If you’re selling online you know how essential great photos are. Dark, out-of-focus product shots are just not going to cut it anymore. Getting a pro to take your product photos is such a good idea, but what to do if you want champagne photos on a beer business budget?

Well you check out these super-helpful links of course.

If you’ve got a half-decent camera, but you’re still taking photos on auto setting (*cough, raises hand*) then check out this lengthy post on product photography by Jeff Delacruz on the Shopify blog. Great stuff here on what settings to use on your camera to get the best shots, plus all the equipment you’ll need (which isn’t much!)

There’s a bunch of tutorials out there on how to build your own lightbox. But, as a lazy DIY-er myself, I loved this super-basic tutorial how to make a light box using an old cardboard box and some foam board (which you can totally get at Officeworks).

For a slightly more pro setting using purchased equipment that you can use to shoot day and night, check out this post. This would be great if you’re limited to shooting at night, or need a bigger setup.

So even using a white background and plenty of light, your product pictures aren’t going to have a perfectly white background straight out of the camera. You’ve got to edit those things, babe. This awesome video tutorial shows you how to quickly edit your photos using the free online software Gimp. You’re one step away from perfect product photos!

For something a bit different for your product photos, you could try using a bunch of different backgrounds and surfaces. This post has great ideas on where to source these for a few dollars.

If you really want to up your product photography game, then styling is the key. Showing your product in a styled look (that matches your brand) makes it more appealing and will boost your sales. There are some great tips to get you started here and then head over to Pinterest for more inspiration.

If you’re using Instagram as part of your biz strategy (and you are, right?),  consider featuring your products in a styled, overhead shot – known as a flat lay. It might look complicated, but with a bit of practice those double-taps will be rolling in.

PS How to Grow a Community of Raving Fans