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

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YouTube videos.

How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
Like many soapers, I made my first batch out of necessity seven years ago. I had just given birth to my son and as an uber-cautious-first-time-mom, my hands were cracked and painful due to so much washing. I had gone through countless “gentle” soaps and lotions and nothing helped…infact, it got worse. My husband and I decided to try making our own lavender soap. Fortunately, it turned out great and helped my skin tremendously! I soon whipped up some hand cream and have been hooked on handmade body care since!

Sweet Fig Cold Process Soap

What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
Believe in your product and in yourself! You can do this! Yes, it’s always a bit scary when you’re putting yourself out there, but you’ll never know unless you try!

What is your favorite type of product to make?

Cold process soap, hands down! I love everything about making cp soap (with the exception of cleanup and waiting). I love playing with the oils and butters, fragrances and colors…each batch of soap is an adventure.
What inspires you to create?
People, places, colors, scents, nature, art…pretty much everything!

How did you come up with the name for your business?
It’s kind of funny…I was looking for a name that would allow for creative freedom and I live in Florida…thus, “Handmade in Florida”. It’s about as generic as it gets!

Secret Feather Swirl Cold Process Soap

What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
I love everything from Bramble Berry! If I had to pick just one thing that I could not live without, it would have to be your heat resistant plastic pouches! I love using them to masterbatch my oils, they are so convenient!
Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself!
I started my first business at the age of 14. It was in the early 90’s when handpainted t-shirts were “the thing” lol. I painted every day after school and soon had several wholesale accounts that kept me busy until college! At one point, my mom, dad and sisters were even helping to paint t-shirts!

Pumpkin Spiced Chai Cold Process Soap

What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
In addition to soap making, I enjoy watercolor painting, photography, sewing and baking.

What is your number one soaping tip? (Could pertain to oils, trace, molds, colorants, fragrance…anything!)
I like soaping cool (room temp)….I find that it gives me the most time to play with my soap

Romeo and Juliet Cold Process Soap

Have you ever experienced a horrible soapy fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
Oh my goodness, my very first soap was an adventure! My husband and I were suited up to the max and the soap making session was so stressful that I didn’t think I’d ever make soap again! Luckily, I loved the soap and just had to make it again (without the hazmat gear)! Unless I’m working with some crazy expensive and/or rare ingredient, I just go with the flow…if it turns out, great! If not, lesson learned!

In the Pot Swirl Coffee Soap

What do you love most about creating bath and body products?
I love that I can create a variety of ultra luxurious and skin loving products that would typically be out of my price range…if even available!

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