OK, so here’s a secret. I’m a trekkie. Have been ever since my family borrowed Star Trek III on VHS from the library, circa 1985. If you looked at my Christmas tree last month, you would see it festooned with ornaments resembling Star Trek starships (nothing says “Seasons Greetings” like a miniature Klingon Bird of Prey!).
Speaking of the holidays, I got a cool little gift from my wife — a clip-on macro lens for my iPhone’s camera. I immediately started taking shots of the aforementioned tree ornaments. But then I thought about how helpful this little lens would be for product shots, and how they’re a great affordable option for shooting product on a budget.
The beauty of Macro photography is how it allows your clients or customers to see product details that would otherwise be difficult to capture using a standard smartphone lens.
A macro lens for a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera will run you a cool $300 on the low-end. That’s on top of the cost of the camera itself, which can range from $500 to the thousands. And then you have to learn how to use the setup.
For entrepreneurs with a limited budget and even more limited time, however, consider dropping a few bucks on this cool little lens you can clip onto most any smartphone.
Woodworkers- want to emphasize that loving detail in a hand-carved reliquary, or maybe you want to accentuate the natural beauty of wood grain? Snap a photo using your macro lens and upload it directly to your website or Facebook page.
Bakers- want to show off your artistic skills in molding fondant onto a custom cake? Macro lens.
Florists- want to post an Instagram pic of the details of a really cool arrangement? Macro lens.
PHOTO OF GUITAR HEADSTOCK W/REGULAR LENS (NOTE THE TUNING PEGS):
CLOSE-UP OF HEADSTOCK’S TUNING PEG WITH A MACRO LENS:
Tips and tricks
- Clip the macro lens attachment over your camera’s built-in lens and start experimenting with different angles. Shoot overhead, high, low, etc.
- Make sure your product is in the best possible shape, polished and dusted if applicable. Macro is all about detail, and so any imperfections your product may have are gonna pop.
- Word to the wise: any object placed in front of your camera’s lens — even a transparent object like another, clear lens — reduces the amount of light the image sensor receives. This in turn means your camera needs fire at a slower shutter speed to allow more light. So be sure you’re shooting in a well-lit area to improve the clarity of your photo.
- Also, think about investing in a mini-tripod to attach to your phone. This will help reduce camera-shake and result in better-focused photos.
- If you get a kit with multiple smart phone lenses, try the macro lens with a wide angle lens for even more flexibility in your product shoots. These were taken with a combo wide angle and macro:
Finally, have fun with it, because macro lenses open a new world of angles and possibilities!