Photography skills and techniques are not a one-size-fits-all thing. Depending on your subject, you have to adopt different strategies to make your photos shine. If your next activity is shoe photography, there are various things to keep in mind. Whether it’s stilettos or sneakers, you have to learn tips and tricks so you can capture them well and satisfy your clients.
A massive part of shoe photography is taking photos of shoes without requiring models to wear them. If you want to learn how to master that strategy, here are five things you can try.
1. Play Around with Different Angles
When highlighting the beauty of shoes, we follow the principle “More is more.” Shoe collectors and enthusiasts love to know all the details they can ever get from shoes, so try to deliver that with your photos.
Run wild with your ideas on capturing shoes from different angles, like their soles or the back. The main angles you could consider are directly above, head-on, and about three quarters. After that, let your imagination and the shoe itself boost your creativity.
You should also think about using different props so you can make do without applying various odd angles. You can use some threads, glass, and other materials and apply post-production tools for the best results.
2. Invest in a Proper Setup
For professional photography, you should be ready with the proper setup. You can utilize seamless white paper and a lightbox for high-quality photos without unnecessary reflections—no need for other tools, especially those that will just take so much time to set up.
3. Shoot in the Best Lighting
When it comes to highlighting colors, textures, and lines, the magic comes from tried-and-tested proper lighting techniques. Save yourself from a lot of frustration by using the correct type of lighting from the start.
You can use a lightbox, either from the top or from the sides. By doing so, you will set your shots on a nice background, eliminating the shadows that can ruin the colors.
If you want your photos to look seamless, you have to work on the best things that will make those shadows disappear—even if you require investing in three or more lights.
4. Focus on the Right Details
When you take photographs to highlight the shoes, you must get it down to the most precise details. Though shoes are practical, they are also fashionable. That’s why as you take your photos, you should look closely at the essential details like logos, lines, and textures.
5. Know the Correct Post-Production Techniques
Finally, think about post-production. No matter how ideal everything looks, you could always do a little better with a bit of touching up.
For instance, you can adjust the contrast a little bit, so you can make all of the details pop. You can also do some correcting if there are visible scratches or imperfections on the shoes. Whatever the reason may be, passing the images through some Photoshop or other photo editing software would surely do you some good.
Final Thoughts
Photographing shoes, especially for professional circumstances, can be challenging. But if you feel unsure about how to handle it, you can always hire professional photographers to take over the task for you.
If you require help with product photography in Norcross, GA, Armitage Photography can manage the job. Our expert photographers offer the following services: digital imagery, post-production services, studio rentals, product photography, and photo consultations. Check out our portfolio to see what we can do, or call us today to learn about our rates.
For more information about me and how to book my services, please reach out via email at [email protected] or via phone at 404.247.5458. And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn for exceptional photo inspiration as well as photography tips and tricks.
