Camera settings for product photography.

Learn how to balance your camera’s ISO, aperture, and shutter speed for achieving crisp and clear product images.

Product photography is so much more than just a pleasing picture. When done correctly, high-quality product images have the power to grab attention, share a message, and even convey emotion. Let’s explore how you can make the exposure triangle work for you in product photography.

How to set up your camera for product photography.

Like every field of photography, getting the right product shot can feel a bit like a balancing act. That means you’ll want to use your camera’s manual settings and focus on getting the balance just right between the exposure triangle (ISO, aperture, shutter speed). You’ll also want to use a tripod to ensure crisp, clear images with no camera shake.

• ISO: Set your ISO as low as possible. Too high of an ISO will result in a grainy image — the opposite of what you want for product photography. ISO 100 is ideal for starting, then gradually bump it up until your product appears properly lit.
• Aperture: This will affect your depth of field and the amount of light that your camera lets in. Start with a high aperture — such as f/22 or f/16 — and decrease as needed. In most cases, you’ll want to ensure your entire product is in focus, with no blurred edges.
• Shutter speed. Start with a lower shutter speed — the use of your tripod will help avoid camera shake. However, if you’re working with a model, you’ll likely need to bump up the shutter speed to offset any unintentional motion blur.

While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to product photography, these tips will help you build your skills and confidence. Once you feel comfortable with your camera setting basics, it becomes easier to experiment with additional techniques and approaches that can really make a product stand out.

Explore what more you can do with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom as you begin experimenting with product photography.