buddingphotographer’s advice is excellent. I like the idea of elevating the product to allow the camera be at a more dynamic angle. Here are some of my thoughts:
Compose the shot so that it is obvious that the salve container is the main subject. Zoom in. Make the poison ivy a background element, out of focus.
Depth of field is vital for product images. If you can get your hands on a DSLR camera, start implementing the 4 different methods of increasing your DOF as explained in this blog post: How to Make the Background Blurry. You may be able to apply some of them with a point-and-shoot too.
A tripod is essential for product photography too. Not only does it insure sharp images, it allows me to easily rearrange products without loosing my composition. When I arrange a product how I like, I usually need to make a few tweaks after I take the first shot. It could be dust on the product, a wrinkle in the cloth, adding a new background element . . . I’m always tweaking how I arrange stuff. With a tripod, I can take a second shot with the new arrangement and not waste time trying to get “the perfect” angle again.
Browse around on http://www.spemporium.com (a website that sells teas) to get ideas for angles, backgrounds, and setups. I’m sure they have professional photographers with professional lighting, so you probably won’t be able to recreate the same look, but you want to be professional, right? So look at how the pros do it and try to create what they create.
Also, this article on shooting Etsy products should be helpful for beginning: The Do’s and Dont’s of Product Photography for Etsy Sellers.
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