Styling products for Instagram was so difficult for me when I started blogging. I didn’t know what props to use, I didn’t have the proper lighting, and it took me a while to find my style. Fast forward to today, I wouldn’t go as far as saying that I’m a product photographer, but in the last year or so I have learned a lot about making products look pretty for photos. Today I wanted to share some tips for creating beautiful content and how I like to style my photos. Here are 7 tips for styling products for Instagram, Pinterest, blogs, and any other social platforms!
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Styling Tip #1 – Lighting
Lighting is the most important for creating quality content and natural light is the best and least expensive light source there is! If you have a large window that you can set up in front of you are already winning at this! Place your products in front of the window or door, but make sure the light is coming in and hitting the side of your subject(s). Another tip I would add is using a white foam board to reflect the light, this makes the shadows less harsh. You can find these at CVS, Michael’s or even the grocery store.
If you don’t have access to natural light you can always use artificial light. I recently purchased the Godox SL-60W from Amazon. It creates a stable light source for video recording and photography. It’s great for outdoor photography, and for creating natural light indoors.
Styling Tip #2 – Equipment
Now that you’ve got your light source down, it’s time to figure out what you will be shooting with. I use a Canon Rebel T6 or my iPhone 11 Pro Max. You don’t have to purchase an expensive camera to produce high-quality content. All my Reel content for Instagram is shot on my iPhone 11 Pro Max. Again, I am not a professional and I am still learning how to style products for Instagram and how to use my camera. Right now my camera is on the Auto Focus setting because this gets me the best results in a short amount of time. If you are a beginner like myself Auto Focus is the way to go!
I also use various tripods for my camera and vinyl backdrops. I don’t know what I would do without my tripod, it keeps the camera steady and allows me to shoot hands free. These are great for keeping the backdrops in place and setting the scene if you will.
Styling Tip #3 – Props
Props might be my favorite part of content creation. This is the biggest part of the creative process in my opinion. You can use just about anything as a prop that is relevant to your subject. I shoot a lot of beauty and lifestyle content so I use magazines, books, coffee, plants, jewelry, and even myself. This is your chance to get creative and figure out what works best for you!
Styling Tip #4 – Backgrounds
The background in your product photography can vary depending on your style of content. As I said I shoot beauty and lifestyle content, so my backgrounds consist of marble tile, blankets, and the occasional vanity shot. This is also something you do not have to spend a ton of money on. I like to go to Home Depot, Lowe’s or Floor & Decor and pick up a few marble tiles. These cost about $3-$5 and I usually go with two.
Another option is Replica Surfaces. These are on the pricey side at $70+ for one surface, but there are so many trendy options to choose from. You can also get a bundle deal and the more surfaces you purchase the cheaper they will be. They are lightweight and make styling photos so much easier. Vinyl backdrops are also great because they are easy to store and even easier to clean. They come in so many different colors to match your feed and aesthetic.
How I Edit my Photos for Instagram
Styling Tip #5 – Color
Color is so important, this is something that took me a while to get the hang of. Having a color scheme makes your content pleasing to the eye and will catch the attention of brands and most importantly your audience. If you are shooting products that are bright in color you should play it safe with your props and backgrounds and go for something that is neutral.
Styling Tip #6 – Aesthetic
Color also plays into your overall aesthetic. You can create an aesthetic by using the same presets, the same color clothing, or even down to your grid on Instagram. Since I shoot skincare and beauty products that are different colors I like to keep my backgrounds to three shades/patterns: white, grey, or marble. Don’t get me wrong, I love to throw in a pink background every now in then. Both of these creators have neutral aesthetics, but the feed on the left is black and white, and the feed on the right has more color.
Styling Tip #7 – Editing
My last tip for styling products for Instagram is editing. You want to make sure that you don’t over edit your photos and that you keep the products true to color. This will also catch the eye of brands and it makes your work look more professional. I like to add simple edits to my photos by adjusting the exposure, contrast, shadows, and highlights. Adding the same preset to my photos also makes my feed aesthetically pleasing.
I hope you enjoyed this post. To all my creatives out there, how do you style products for Instagram and did you find these tips helpful?