Creative product photography ideas are essential for brands hoping to rise above the noise and stand out. And fortunately, there are plenty of photography tricks eCommerce businesses can use to make their content all the more engaging - boosting product appeal in the process.

Whether it’s by using complementary backgrounds, styling the scenes with props, or hiring a model, these simple photography ideas are easy to use and won’t break the bank.

Are you looking for some new ways to shake-up your photo-game? Here are 12 fresh and creative product photography ideas to try-out for yourself.

Why Is Product Photography Important?

Drive Sales

One of the key limitations of online shopping is that customer’s often can’t try before they buy - meaning that they will heavily rely on product photos to guide them along their purchasing journey.

With high-quality product images, you can share appealing, yet accurate images of your products to entice your customers and drive sales for your store.

Catch Attention

More often than not, online shoppers will initially be drawn to your visual content before they see any text on your website. With a series of eye-catching product imagery, you can take advantage of this effect to grab your customer’s attention and drive sales for your business.

Boost Satisfaction

It can be disappointing for customers when their purchase finally arrives and it looks nothing like the product image advertised - decreasing your customer’s trust, increasing returns, and leading to poor word of mouth for your business.

That’s why it’s crucial to have crisp and accurate photos on your eCommerce website - realistic images that properly reflect the aesthetic features of your product. By getting the details right, you can boost satisfaction for your customers.

15 Creative Product Photography Ideas

1. Style With Props

This is one of the most popular product photography ideas for a reason. Using various props to create a scene around your product is a great option for creative product photography. With the right props by your side, you can boost the appeal of your product, push certain tones to your audience, and can show your customers the different ways your product can be used.

There are plenty of options out there to suit your brand. For example, if you’re chasing those rustic vibes, head to your local antique store to find hidden treasures. Or, if you’re trying to push natural/ organic tones, head to a nursery to pick up some fresh flowers or greenery.

When it comes to finding props, your only limitation is your imagination. Get creative and be on the lookout for potential props in unusual places - some of which may already be in your home.

2. Action Shots

Creating a scene around your products is a great way to boost its appeal, though customers also want to see the products in action.

Ask yourself, where and how are your customers going to be using your products? This could be in the city, among nature, at home, or anywhere in between. From here, you can start planning a product photo-shoot in these scenes.

For example, if you’re running an activewear brand, you could capture some work-out images in a gym or park. Or if you’re working with a skincare range, try getting some shots of the products being used around the bathroom.

These scenes are easy to create and allow your customers to see how your products look while being used.

3. Get Macro

Particularly if you’re working with smaller subjects, such as jewellery or watches, it’s worth taking the time to capture a series of macro shots of your product.

Macro photography is essentially just an extreme close-up, helping you to capture all the intricate details your product holds. With these photos, you can maintain your audience’s interest by sharing new and exciting angles of your products - highlighting smaller details that might otherwise go unnoticed.

You don’t necessarily need an expensive macro lens to get started with this type of photography. Extension tubes are another helpful photography tool that can achieve great results - they clip on the end of your existing lenses to boost their magnification, helping you to get closer to the subject.

4. Floating Images

Have you seen those shots of products seamlessly ‘floating’ above someone’s hand? As if they’ve done the perfect throw and snapped the shutter at just the right time? Well, there’s a little bit more to these photos than meets the eye.

To create a floating image, you’re going to need a fishing wire and a rod. After locking the rod into a secure position above your scene, tie the fishing wire around it to use as an anchor point for your product to hang. After tying your subject to the other end of the fishing line, stand behind and place your hand under the product. Then, simply snap the picture.

Now, all that’s left to do is edit the image. Use photo-editing platforms to make any adjustments to the light or colour - and most importantly, to remove the fishing line from the scene.

If you’re not familiar with platforms like Lightroom or Photoshop, don’t let that deter you - the process is very easy and there are plenty of online tutorials to guide you through the process.

5. Use Reflections

Using reflections in your photos can add a sense of elegance while making the photo itself much more dynamic. The best part? Creating these shots couldn’t be easier.

All you need to get started is a reflective surface, like a mirror or reflective backdrop. To make the scene more dramatic, you can adjust the lighting to suit the tone you’re chasing. After placing the product on the surface and taking the photo, you can use photo-editing platforms to adjust the lighting and boost the clarity to make the reflection really pop!

6. Hire A Model

Particularly if you’re working with clothing goods or beauty products, it may be worth hiring a model to feature in your photos.

Using a model can be a great way to add more character to your photos and give your brand a bit more personality. Plus, professional models can work to boost the appeal of your products while showing your customers how certain items look while being worn - helping to encourage sales.

7. Use Smoke

If you have a taste for the dramatics, you can’t go wrong with using smoke in your photos. This creative photography idea is great for adding more depth to your product photos, making them more eye-catching in the process.

To add this effect to your images, you can download and use a smoke brush in platforms like Photoshop. Otherwise, if you want to work with real smoke, you’re going to need a safe source - such as an incense stick.

8. Coloured Backgrounds

If you’re getting a bit bored with those classic white background eCommerce photos, this creative product photography idea may be worth a shot.

Coloured backgrounds can be a great means of boosting the visual appeal of your product and adding more character to your brand - though it may take some brainstorming to pick the perfect colour.

Strive to choose a colour that compliments the product you’re shooting. For example, if you’re working with a product with pale pink packaging, you could opt for a mint green or light blue backdrop.

Coloured paper backdrops are a great option for those unfamiliar with photo-editing platforms like Photoshop. There are plenty of colours to choose between at local stationary stores. Otherwise, try shooting on a white backdrop and adding in a coloured background in post-production. This option will provide you with a much wider palette to choose from and will make the colour across the background look much more consistent.

9. Split The Background

This one is another great option for those eager to steer away from those traditional white-background shots.

For this photo idea, you’ll need to take some time choosing the right colour to suit your product. Again, strive to split the background with a colour that compliments your products to boost contrast and add depth to your scenes. Or, if you’re going for a more moody vibe, try switching the white for a black backdrop.

This photography tip is easy and cheap to pull-off - head to a local stationary store to pick up a few different types of A3 coloured sheets and play with a few different combinations.

10. Textured Background

Sometimes, it’s best to let the background speak for itself. If you’re eager to steer away from those solid colours and provide more grain, try using a textured surface.

Especially if you’d like to keep your images looking simple, yet sleek, try looking for a raw, textured background to shoot against your product. There’s an endless list of potential backdrops to choose between to suit the aesthetic of your brand - though some popular options include sand, concrete, snow, stone, or dried leaves.

11. Moody Shadows

If you’re going for a minimal vibe for your product photos, try using dynamic shadows to give them a bit more depth and intrigue.

For crisp shadows in natural lighting, you’ll likely need to shoot with direct sunlight. Once you’ve found the perfect spot, place your product in the scene and find an object to create a unique shadow effect. Plants or branches are often a great option, especially if you’re hoping to subtly push natural or organic tones.

Otherwise, get creative with the process and trial a range of different objects to see which creates the most eye-catching shadows.

12. Ghost Photos

Another creative product photo idea that’s particularly good for clothing are ghost photos - a life-like, three-dimensional shot of various fashion items, without anyone wearing the outfits. They’re typically used to provide a seamless 3D element to the clothing while achieving a natural-looking shape.

To do ghost photography, you’re going to need a mannequin. After styling the outfit and snapping the shot, you can remove the mannequin in post-production - leaving behind only the product to draw all the attention.

In Summary

For an eCommerce business, standing out among the competition is hard enough. Though with the more creative product photography ideas on your side, the easier it’ll be for your brand to turn heads and rise above the clutter.

Are you eager to get started with your product photo-shoot? Before you begin snapping, be sure to check out our previous article: ‘8 Product Photography Tips For Beginners’.

12 Creative Product Photography Ideas For Beginners