Home › Forums › Photo Critique › Soap Photos
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Lydia Bennett.
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September 9, 2022 at 12:21 am #72244
Laura LaneParticipantHey!
We are putting together a recipe book of NZ homeschoolers’ recipes, and this afternoon I decided to photograph homemade soap, as the recipe is in the book. How could I improve my photos? I took them on one of the bookshelf shelves, and was shooting in ‘natural’.
Thank you for any advice!!
Laura😊September 9, 2022 at 4:22 am #72248
Laura LaneParticipantOops, sorry, just saw that I should only upload two photos on this forum… Also, my camera is away being fixed, so I was using a small FinePix S 5800 “bridge” camera🙂
September 13, 2022 at 3:24 pm #72282
James StaddonKeymasterWhat a great way to put your photography skills to practical use, @laura-aome!
Got the window light going there, it looks like! Fantastic.
My main thought would be see what you can do to make one element front and center, the main subject. Then the other elements surrounding, and supporting it. Probably the soap bars?
Good choice of colors. That helps simplify things. Keep simplifying, like only the stocks of lavender and not smaller pieces scattered around.
Also, I’d be curious to know where it instructions to only upload 2 photos to the forum?
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This reply was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by
James Staddon.
September 13, 2022 at 11:26 pm #72285
Laura LaneParticipantThank you very much for the critique, @jamesstaddon!
I found the ‘two photos only’ instruction in the forums guidelines: “You can only upload a maximum of 2 images per Topic or Reply. (The maximum is 10 on the Shoot to Serve forum.)” Not sure, though, whether it may have been talking about the Photography Q&A Forum? 😀
September 20, 2022 at 12:39 pm #72363
James StaddonKeymasterThanks @laura-aome. Yes, that stipulation is there to help folks be conscientious about not posting too many photos at a time. Since your photos all relate to each other (different variations on the same thing) then that’s fine that you posted more than 2. 🙂
September 20, 2022 at 10:00 pm #72368
Laura LaneParticipantThanks! That’s good to know😀
September 23, 2022 at 10:58 am #72424
Lydia BennettKeymasterYes, completely agree with simplifying things, like James said. You might want to also get a little lower to shoot straight on for a little bit of a more artistic approach!
You’ve got all the elements for a very picturesque little setup there, so keep working at it! Looking at the photos from this past assignment might give you some additional inspiration on shooting natural products like this. 🙂
September 27, 2022 at 12:07 am #72525
Laura LaneParticipantThank you, @lenspirationlydia!
September 28, 2022 at 7:35 pm #72541Warrior Princess
ParticipantThose are lovely soaps, @laura-lane! If I had any suggestions, I would probably say that the soaps should be the focal point with the other items surrounding- thus creating a perfect composition (Like James said).
I love the lighting and colors- lavender makes a great element for a still life.
P.S. I am new here, and my name is Brieanna. I have loved photography since I was little, but never took an official course ’til now! I am excited to learn with you and everyone else. 🙂
September 30, 2022 at 5:06 am #72640
Laura LaneParticipantThank you so much, @warrior-princess! I wonder if it would look good to have the soaps stacked, like three high in the front of the picture? I think I might try it next time!
And welcome to Lenspiration!! I am fairly new here, too, as I joined up in June😀. I am doing the photography course with my younger sister, Jemima🙂
October 1, 2022 at 6:05 pm #72664Warrior Princess
ParticipantYou’re welcome, @laura-lane! Yes, that would be lovely- possibly each at a different angle to give it that graceful homemade look. (If you know what I mean by that.)
Thanks so much, a happy welcome to you and your sister as well. 😀
October 4, 2022 at 5:27 pm #72686
Laura LaneParticipantYes, @warrior-princess, I think I do know what you mean by having “each at different angle”, and it is definitely a good idea!!
November 20, 2025 at 6:03 pm #98884
Laura LaneParticipantHi Everyone, pulling up an old thread here, but I’m taking soap photos again and decided to put a few more up for critique!
I took these for a friend’s business, specifically to be used on social media to advertise the soap, not as actually for the “product photos” on the online shop. They were taken on the kitchen bench with plenty of window light, but but maybe not enough light coming from the front?
What could I have done better? Is the wooden board to warm-coloured, and would a white background have been better? How are the props and composition? I’m going to be taking more soap photos, so thank you to anyone, of any skill level, who can advise me on how to make the pictures look more Instagram-worthy!
–Laura
P.S. Excuse the horrible name “skin soap”! Just my quick file-naming haha
December 5, 2025 at 11:46 am #99074
Lydia BennettKeymasterHey @laura-aome, James shared some thoughts on your photos in the webinar last week, so feel free to watch the replay here anytime!
I can totally see an improvement in the quality between these photos and the ones earlier in the thread from the past! So fun to see that comparison in your progress as a photographer! Nicely done.
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