogether There is of course the option to completely remove the background with a graphics program, to leave you with a picture that has no background at all plain white), which can look more professional. There is a tutorial on how to do that here http://www.clothpadshop.com/pages/article08. 
Taking Fantastic Photos at home! We can't all go out and buy professional equipment or take bundles of pads down to a professional photographer... but there are lots of ways you can photograph your pads at home. I've taken some photos of the same pad in many different locations around my house and on different backgrounds.. to show you what a difference just the background can make to your product photos. I've simply cropped and resized them.... as you can see the lighting around the house and outside can make the pad appear completely different (dark blue to royal blue). Normally if I am photographing pads inside I use my graphics program to adjust the brightness/contrast to fix the low-light dimness they tend to have.... but I've left them be for this to demonstrate how lighting also affects the look. Fabric One of the main ways I see people photographing pads that I feel doesn't show them off to their full potential, is by using fabric as a background. It seems an obvious choice - if you're a pad maker, chances are you've got a fair bit lying around... and the pad is made from fabric, so it's keeping with the theme..... but the problem is finding the right fabric. Plain white fabric seldom looks good. This is because it's usually photographed indoors, which results in the "white" fabric looking grey, washed out and uninspiring. If it's not completely white then any lack of whiteness is obvious. You don't want to make it seem dingy. White PUL is sometimes used because it's quite white, but it can reflect the light back and look shiny. Black fabric can work sometimes, giving a striking effect that doesn't detract from the product itself - only if it looks crisp - if the photo is blurry then the effect can be ruined. Black can also look too dark or too bold - it really depends on what your product is. Highly patterned fabrics can be too "busy", particularly if the pad you are photographing is also patterned.. but could be ok for a plain fabric pad. If you're going to go with fabrics, then take some sample shots and find the fabric that works best for your photos.... Also experiment with laying the fabric out smooth or scrunching it up. Sometimes a fabric will look better flat and another might look better crinkled. If the fabric is smooth, it needs to be SMOOTH! an errant wrinkle will ruin the effect. Be aware of shiny fabrics reflecting the light, and textured fabrics like terry looking too "scruffy". Make sure the lighting is right, if you are taking it indoors, perhaps move it close to a window or open door for more natural light. Also how closely you take the photo will affect how well the flash will light up the shot. Personally I don't like fabric as a background as a general rule, but if it's the right blend of interesting but not overtaking the product.... not bland but not too "loud".... I think it can work. Some examples of how different fabrics can look: 
 (Black Fabric, Bamboo Velour Flat, Bamboo Velour Wrinkled) 
(Patterned cotton, Microfleece flat, Microfleece Wrinkled) 
(Dyed BV flat, Dyed BV Wrinkled, Plain white fabric) (See how the wrinkled velour has more life, because the light/dark in the wrinkles) 
(A throw rug flat, the throw rug Wrinkled, The seat of a computer chair) 
(Cotton couch cushion, Metallic thread scatter cushion, Frilly tutu skirt) Stuff lying around the house Don't forget about everyday stuff as a photographing background... If you've got an interesting basket or something, try using those things and see if they work as a background. Floorboards are a popular background, and these can look good depending on your particular floorboards and how you use them... Experiment with having the floorboards on different angles, and beware of the camera flash! But, when using household stuff, be aware of the fact that you wouldn't find professional photographers photographing stuff on the floor, so if you are after a professional look, try to stick with things that have a little more class.... quirky and interesting can be good, but "ratty old dishcloth" might not be the effect you're after. And again, different things will work well for different pads. I think the balls look good with this particular pad - the sun is smiling, it's a cute, happy and whimsical design, so balls work well... however if you had an elegant gold swirl pad, then a background of colourful balls is going to look completely out of place. Some examples of how different stuff around the home can look: 
(Coloured balls (outside), Bamboo placemat (inside), Book inside (near window)) 
(Various shots using a gold metal basket on bamboo velour) (See how it actually looks better not being able to see the whole basket) 
(Floorboards and a white Ceramic "marble" Floor tile) 
(Plain white paper, Particle board, Teatowel) (White paper has the same problem as white fabric - it doesn't photograph as white) Outside I like photos done outside. For a couple of reasons, but mostly because it reinforces to me the environmental benefits of going with cloth pads... and I just find nature pretty. Lighting is usually better outside, the fabrics seem to come "alive" and look more vibrant (though avoid full sun as it can be too bright), and you have lots of earthy and interesting potential backgrounds to choose from. Even things that in reality are grungy and falling apart (like an old fence) can look interesting as a background for a photo because you are only seeing part of it. Be careful of draping pads over things that will make the pad appear misshapen though. You may know that the pad looks funny because it's wing is curved up on a leaf or something, but a customer might just think you cut the pad out weirdly... Make sure your environment doesn't diminish the product too - it's not a "Where's wally" among the tulip garden we're after, it's just a bit of nature as a subtle background in your photo. Also, I imagine it goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway - you don't want to get your products dirty ... so if you are going to be photographing them in unconventional places, it might be worth while making a plastic/cardboard protector a fraction smaller than the pad, which the pad can sit on to prevent it actually touching anything that might be dirty (but not being seen in the photo), and be careful photographing them among flowers that can drop pollen (both because people can be allergic, and because pollen can stain badly) Some examples of different outdoor backgrounds: 
(balcony Railing, Blossom tree, Daisies & weeds) 
(2 kinds of concrete and wooden decking) 
(Fence, Grass, Flowering bush) 
(Tree branches, Garden of weeds, clothesline) See how different the same pad can look! Just changing the background and with different lighting So.... Think about ways to photograph your pads! Back to Articles |
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