Often times one of the first things I encourage new business owners to do is spiff up their online presence in the way of imagery. Sometimes it's just putting a little more consistent effort into their Instagram feed, or refreshing their photos on their website.

But if you don't have the budget to hire a photographer right away (or just want an easy way to come up with content!) here are 7 ways you can take product photos on your own. 

For this example I used one of my favorite mugs from Shirley Stephens at Pony Creek Pottery and a few items I had around the house. I shot in the early evening light by my dining room window (no flash or overhead lights used) and got it all done in about 15 minutes.  

Basic Shot

1. Here's a classic product shot of a coffee mug. Nothing especially mind blowing here, just a straightforward shot, in good lighting, on a neutral background. This was simply taken on my dining room table, though I made sure to crop out the table edges, chairs, and any other distractions. Note- I did the cropping just by adjusting my physical distance from the mug...not by editing on my computer. 

Two-Thirds Shot

2. Shots that include two-thirds of empty space while the product taking up the other third are especially helpful to have on hand for marketing materials. That way you could fill up the empty space with text for say, and advertisement or website banner. 

Featured Product or Foreground Shot

3. If you have a collection of products, it's nice to be able to feature a product within the context of the larger collection. A quick and easy way to do this is just to take a shot with your featured product in the front of the shot, with other items in the background.  

In Context

4. Shooting products in context (aka where and how your customer will use them) is always a good idea. Gather up one or two props that help to pain the picture of where your product fits into their life and shoot away! Again, bring the product to the foreground so it pops and allow the supporting items to fade into the background. You can get creative, but make sure your product remains the center of attention.  

Styled Shots

5. If you've been on Instagram, you know that there are always some styled shots of products with some prop (succulents are big right now!). While sometimes it may be a bit of a stretch in terms of reality (are your customers really going to place their mug on a palm frond?), but that's not the point! The idea is to create some visual interest or texture...essentially, you're just trying to make it stand out in a sea of crappy product photos. Use the "golden ratio" as a guide to styled shots. 

Flat Lay Shots

6. Flat lay shots are pretty darn popular, though getting them right is sort of tricky. Even this example could use some work! But the idea is to group a collection of things that make sense together, typically "essentials" or "packing lists" or "outfits" work well. For this image, I was imagining a caption along the lines of "getting organized for the day requires to-do lists and coffee...and it always tastes better in your favorite mug" #morningessentials

Discovering Details

7. People often miss interesting details in their product shots--the hem of a shirt, the clasp of a necklace, or in this case, the design detail at the bottom of the handle. It helps to give the customer a more complete idea of what they're receive, and gives you an opportunity to show off your attention to detail!