Sign in
DIY
Shop Talk: A Website Photography Hack Too Good Not To Share
MOMS–you may need this info right now, or maybe in the future, either way bookmark it so it’s at the ready! Or forward it to someone who might need this clever little website hack.
Originally published here: Wishing Well Blog Post
The thing that nobody tells you about launching a business is not how many things need doing but how much doing them right costs. When we started pricing professional photography for every single necessary image, we realized that was crazy talk. So we hired the amazing Kristen Kilpatrick for model and decided to try our hand at shooting white background product images.
And in the spirit of being in this together, we decided to share what we learned here in hopes this small-business hack for website photography might help one of you.
Necessary items: A camera (we used our iPhone 6). Four pieces of white card stock, a few pieces of regular white paper. A window perch with lots of light. A candle.
Now, for the “How Tos”:
1. Set up your makeshift light box by surrounding the space on three sides (open end facing the window) and on bottom with white card stock at ledge-level in front of a brightly lit window. Do not use lamps, natural light is best.
2. Have your product set up close by and place one-by-one into area for photos. Use candle wax to hold small lightweight items in place. And if you are shooting pictures of rings, use a rolled-up piece of paper to hold rings upright.
3. Hold phone at a bird’s-eye view. Take as many shots as necessary.
Now comes the really cool part of this story. White background images like these need to be clipped. And almost before we started looking, I got this message on LinkedIn.
Yes, there is an image-editing business in India. We used Dropbox to exchange images. The turnaround was fast, like a couple of days fast. My one piece of advice is to get a quote prior to engaging. Cost is determined by the intensity of the clipping.
After we received the images, we paid via Paypal.
After we received the images, we paid via Paypal.
Obviously, we are thrilled with their work. And the images.
Hope this helps!
And reach out if you have any questions.
Intentionally yours,
Victoria
3
Comments 
Is clipping a short word for edited, or does it mean something else?
They clip out the background and add a drop shadow. They can do any sort of effect you want, I wanted the product to look like it was floating. Hope that helps!
Thank you for your article post.Really thank you! Fantastic.