This is a guest post. Zahida is the creative force behind Handmade in Florida, a soap company known for its award winning designs (including the “Butterfly Swirl”) and beautiful colors. In addition to gorgeous soap, Zahida is renowned in soapy communities for her eye catching product photography and is sharing her top 5 tips to help you improve your photography. If you’d like to learn more about Zahida, click here to read her interview on Soap Queen. – A.M.
One of the first things people notice about my soaps are the photos. I have enjoyed taking photos since childhood and got my first “real camera” for my 7th birthday, a Minolta X-7. Since then, I’ve gone through quite a few cameras and countless rolls of film. I currently enjoy using the Nikon D7000 and Canon 70D. With the right equipment and a little bit of know-how, you too can take your soap photography to the next level! Here are my top five tips for taking photos of your soap.
A collection of Zahida’s beautiful soap, and a great representation of her stunning photography. You can find Handmade in Florida’s soap on Facebook, the web, Youtube and her blog.
1. Equipment: You can certainly get by with using your smartphone, but chances are you will not achieve the look you are going for, particularly when it comes to depth of field (when the background is blurred and your subject is in focus). To achieve this look, you should invest in a dslr (digital single-lens reflex) camera and a 50mm lens (others work too, but this is a good starting point). There are several reputable brands out there including, Nikon, Canon and Sony. It is not necessary to get a top of the line model, a midrange model and a 50mm lens will work wonders for your soap photography!
2. Lighting: Sure there are lots of fancy photography lights out there, but the best (which also happens to be free), is natural light. Time to turn off that auto flash! Take your photos in soft natural light near a window. With a little practice and experimentation, you will soon discover what area and what time works best in your home/studio.
3. Composition: One of the best guides to determine good composition is the “Rule of Thirds”, where your image is divided into thirds (like a tic tac toe diagram). The four center points that connect are considered to be the “power points”. You can stage your soap or soaps in such a way that the main area you are trying to showcase (a botanical top or swirl etc.) falls on one of more of those points. Most cameras and even phone apps (like Manual, ProCamera, Aviary etc.) have a Rule of Thirds diagram built in, so it should be easy to experiment with your composition.
Experiment with your angles too, try holding your camera at a 45 degree angle and taking a variety of shots, including overhead and up close and personal shots. Be creative and think outside the box!
4. Backgrounds and Props: Simple is safe when it comes to backgrounds and props. The focus of your picture should be to highlight your soap or a certain feature of your soap. Busy patterns or bold colors may detract attention from your soap, the same goes for props. If it’s relevant or adds interest to you picture, include it, otherwise save it for something else. Simple poster-board backgrounds and lightly textured scrapbook paper work well. In addition, Professional photography paper rolls/background paper are relatively inexpensive and will last you quite a while. These are readily available online at most photography retailers like B&H Photo etc.
5. Post Editing: It’s a must. Yes, it would be great to take perfect pictures with perfect colors and perfect lighting, but the reality is, perfection is hard to achieve (even for the majority of professional photographers out there who also edit their photos)! There are numerous post editing programs on the market. My favorites are Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop. The goal of editing your pictures should be to enhance them, not to change them. You want the colors on screen to be as close to the real deal as possible. Editing will also allow you to adjust your lighting, contrast, tone etc. as well as crop and rotate your images to make them more visibly appealing.
Photographing your soap is a lot like making it. With a little research, the right equipment and practice, you will be taking beautiful pictures of your soap in no time! Good luck with your soap making and with your photography!
You can learn more about Zahida by following her on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram or www.handmadeinflorida.com
I LOve Zahida’s work! 🙂 Stunning! I’ve watched several video’s. Can you yell me what type of tool she is using to finish the top of her soaps? It almost looks like a paint brush but I know it can’t be…is it just a wooden stick? Thank you!
We love her work too! I think she may be using a chopstick or towel to swirl with. You should be able to find those in your grocery store in the utensil aisle. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thanks so much for writing such an interesting and passionate piece. It was a pleasure to read. I look forward to reading more of your articles.
So glad you like the post! Zahida’s tips definitely helped me with my soap photos. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
What would be really helpful would be a crash course in Photoshop. I have tried many many times to use it and, unless you’ve had a class, it is very difficult to use.
Hi Peggy!
That’s a great suggestion! Thanks so much. We will definitely keep that in mind for future blog posts. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi. I really hear what you saying and I’m in the same boat. I just placed ads on Craig’s list looking for some different things. Graphic Designer to design some labels and logo. Someone to teach me Photoshop. Someone to bring me into the 21st century on the Web. ETC. I didnot know where to turn. I have recieved some replies. I think this was a good idea.
Hi Susan!
Thanks so much for your suggestion! That’s something we’ll keep in mind when brainstorming blog ideas. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hey Peggy,
There is a great website called Lynda.com which is nothing but tutorial s on how to use different software. Also I highly recommend using Photoshop elements and lightroom they are great cheaper alternatives.
Thanks so much for sharing John! That’s very helpful. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Kelsey,
No prob. I think everyone should have access to great editing tools and adobe is the best. It has helped me with so many pictures. I do photography on the side.
Absolutely! Editing tools really help your pictures pop. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thanks for the photo tips! Your pictures look great. The soap is so pretty I wouldn’t want to use it. I struggle all the time with my photos.
Hi Linda!
So happy you enjoyed the post! We love her tips. Hopefully they gave you some ideas for your photos. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thank you, Zahida, for always so generously sharing your knowledge and skills with us all! LOVE your soaps and photos!
Hi Catherine!
We were so happy she was willing to share her tips with everyone! They’re so helpful. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
WOW! So beautiful, and very generous of you to take the time to share with the rest of us. Happy soaping!
Hi Heather!
Aren’t her photos beautiful? We were so excited she was willing to share her tips with everyone! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Oh! I soooo hope someday my soaps look that pretty. Did you take lessons? Someone show you how? Congrats on your talent, soaping and photography.
Hi Lynne!
I love her work so much! You can read more about how she got started in this interview: http://www.soapqueen.com/business/interview-handmade-florida/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
It certainly doesn’t hurt to have such beautiful subjects to photograph. 🙂
Hi Monica!
Definitely! Her work is so beautiful. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I could scarcely read the article I was so mesmerized by the beautiful soap.
Hi Peggy!
Her stunning work can be distracting! I’ve been known to watch her YouTube videos back to back. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Inspirational soap and insightful post, thank you!
Hi Christina!
We are so inspired by Zahida’s work! So glad you like the post. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Awesome! The soaps look amazing and I’m looking forward on trying some of these tips as well.
Hi Stephanie!
Her soaps are so stunning! Have fun trying out the photography tips. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thank you so much for your tips! <3
Hi Cynthia!
We were so happy she shared her photography tips! Zahida has lots of great advice. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thank you so much for the tips! <3
Hi Cynthia!
So glad you like the post! We love Zahida’s tips. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
YES! Fantastic tips for photography! Lighting, composition, editing–all great tips!
Hi Janice!
We thought so too! So many great tips. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry