Macro

So what is macro? It is photographing your product at close range. With macro, you can get close sharp details of your product - essential for online presentation.

Whether you are using a point and shoot camera, or a digital SLR like the Canon Rebel, you will need to know about shooting in macro. Future blog posts will talk about special-purpose lenses for your DSLR. This blog post will consider macro of the point and shoot variety.

Almost every point and shoot digital camera comes with a macro setting. Don't know if your camera has macro? A flower is the industry standard icon. Look for the flower on your camera, and select that.

Don't confuse macro with zoom. When you photograph in macro, you do not zoom at all. Zooming will always affect image quality. While great for catching your kid in action on the soccer field, zoom is not used at all in product photography.

A steady hand is important, as macro photography is not very forgiving, and even the slightest waver or vibration can effect your image quality. Some photographers set up on a tripod with a "shutter extension" so they don't even touch the camera, for even that slight movement can affect the image.

Not to say that all of your pictures using macro need to be on a tripod. And I personally have never used an extension button. Just be aware that you will need to be super still when you press that shutter button! Hold your breath.

Whether you are photographing on your kitchen counter on a sheet of typing paper, in a light box with professional photo paper, or out in nature, you will need to use the macro setting to capture your product best.

Future blog posts will talk about tips on getting the best macro shots. My one tip for now is to hold the shutter button down half way, allow your camera to focus, then push down the rest of the way for the picture. If you find your camera is not focusing, back out ever so slightly, even just a quarter inch, and try again. My camera is finicky, and sometimes I will need to half-way push the button five or six times before it will finally focus and I can get my shot.

Of course, lighting is the most important part of photographing in macro. When you photograph in macro, you will not use a flash. Stay tuned for the next blog post, which will discuss certain aspects of lighting.

~Kirsten