This is the basis of what it means to contextualize your product photography – find the lifestyle situation that the product would be shown at it\u2019s best, and then create images to allow shoppers to see the product in a real-life situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While there\u2019s a time and place for white background imagery, it\u2019s a good idea to switch it up and give shoppers some variety. And contextual product shots can set your brand apart \u2014 only 1.53% of the product photos we analyzed from fashion brands<\/a> were contextual shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ideally, you\u2019ll shoot the product in an environment that showcases your brand\u2019s aesthetic. For example, if your product is more athletic or outdoors in nature, bring your product on your next walk or hike and place it on some rocks with trees in the background, have a friend or model wear it on the hike with you and get candid images, or bring some leaves, flowers or rocks inside to your studio. If that isn\u2019t possible, another great option is to add in a background in Photoshop, using either the magic wand tool<\/a> or even outsourcing<\/a> this editing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re interested in a few easily accessible places to shoot these lifestyle images, here are a few that I enjoy shooting in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We always want you to be aware that some places are more easily and freely available for photographers, and some places require permits. Here\u2019s a great article of ours<\/a> that will help you decide where to shoot – safely and legally!<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Photos: Taylor Prinsen Photography<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Photos: Ashlee Huff<\/a>)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Textures and props add dimension and variety to your product photos, making them more interesting than a stark white background. It gives you creativity to play around with your shots, and you can display your products in exciting and interesting ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTexture, colors, and prop styling are all key in product photography and tell a visual story for a brand.\u201d \u2013 Shelby Bella, professional photographer<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When choosing which textures and props to add to your product photos, consider the story you\u2019re trying to tell, recommends professional photographer Shelby Bella<\/a>. For example, \u201ctextures can further conceptualize images, give depth, and convey the \u2018lifestyle\u2019 aesthetic, which is tricky to do when it comes to still-life photography,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The same applies for props, too. \u201c[Props] elevate images in both storytelling and composition. Texture, colors, and prop styling are all key in product photography, and when used correctly, they can tell a visual story for a brand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few textures you can try as a backdrop for your next product shoot:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wood can work as a nice backdrop for more natural products. Think about what color and type of wood may match or contrast nicely with the color of your product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many different designs of tiles, ranging from modern to historic, bright to neutral. Consider the product and what type of tile could complement the product most naturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Granite or various types of stone can instantly elevate the product – consider the look of a high-end cooking utensil on a granite countertop. Meanwhile, stones out in nature can bring a product more down to earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mirrors can be a fun way to play visual games and have fun with the product and image. Get a little creative with how you reflect the product placed on the mirror and where you focus the viewer\u2019s eye when looking at the image. Metal can be similarly reflective, with another added layer of texture and grain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both of these can provide quick, easy, inexpensive texture and color variations to place your product against or on top of in your shoot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some examples of these are silk, flannel, denim, velvet, felt – anything you have in a closet or a prop bin could be a great way to add dimension to the image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Photo: The Divine Manifest)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n (Photo: Brian Carlton Closs<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Photo: Taylor Prinsen Photography<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Photo: Shelby Bella)<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Certain colors can change the feel of the image for potential customers and knowing when to use specific colors is important for your future photoshoots. For example, take a look at this color emotion guide blog post<\/a> and explore how colors like yellow can bring out feelings of warmth, joy and optimism, while red is more related to boldness and intensity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In that way, if you are wanting to promote a product with a fun, energetic vibe, you may choose to go with a bright or neon backdrop with yellow, green, or orange. If the product is a luxury item, black or dark blue backgrounds can be great because they \u201ccreate an elegant, sophisticated look\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBackgrounds for product photography play a huge role in setting the tone and space for storytelling,\u201d says Food and Product Photographer Mackenzie Smith Kelly. For example, \u201cif the product is not featured \u2018in situation\u2019\u2019 (such as in a contextualized or lifestyle situation as mentioned in the first section), \u201cthe color and texture of a background hint to the audience how they should feel about a brand. Vibrant, colorful hues evoke different feelings than muted earth tones, but they both make us feel something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A question that all product photographers should be asking ourselves is \u201cHow do you want your audience to feel when they look at your photo?\u201d – Mackenzie Smith Kelly<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Start by brainstorming the emotions and ideas you want to evoke from the customer and then assess your product\u2019s colors. Either choose to bring out or \u201chighlight\u201d colors that are less noticeable within the product, or contrast those colors with an oppositely colored backdrop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Neutral colors (such as grey, beige, ivory, or lighter and less saturated hues of any color) can also be beneficial to include as backdrops when you are trying to convey a more serene or natural feel with the product image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Play around with different colors and see which seems to make the most impact to you! Here are a few examples of images that either highlight colors already in the product itself or contrast the colors in the product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Photo: Mackenzie Smith Kelly<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Photo: Jared.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Photo: Caleb Kerr<\/a>)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bokeh, or a shallow depth of field, is the effect of a soft out-of-focus background that you get when shooting a subject, such as a product. This effect is achieved by setting the camera\u2019s aperture to the widest possible, such as f\/2.8 or down even to f\/1.4 or f\/1.2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bokeh is useful in product photography because the photographer is able to draw focus onto the product without having to brainstorm much about what the background itself will look like. Instead, the viewer\u2019s eye is naturally drawn to the product and excludes what isn\u2019t important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using bokeh can also create a dreamy or moody aesthetic without any extra planning, lighting, etc. This example from Katie Jameson Photography does a great job of focusing the product and letting the background fade away evenly and naturally into the background with bokeh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"Photographers](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/9-alternatives-to-white-background-product-photography\/legal-photography-locations-guide.jpg\")
\n\n\n\n![\"Close-up](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/9-alternatives-to-white-background-product-photography\/jewelry-portrait-photography-ashlee-huff.jpg\")
\n\n\n\nTextures and props<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Wood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tile<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Stone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mirrors or metal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Wrapping paper or wallpaper<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fabrics or linens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Top](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/9-alternatives-to-white-background-product-photography\/botanical-candle-photography-divine-manifest.jpg\")
\n\n\n\n![\"Hand](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/9-alternatives-to-white-background-product-photography\/ranch-rider-agave-photography.jpg\")
\n\n\n\n![\"Organic](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/9-alternatives-to-white-background-product-photography\/strawberry-iced-tea-taylor-prinsen.jpg\")
\n\n\n\n![\"Assorted](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/9-alternatives-to-white-background-product-photography\/cocktail-card-game-shelby-bella.jpg\")
\n\n\n\nColors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Brooklyn](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/9-alternatives-to-white-background-product-photography\/coconut-cashew-korma-simmer-sauce-brooklyn-delhi.jpg\")
\n\n\n\n![\"Brooklyn](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/9-alternatives-to-white-background-product-photography\/brooklyn-delhi-cashew-korma-mackenzie-smith-kelly.jpg\")
\n\n\n\n![\"Close-up](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/9-alternatives-to-white-background-product-photography\/cycling-shoe-caleb-kerr.jpg\")
\n\n\n\nDepth of field<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Close-up](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/9-alternatives-to-white-background-product-photography\/minimalist-apparel-katie-jameson.jpg\")
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![\"BVLGARI](\"https:\/\/cdn.pathedits.com\/Images\/posts\/9-alternatives-to-white-background-product-photography\/bvlgari-perfume-bokeh-diy-photography.jpg\")
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