A Guide to Outdoor Product Photography: Shift from Amateur to Pro

From stunning natural backdrops to the perfect lighting, outdoor product photography can elevate your products to new heights.

With years of experience in outdoor product photography for my online store, I’d love to share my professional insights and tips with you in this comprehensive guide.

So grab your camera and get ready to capture the essence of your products in the great outdoors!

Does Outdoor Photography Benefit Your Product?

Outdoor product photography has become an increasingly popular choice for showcasing products in their natural surroundings.

Of course, outdoor photography will be beneficial in product photography.

Why did I say so? Let me tell you the main reasons I use outdoor photography to capture my product photos to get a clearer idea.

Benefits of Outdoor Product Photography

Creates stunning images that convey the story of the product
Utilizes natural light to showcase the product in its best light
Takes advantage of diverse outdoor environments to capture the product in its element
Offers opportunities for capturing products in breathtaking landscapes and charming local settings
Provides a competitive edge for small business owners and professional photographers

You can also gain these benefits from outdoor photography. I’ll guide you for that.

Now, you may be wondering what type of product is suitable for outdoor shooting. right?

Well, I’ll explain it with reasons.

Types of Products Most Suitable for Outdoor Product Photography

1. Outdoor Gear and Equipment

Orange tent on a green grass field — *Showing an orange tent product on the green grass field*

Outdoor photography is useful to showcase the practicality and versatility of the gear in real-life outdoor settings.

2. Clothing and Fashion Items

The person carrying a black leather handbag — *A lady carrying a black leather handbag*

To demonstrate how the clothing fits and moves in natural settings, creating a more realistic and appealing image.

3. Home and Garden Products

Man in a white and black long sleeve shirt holding a lawnmower — *Man holding black and gray lawn mower*

Good for highlighting their use and aesthetic appeal in outdoor spaces.

4. Food and Beverage

Grapefruit cocktail drinks with sliced oranges — *Drinks product with sliced oranges*

Outdoor product shoots evoke feelings of freshness, taste, and appetite by showcasing the products in outdoor environments.

5. Beauty and Personal Care Products

A spray bottle on a brown hat full of lavender — *An essential oil bottle on a brown hat full of lavender*

Display the products in natural light and environments, creating a more appealing and believable image.

6. Sports and Fitness Equipment

Strong man training with dumbbells on the sports ground — *Dumbbells on the ground with a man*

Help to demonstrate how the equipment is used and how it performs in outdoor settings.

7. Electronics and Gadgets

A man holding the folded electric scooter — *A man takes the folded electric scooter up the stairs, showing how lightweight it is*

Showcase the technology in practical outdoor settings, demonstrating its versatility and reliability.

8. Jewelry and Accessories

A woman wearing a gold chain Necklace — *Woman wearing a gold chain necklace*

Use to display the elegance and beauty of the products in outdoor environments.

So, it is creating a more appealing and glamorous image.

9. Toys and Games

Red and black ride on toy car on the ground with green grass — *Toy car on a road*

To demonstrate the fun and excitement of playing with the toys and games in outdoor settings.

10. Automotive Parts and Accessories

Retro motorcycle engine on embankment against the sea — *Retro motorcycle engine product*

Outdoor photography will help to show the products in the context of a vehicle in real-life outdoor settings.

Therefore, it will create a more relevant and appealing image.

Tips for Outdoor Product Photography

How capture stunning product photography outdoors?

Well, by following tips and techniques in each step, you can get images that not only look great but also tell the story of your product.

Here are the key approaches that you need to consider for capturing stunning outdoor product photography:

1. Choose the Right Location

Look for locations that complement and enhance the product
Consider the lighting, background, and atmosphere of the location
Select a location that showcases the product in its best light

2. Lighting for Outdoor Product Photography

Utilize natural light to create a warm and inviting atmosphere
Experiment with artificial lighting to add depth and dimension to the product
Use lighting to create a desired mood and atmosphere for the product
The best time of day for outdoor product photography is typical during the golden hour, which is the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset.

3. Camera and Its Settings for Outdoor Product Photography

Choosing the right camera for outdoor product photography is important to get the best image.

• Which Camera is Best for Outdoor Product Photography?

Here are some recommendations on the best cameras for outdoor product photography that have helped me get the perfect shots.

Camera	Key Features
Canon EOS R6	Full-frame, 20.1 MP CMOS sensor, Dual Pixel CMOS AF, up to 12 fps shooting, 5-axis In-Body Image Stabilization
Sony Alpha a7 III	Full-frame, 24.2 MP CMOS sensor, Fast Hybrid AF, 10 fps shooting, 5-axis In-Body Image Stabilization
Nikon Z6	Full-frame, 24.5 MP CMOS sensor, Hybrid AF, 12 fps shooting, 5-axis In-Body Image Stabilization
Fujifilm X-T4	APS-C, 26.1 MP CMOS sensor, X-Processor 4, 15 fps shooting, 5-axis In-Body Image Stabilization
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III	Micro Four Thirds, 20.4 MP Live MOS sensor, 121-point all-cross-type On-Chip Phase Detection AF, 60 fps shooting, 5-axis Image Stabilization

Top recommendation cameras for outdoor product photography

However, the right camera for you will depend on your specific needs, budget, and shooting preferences.

• Other Camera Settings for Outdoor Product Photography Include:

Experiment with different focal lengths and aperture settings to create unique and impactful images.

So, I’ll share with you the generally best settings of the camera that I always follow.

i. ISO setting:

In bright sunlight, the ISO speed should typically be kept low, around 100-200 for maintaining accurate color and reducing digital noise

In low light conditions, a higher ISO speed of 800-1600 may be necessary to capture the image without motion blur or underexposure

ii. Shutter speed:

To freeze or blur motion, adjust the shutter speed to suit the desired effect.

iii. Aperture:

Choose a shallow depth of field for a bokeh effect or a large aperture for more depth.

iv. White balance:

Set the white balance to match the lighting conditions or use the auto white balance.

v. Metering:

Use spot metering to meter specific areas of the scene or use evaluative metering for overall exposure.

vi. Focus mode:

Use single or continuous autofocus for still or moving subjects.

vii. Image quality and format:

Set image quality and format to suit your needs and post-processing requirements.

4. Equipment for Outdoor Shoot

Ensure that you have all the necessary equipment for outdoor product photography, such as tripods, reflectors, and diffusers
Experiment with different equipment to find the best combination for your specific needs and goals
If you’re shooting in low light or want to control the lighting more precisely, a flash may be useful

5. Composition and Angles

Glass perfume bottle on the sand — *Same perfume product on the sand in two different ways*

Glass perfume bottle on the sand at another angle — *Same perfume product on the sand in two different ways*

Experiment with different angles to showcase the product in its best light
Use composition to create a visually appealing and impactful image
Consider the rule of thirds and other composition techniques to enhance the image

6. Post-Production Editing

Edit the images to enhance their quality and fix any imperfections
Use editing tools to enhance the lighting, color, and overall appearance of the image

5 Common Mistakes in Outdoor Product Photography

Outdoor product photography can be a beautiful and impactful way to showcase your products, but it also has its challenges.

So, it’s important to be aware of the common mistakes that can be made when products photographing in outdoors and to adopt ways to avoid those mistakes.

Don’t worry, I’ll tell you my secrets!

• Poor lighting conditions can result in dull or unflattering images

Make sure to choose a time of day with the best lighting and consider using reflectors or flash to enhance it.

• Inadequate camera settings, such as using the wrong ISO or shutter speed, can negatively impact the quality of your images

Familiarize yourself with your camera’s settings and experiment to find the right combination.

• The background is an important part of the image and should complement, not distract from, the product

Pay attention to the background and consider editing it in post-production.

• Composition is key to creating a visually appealing image

Experiment with different angles, perspectives, and framing to find the most effective composition.

Learn the necessary product photography styles that will make your shoe images even more creative for your business.

• Lack of post-production editing can result in flat or unappealing images

Take advantage of editing tools to enhance the color, brightness, and overall look of your images.

Conclusion

In conclusion, outdoor product photography is a highly effective way to showcase your products and enhance their perceived value.

With a little bit of planning and preparation, you can create images that are not only visually stunning but also convey the story of your product.

From choosing the right location and lighting techniques to getting the right camera settings and equipment, there are many factors to consider when planning your outdoor product photography shoot.

However, by following the tips and techniques, you will be well on your way to becoming a pro in outdoor product photography and creating images that are sure to impress your audience.

So, embrace the great outdoors and start capturing your products in their element today!

Justin Parker

Justin Parker is a professional photographer and has been in the industry since 2007. He attended the University of Georgia. Justin combines his passion for photography and his interest in writing to give life to this blog which talks about photography in order to help and inspire young photographers.