5 Easy Ideas for High-Quality Handbag Photography When on a Tight Budget

23rd Mar 2023
5 mins

If you own an eCommerce business, shooting accessories is fun. It is an excellent way of exploring different shooting angles and lighting setups while also allowing you to show off your creativity.


A professional photo shoot is a luxury for handbag photos. By 2025, the handbag market is expected to reach $67.9 billion, at a 5.4% CAGR, and online sales to go up by 7.4%. So, it’s always good to bring in sales with affordable handbag photography compared to current handbag photography prices.


There are various ways that you can take photos with your smartphone!


This article will discuss how you can take high-quality budget photography using your smartphone.

5 best ideas for getting high-quality handbag pictures on a limited budget


When it comes to shooting handbags, the goal is to capture their personality through the images and their shapes, sizes, colors, and features. First, however, here’s how to photograph handbags at home to make your pictures look professional.


1. Stuff the handbag to give it structure

How to stuff the handbag to give it structure for getting high-quality handbag pictures on a limited budget?


Source: Created on DoMyShoot

If the bag is too slouchy, you can put some tissue paper inside it to give it shape. It will help prevent it from slumping over while you’re taking photos. You can choose from various materials to make your bag look its best, such as bubble wrap, tissue paper, and newspaper. However, make sure that you do not overstuff it. Doing so will make it look unnatural and rigid.


2. Style the background with DIY props

How to style the background with DIY props for getting high-quality handbag pictures on a limited budget?


Source: Created on DoMyShoot

How to take pictures of handbags for commercial use? First, keep the background simple, like white or black, and place it on a tabletop. If you want a more vibrant scene, choose a monochrome textured background. For creative purposes, you can choose a single-color background and place it in front of something like brick, wood, or stone for high-quality, affordable handbag photography.


3. Style the straps for a finished look

How to style the straps for finished goods for getting high-quality handbag pictures on a limited budget?


Source: Created on DoMyShoot

One of the essential features of a bag is its straps. Make sure that they are arranged well and placed appropriately. You can also use fishing (nylon) wire to hold them. Another great way to do this is to hang them from the ceiling. To keep the handles of your bag in place, use double-sided tape to secure them to a flat surface or tabletop. If the bag has a long strap, position it in front or behind the bag.


4. Make the handbag dust and smear-free


To keep your bag looking its best, use compressed air to remove dust and dirt that might show up in the photos. Since most cameras can capture even the tiniest details, the bag must be spotless and free from debris. Compressed air is an excellent choice since it won’t scratch the leather.

Also, soft microfiber cloth helps to remove fingerprints and other marks from your hardware, such as buttons, hooks, and zippers.


5. Create a context-based photography setup

How to create a context based photography setup for getting high-quality handbag pictures on a limited budget?


Source : Pexels

An effective way to communicate a bag’s intention is by shooting it in context. For instance, if a model is on location, they can help tell a story like "What kind of look the bag will go with?', “What’s it designed to do?”.

Another great way to tell a bag’s story is by using still-life imagery. You can do this by shooting the bag’s contents alongside it so the customer can see what it’s designed to carry. For example, if it’s an evening bag, you might want it to have all your cosmetics or a work bag where you need to take all your notebook and other documents.


Tips and tricks to take handbag pictures to the next level

Here are some useful tricks on how well you can set up and position your camera for professional handbag photos.

Lighting setup


When it comes to designing your eCommerce photography, lighting is the key. While avoiding harsh and direct light is necessary, it’s also possible to get a soft and natural look with natural daylight. In addition, it is a great budget-friendly alternative to studio lighting for affordable handbag photography.


If you’re planning on using natural light, choose a window. You can also set up LED bulbs or fluorescent lights to fill the space around the bag. If you’re shooting leather or patent, avoid reflections in the bag’s material. It happens either because the bag is shiny or the light from the camera reflects at you. Post-production can help minimize these issues, but it’s always better to avoid them altogether.

Camera settings


If you’re using a mobile phone, affordable handbag photography equipment like a small adjustable tripod can keep your device steady and prevent blurry photos.


You can manually or automatically set your camera’s settings to adjust the various parameters, such as the shutter speed and aperture, ideally at 8.0. It will allow you to capture the entire bag and avoid distracting the viewer. In addition, you should also make sure that the bag is in focus to ensure that the viewer can easily see all of its details.


Try repeatedly taking several shots and adjusting the f-stop to get the most out of your camera. Then, look at the data you’ve taken to determine the depth of field you want.

Photo angles


When you’re ready to take a photo of your bag, turn it around to a 3/4 degree angle, to the right or left side, so one side is visible. You can also take a second shot of the bag by moving it to the other side of the frame. If you’re taking multiple photos of the same bag, ensure that all of them are in the same position and angle.


Take a couple of shots of the front and back of the bag. It should be sitting flat and not tilted forward or backward before you start taking it. Hold the lens firmly at the bag and focus on its eye level.


Take a photo of the bag’s back using a straight shot. If the long strap is shown in another image, remove it for the back shot to show potential customers that it can be easily removed.

If you’re having difficulty getting the bag to stand up without tipping, try laying it on your tabletop. You can also position the camera above the bag to shoot it down. For instance, if you’re shooting with a small bag, you might want to take a few shots around 2 feet away from the bag. Then, take another couple of shots at around 3 feet until you find the desired distance.


Highlighting the details

How to highlight the details to take handbag pictures to the next level?


Source: Created on DoMyShoot


One of the essential features to consider while figuring out how to take pictures of handbags is their material and texture. For example, if a bag is made of cheap leather, it will not be as valuable as soft goat leather. To ensure that the bag’s texture and feel are captured well, you must set up your lighting system to allow the user to zoom in.


Before you start handbag photos, ensure to capture its various details. For instance, if the bag has an exciting lining, adjust the lighting so that the lining is visible. Then, take a close-up shot of the details. Finally, take several photos to decide if you want to shoot the front and back of the bag. If the bag has a unique design, such as a tassel or a toggle, you can move closer to the bag to get the best possible shot.

Conclusion


Nowadays, you don’t have to have a professional photographer to take photos of your products. There are mobile apps for high-quality images. So you can easily do affordable handbag photography or any of your products without going to a studio.


DoMyShoot
is an excellent choice for those looking for a creative and fun way to create handbag photos for their online business. It is a budget-friendly app for handbag photography. With the help of our AI-powered app, you can easily create beautiful and high-converting images for your website. In addition, it’s easy for online sellers to shoot photos for their products with in-app guides that will help you edit your pictures quickly.

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