Alright, so I am no photographer, but fake it til’ you make it, as they say! I take my own photos of my products and I have gotten so much better throughout the years. Thankfully, I have a DSLR camera that I got during design school, and I honestly think it deserves all the credit! However, you'll do just fine with a high quality phone camera! Here are a few of my favorite tools I use (almost) every time I take photos of my paper goods.
Side note* Any purchases made through the below links directly support me and allow me to continue going what I love (at no extra cost to you). I have used all of these products and would never suggest anything I didn’t love myself!
Background: First things first, you'll want to have a simple clean background! I usually use a marble poster or the plain white backside. I found mine at Hobby Lobby a few years back in the poster section, but I think it is discontinued now. (Boo!) I've also used sweaters and curtains to create texture and shadows! You have a lot of freedom when it comes to choosing your style and selecting what looks best for your brand, just make sure it's not too busy and doesn't compete with your product or art!
Scissors: I have two pairs of gold scissors that I LOVE for styling. One is mini that I have never actually used for its intended purpose, and I have a pair of gold fabric scissors that I don’t know how I ever lived without. (& no matter how many times I tell my boyfriend they are for fabric ONLY, he doesn’t seem to get it, so hide these from any partners in your life that like shiny things and don’t listen.)
Silk Ribbon: Yall, THIS. If you take one piece of advice from this post, it’s the silk ribbon. I use it to style almost all my photos! Silk ribbon can get expensive quickly, but I have found a super affordable variety pack option off amazon. If styling your photos is your only intended use for these, they work wonders! FYI: Try to spring for an option that includes white, because it will go with everything!
Fake/real greenery: Another must! This might be a little embarrassing to admit, (but I’ll always own it) whenever I know I’m going to take some photos, I go for a walk outside and search for fun greenery that will spruce up a photo! I also have a few faux greens that look pretty realistic. I recommend going to Hobby Lobby, Michaels, or Joann’s Fabric (and shop sales) to look for the prettiest options!
Wax melting beads & stamp: Some of my biggest hits on Instagram are my wax seal videos. People eat these up! I usually post videos of these versus photos, so I make sure when I record the video, it’s aesthetically pleasing. Try placing wax beads that will show in the frame and maybe some pre-existing wax seals you have already made.
Honorable mentions: There are sooo many good props to use for styling photos. Some of my other favorites include cute envelopes, flowers, and vintage stamps!
There you have it folks! Those are some of my favorite tools you can use to spruce up your DIY product photos. Be sure to tag me on Instagram so I can see you use your new favorite tools in your flat lays!
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