What Equipment Should You Use For DIY Product Photos? It Doesn't Matter.

We're not about gatekeeping here at Tangerine Studios.

Here's why the equipment you use for your DIY product photos doesn't matter.

Not to begin with anyway.

In my 10-plus years as a professional photographer, at various stages of my career, I distinctly remember occasions when someone (usually an Uncle at a wedding or, sadly, even a fellow photographer) held a lot of uncompromising opinions about my ability - based solely on the equipment I chose to use (currently Canon and Fuji by the way).

"Oh, you're shooting with that?!"

"That brand is absolute rubbish"

Sure - taking on board construction criticism and being open to learning from others is how you grow.

But, equally, people being generally awful and shutting you down because you don't fit their mould isn't helpful. Not one bit.

Yes, running a photographic studio, I'm a little biased. Professional photography yields incredible results, can be a fantastic investment for your business and 100% has its place.

But, if you're a small business owner just embarking on your product photography journey... we all have to start somewhere.

In fact, smartphones have come on leaps and bounds in recent years - their cameras can be pretty impressive.

And, I'm a big believer that there are so many components to great photography. Understanding lighting, your own creativity, the ability to tell stories, styling props, composition, editing... and the list goes on.

Perhaps controversial - but the equipment you use is not the most important factor. Not by a long shot.

Your imagination is the best tool you own. It's not what you use. It's how you use it. There's a snappy tagline for you.

You wouldn't hand a toddler a £10,000 camera and expect a masterpiece, would you?

No offence to toddlers. I'm sure there are some photographic prodigies out there.

All I'm saying is... get started with what you have. Try things out. Experiment. You do you.

Just keep creating.