Product Photography for Small Businesses
|
|
Time to read 6 min
When we first started IKKAI Ceramics, we quickly learned that beautiful products aren’t enough on their own — you also need beautiful photos. After all, most people discover your work online, and photography is the first impression they get. You don’t need to be a professional photographer with expensive gear to make it work. With a few simple tips, you can take photos that really show the heart of your business.
💡 Did you know
In our first year, we used only our own photos. Every single image on our website and Instagram was taken on an iPhone, often in the studio with whatever light we could find. At the beginning of last year, we decided to try working with a professional photographer for lifestyle photos, and since then we’ve done three professional shoots in total. Those images are wonderful for branding and our website, but when it comes to product photography, we still keep it simple and shoot everything ourselves on an iPhone.
Why Photos Matter
Good photos do more than just show your product — they tell a story. They help people imagine how it feels to hold your piece, how it would look in their home, and why it’s worth having.
Clear, well-lit photos also build trust. For small businesses, trust is everything, and photography is often the very first impression.
Beyond that, your images set the tone for your brand and create emotion. A photo that captures warmth and texture invites someone to picture your work in their own life — and that’s where the magic happens.
One tool we use is the Victiv Camera Tripod 172 cm (Aluminium) — a tall, sturdy tripod that works great with both phones and cameras. It’s made from aluminum alloy so it’s lightweight but durable, and extends up to 172 cm. It’s perfect for stable shooting, whether you’re doing overhead product shots or tilting for detail views.
Start Simple: Light & Background
Natural light is your best friend. A spot near a window on a bright but cloudy day is perfect.
Avoid harsh shadows. If the sun is strong, use a thin white curtain to soften the light.
Neutral backgrounds help your product stand out. We usually use a plain wall or a wooden table — simple settings that don’t distract from the piece itself.
Show the Details
People can’t touch or hold your product online, so your photos have to do the work. The more clearly you show texture, finish, and size, the easier it is for someone to imagine it in their home.
Take close-ups that highlight surface details, texture, and color variations.
Include a photo from above and from the side to show the full shape.
Show scale by placing your product next to something familiar (a hand, a cup, or even a book).
Don’t be afraid to add an “in-hand” shot — it makes the product feel more personal and relatable.
Studio-style photos
Simple backgrounds with no distractions are are great for your webshop, because they keep the focus entirely on the product. These images help customers see exactly what they’re getting and are essential for building trust. They also create a consistent look across your store, making everything feel polished and professional.
Think of these as your “catalog” images — clear, bright, and straightforward. They show the size, shape, and color of your piece in a simple and honest way.
Consistency is key here. When all your product photos have the same look and feel, your shop feels more cohesive and easier to browse. Customers can enjoy scrolling through and comparing pieces, and small details like using the same lighting setup or shooting angle make a huge difference in creating that professional impression.
Lifestyle photos
Photos that show your product being used in a home setting are perfect for social media and branding. They add atmosphere, show how a piece fits into daily life, and make your work feel more relatable. A cup on a table with a book nearby, a bowl filled with fresh fruit, or a vase with flowers tells a story far beyond the object itself. Customers love seeing products “in action” because it helps them imagine how it would look in their own space. Mixing both styles gives you the best of both worlds — clarity for your shop and storytelling for your brand.
A Must Have !!!
You don’t need a big camera to start with product photography. Many small businesses, ourselves included, use just a smartphone. Today’s phones are more than good enough — the key is how you use them.
One tool we can’t live without is our MOFT Tripod for iPhone. It’s small, super handy, and makes it so much easier to take steady product photos and videos. Honestly, we use it all day everyday!
Editing Without Overdoing It
A little editing helps your product photos look polished. In the beginning, we only used the iPhone’s built-in editing tools — adjusting brightness, cropping, and making small tweaks. These days, we still keep it simple, but we sometimes use Lightroom when we want a bit more control. The goal is always the same: keep it natural so the product looks exactly like it does in real life.
Learning the Basics
The biggest shift in our product photography came when we finally learned how to use our phone properly. For a long time, we just pointed, shot, and hoped for the best.
That changed with the iPhone Photography School online course. This one course truly changed everything for us. The lessons were simple and practical, and they gave us the confidence to take better product photos and share them more proudly on Instagram.
For such a small investment, the impact has been huge — and we can’t recommend it enough if you’re using your iPhone for product photography.
Quick Checklist: Better Product Photography in 5 Steps
Find a spot with soft, natural light (a bright window is perfect).
Use a clean, neutral background.
Take multiple angles — front, side, top, and detail shots.
Mix in lifestyle photos to show your product in use.
Edit lightly (brightness, contrast, crop) but keep colors true to life.
Resources We Use & Recommend
Over time we’ve found a few small tools and resources that have made a huge difference in our product photography. Here are the ones we use regularly and can genuinely recommend:
MOFT Tripod for iPhone – a small, super handy tripod we use almost every day in the studio to keep our photos steady and sharp.
Victiv Camera Tripod 172 cm Aluminium – a tall, portable tripod that gives us more flexibility, especially for overhead or angled shots. It’s lightweight, adjustable, and great when we need extra height.
iPhone Photography School Online Course – the one course that completely changed how we take photos and gave us the confidence to share more proudly on Instagram.
These are simple, affordable investments that have paid for themselves many times over by improving the quality of our product photography and helping us show our work at its best.
Final Thoughts
Product photography can feel intimidating at first, but it’s really about practice and consistency. Start with what you have, experiment, and find a style that feels like you. For us, product photography has grown with our business — from quick iPhone shots to better tools, learning new skills, and sharing more confidently online. It has become part of the creative process, another way to share our ceramics with the world.
Daisy Pepping
I’m Daisy, and I’m the quieter half of IKKAI Ceramics. I’m not the one throwing the bowls, but I’m always nearby—helping pack orders, shaping our voice, and keeping things running behind the scenes. What started as just lending a hand has grown into something I truly care about. This little business has become part of our family rhythm, and I feel lucky to be building it together with Abel.
