How to style a photoshoot on a budget
We are pleased to be collaborating with Yeshen Venema, a long-term friend of Crafty Fox Market to create our Top Tips series to help you make the most of selling your products online. Yeshen is one of the leading product photographers in the UK, specialising in the design and craft sector. He has put together a guide on how to prop and style a product photo shoot on a budget.
3 TOP TIPS FOR STYLING ON A BUDGET
Building your own unique look using prop styling, backgrounds and surfaces is an affordable way to create unique, on-brand images.
Create your own custom painted/textured backdrops
One of the best surfaces if you want something larger are internal doors from a builder’s merchant like Lawsons. They are flat and smooth, double-sided and light to move around. For best results prime them and seal with a tough, clear, matt varnish. If space is an issue consider printing a vinyl backdrop from a photograph, maybe you see a texture in the natural or urban environment. Shoot in the highest resolution possible on your camera and edit anything you don’t like in Photoshop then print to the size you want.
Create layers
Layers add depth to an image, you can create layers with fabric hung like a curtain, lighting techniques (adding shadow or creating separation with a secondary light source like a lamp at back of your set), a shelf (a piece of wood supported by 2 boxes) or small pieces of overlapping marble, painted wood or ceramic.
Pick up free surfaces that are especially good for jewellery and smaller accessories by looking in skips and asking tile shops for samples or pieces that are damaged. Layers can also be created by controlling your light with boards to draw attention to your product.
Props on a budget
Buy cheap. Some charity shops are absolute goldmines for vintage props like glassware, kitchen items, books, toys and fabrics - you can also feel good that your cash is going to a good place. I’ve spent £100s over the years in or local RSPA shop. Use amazon as a last resort. Tiger is a great place to pick up affordable props like stationery, decorations and homeware. Also look to car boot sales, eBay and not to forget your family and friends, most people have beautiful and unique objects they would be happy to loan you for a shoot. I have many boxes of lovely vintage items like eyeglasses and postcards from my grandfather.
Buy and return. Look at major high street retailers like H&M Home, John Lewis and West Elm. If you purchase items in store or for home delivery most will have a free returns/refund policy so you can basically hire things for free. Just make sure you are organised with the delivery/returns dates, be careful not to damage the times and keep all packing materials (in some cases, such as furniture) it’s good to photograph the open box to see how it all goes back together.
Make your own. There are many ways you can create your own custom props such as; spray painting household items or desk accessories in your colour pallet.
One final tip - making your own props might save you money in terms of cash, but it may take a lot of time, which is also money - so consider outsourcing it to someone you know who is skilled with paper, painting or whatever you need.
Why not try out these tips and share your next photo shoot images with us on Instagram? We’d love to share them in our stories - just tag us @craftyfoxmarket to be featured!
Yeshen Venema is a leading product photographer and Squarespace Specialist working from his own studio in Islington, London. Find him at www.yeshen.uk and @yeshen.uk. All images by Yeshen.
