Perth’s maker community is thriving, from Margaret River candle studios to Fremantle ceramicists and suburban homewares artisans selling through markets and online stores. Whether you’re selling soy candles at local markets, wholesaling ceramics to boutiques, or running a Shopify store, professional product photography is essential for success.
This guide covers everything Perth candle makers and homewares artisans need to know about capturing products that sell—from technical photography considerations to styling that connects with your target market.
Why Product Photography Matters for Makers
The statistics for handmade goods are compelling:
| Statistic | Impact |
|---|---|
| 93% of consumers say visual appearance is the key deciding factor in purchases | Image quality directly affects sales |
| Products with lifestyle imagery see 40% higher engagement | Context helps buyers envision products in their homes |
| Poor photography is cited as a top reason for cart abandonment | Unprofessional images lower perceived product value |
| Professional imagery justifies premium pricing | Handmade deserves to look handmade, not amateur |
For artisan products specifically, photography must convey:
- Handcrafted quality and intentional imperfections
- Material texture and authenticity
- Scale and proportion in real-world context
- Brand story and maker values
Types of Candle and Homewares Photography
1. E-commerce Product Shots
Purpose: Primary listing images for online stores
Characteristics:
- Clean, consistent backgrounds (white or neutral)
- Multiple angles per product
- Label and branding clearly visible
- Accurate colour representation
- Size reference or dimensions shown
These are your foundational images—used for product listings, catalogues, and wholesale sheets.
2. Lifestyle and Contextual Photography
Purpose: Marketing, social media, homepage features
Characteristics:
- Products styled in real-world settings
- Home environment context (living room, bathroom, bedroom)
- Seasonal and mood-appropriate styling
- Tells a story about product use
- Creates emotional connection with buyers
Lifestyle images help customers imagine your products in their own homes.
3. Hero and Campaign Imagery
Purpose: Brand campaigns, advertising, press
Characteristics:
- Dramatic lighting and composition
- Strong brand story communication
- Higher production value
- Often includes models or hands interacting with products
- Magazine-quality aesthetics
These are your showpiece images for major marketing moments.
4. Flat Lay and Collection Shots
Purpose: Range overviews, gift sets, social content
Characteristics:
- Top-down perspective
- Multiple products arranged artfully
- Popular for Instagram and Pinterest
- Great for showing scent families or colour ranges
- Seasonal collections and gift guides
5. Detail and Texture Shots
Purpose: Showing craftsmanship and material quality
Characteristics:
- Macro close-ups of texture
- Wick details for candles
- Glaze variations for ceramics
- Raw material integration (beeswax, clay)
- Handmade character highlighted
Photography Challenges for Candles and Homewares
Photographing Candles
Wax texture capture: Different wax types photograph differently:
- Soy wax: Creamy, sometimes with natural “frosting” that needs faithful representation
- Beeswax: Golden tones requiring accurate colour balance
- Coconut blends: Smooth, white surfaces that can blow out in highlights
Glass vessel challenges:
- Reflections from every surface
- Transparency showing fill levels
- Labels that may be reflective
- Inner wax colour visible through glass
Technical solutions:
- Large diffused light sources
- Black flags to control reflections
- Gradient backgrounds for transparent vessels
- Multiple exposure compositing when needed
Photographing Ceramics
Texture is everything: Handmade ceramics have intentional imperfections that buyers specifically value. Your photography must:
- Reveal texture through side lighting
- Show glaze variations honestly
- Capture the depth of glazes
- Highlight rather than hide “imperfections”
Form and dimension: Round pottery can look flat in photos. Techniques to show dimension:
- Angular lighting creating shadows
- Multiple angles per piece
- Scale references for context
- Background elements creating depth
Colour accuracy: Glaze colours must be accurate—customers receiving products that don’t match photos will return them and leave negative reviews.
Photographing General Homewares
Material diversity: A single maker might create products in wood, metal, fabric, and glass—each requiring different approaches:
| Material | Lighting Approach |
|---|---|
| Wood | Side lighting shows grain, warm white balance |
| Metal | Careful reflection control, often needs compositing |
| Fabric/textiles | Soft lighting, texture requires angled light |
| Glass | Gradient backgrounds, reflection management |
| Mixed materials | Multiple lighting setups or compromise approach |
Styling for Perth Makers
Using Western Australian Elements
Local makers can differentiate with WA-inspired styling:
Natural props:
- Native Australian botanicals (banksia, protea, eucalyptus)
- Dried wildflowers (especially for spring/summer)
- WA timber offcuts and recycled jarrah
- Coastal elements (shells, driftwood, sand)
- Kimberley ochres and Perth sandstone
Local backdrops:
- Perth’s famous natural light quality
- WA landscape colour palettes (coastal blues, bush greens, earth ochres)
- Recycled and sustainable materials reflecting eco-conscious values
- Urban textures from Fremantle warehouses and heritage buildings
Brand Story Through Styling
Your photography should communicate your values:
| Brand Position | Styling Approach |
|---|---|
| Sustainable/eco | Recycled surfaces, native plants, earth tones |
| Luxury/gift | Marble, brass accents, minimal elegant props |
| Coastal/beach | Driftwood, shells, soft blues and naturals |
| Rustic/farmhouse | Raw timber, linen, dried flowers, warm tones |
| Modern/minimalist | Clean lines, geometric shapes, monochrome palette |
Scent Representation for Candles
You can’t photograph scent, but you can suggest it:
| Scent Family | Visual Props |
|---|---|
| Citrus | Lemon slices, orange peel, green leaves |
| Floral | Fresh or dried flowers matching the scent |
| Woodsy | Timber, bark, pine cones, eucalyptus |
| Ocean/fresh | Blue accents, sea glass, coastal elements |
| Spice | Cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods, star anise |
| Herbal | Fresh herbs, lavender, rosemary sprigs |
Important: Only include prop elements that accurately represent your scent. Misleading imagery damages trust.
Planning Your Product Photography
Pre-Production Checklist
Product preparation:
- Clean all products thoroughly (fingerprints show in photos)
- Check candle wicks are trimmed and centred
- Ensure labels are straight and bubble-free
- Remove any dust or debris
- Have multiples of hero products (damage happens)
Brand assets needed:
- Brand guidelines (colours, mood, values)
- Competitor imagery for reference and differentiation
- Shot list with all required angles
- Platform specifications (dimensions, file types)
Styling preparation:
- Props sourced and cleaned
- Backgrounds prepared or surfaces organised
- Seasonal elements if relevant
- Test arrangements before shoot day
Shot List Development
Per product (minimum 4, aim for 6):
- Front-facing hero shot (primary listing image)
- Back view (label, ingredients, weight visible)
- 45-degree angle (showing dimension)
- Scale/size reference
- Detail shot (texture, wick, unique features)
- Lifestyle context (in-home setting)
For candle lines:
- Unlit product shots (primary)
- Collection groupings by scent family
- Optional lit ambiance shots for marketing
For ceramics:
- Overhead shots showing opening/interior
- Side views showing form
- Base detail if notable
- Grouped range shots
Image Quantities Planning
| Sales Channel | Images Needed Per SKU |
|---|---|
| Etsy | 8-10 images recommended |
| Shopify | 4-6 minimum, more is better |
| Wholesale pitches | 2-3 professional hero shots |
| Markets/stalls | 2-3 for signage and social |
| Social media | Ongoing lifestyle library |
DIY vs. Professional Photography
When DIY Can Work
Suitable for:
- Behind-the-scenes social content
- Stories and casual updates
- Testing product concepts
- Small market stalls with limited budgets
- Process and making-of content
DIY requirements:
- Good natural light (north-facing window)
- Clean, consistent backgrounds
- Basic phone editing skills
- Time to learn and practice
When to Invest in Professional
Essential for:
- E-commerce store launch or refresh
- Wholesale buyer presentations
- Retailers and stockists submissions
- Marketing campaigns and advertising
- Press kits and media outreach
- Etsy or online marketplace optimisation
The return on professional photography is measurable—products with quality imagery consistently outperform those with amateur photos in A/B testing.
Cost Comparison
| Approach | Initial Cost | Ongoing Value |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone DIY | $0-200 (tools) | Low conversion rates |
| Entry DSLR + learning | $1,000-2,000 | Mixed results, time-intensive |
| Professional shoot | $800-3,000 | Higher conversions, brand elevation |
For most Perth makers selling 20+ products, professional photography pays for itself within months through improved sales.
E-commerce Platform Requirements
| Platform | Recommended Size | Background | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etsy | 2000 x 2000px | Any, consistent | 8-10 images ideal |
| Shopify | 2048 x 2048px | White/neutral | Square format |
| Instagram Shop | 1080 x 1080px | Any | Link to full listings |
| Faire (wholesale) | 2000 x 2000px | White | Professional essential |
| Market stall signage | 300dpi for print | Any | Large format printing |
Pro tip: Always shoot at maximum resolution—you can downsize but never upgrade quality.
Perth-Specific Photography Considerations
Studio vs. Home Shoots
Studio advantages:
- Consistent, controlled lighting
- Professional backdrops and surfaces
- Efficient multi-product sessions
- Equipment and props available
Home studio advantages:
- Lower cost (your own setup)
- Authentic lifestyle settings
- Flexible scheduling
- Natural light access
Location advantages:
- Real-world context (café, boutique, home)
- Perth-specific backdrops
- Unique, memorable imagery
- Brand story integration
Working with Perth’s Natural Light
Perth’s clear, bright light is an asset:
- North-facing windows provide consistent indirect light
- Morning light (7-10am) offers soft warmth
- Avoid harsh midday direct sun
- Overcast days provide excellent diffused light
Seasonal considerations:
- Summer: Early morning shoots avoid harsh light
- Winter: Midday may offer best natural light
- Spring: Wildflower season for prop opportunities
- Autumn: Warm tones suit cozy candle marketing
Perth Maker Markets and Photography
If selling at local markets (Fremantle Arts Centre, Subi Farmers’ Markets, Leederville Farmers’ Market), consider:
- Signage and banner images (high resolution for printing)
- Business card and flyer photography
- Social media content to promote market presence
- Product tags and labels
Building a Complete Image Library
Seasonal Content Planning
Summer/Christmas:
- Gift packaging and hamper shots
- Outdoor entertaining contexts
- Coastal and bright colour palettes
- Christmas styling (subtle or statement)
Winter:
- Cozy, warm atmospheres
- Indoor living contexts
- Rich, warm colour tones
- Hygge-inspired styling
Spring:
- WA wildflower integration
- Renewal and fresh themes
- Lighter colour palettes
- Mother’s Day gift focus
Autumn:
- Warm earth tones
- Harvest and natural themes
- Transitional styling
- Father’s Day considerations
Content for Different Purposes
E-commerce essentials:
- Core product shots (4-6 per SKU)
- Collection groupings
- Size comparison references
Marketing library:
- Lifestyle flat lays
- In-home context shots
- Seasonal variants
- User-generated style recreations
Wholesale and trade:
- Clean product-only shots
- Range overview images
- Packaging and presentation
- High-resolution hero images
Post-Production and Editing
Standard Retouching
- Background cleanup and perfection
- Colour correction and white balance
- Shadow and highlight refinement
- Label straightening where needed
- Dust spot removal
Advanced Editing
- Multiple exposure compositing (for glass)
- Focus stacking (for deep products)
- Colour matching across product range
- Lifestyle scene enhancement
- Print material preparation
Deliverables to Request
From your photographer, ask for:
- High-resolution masters (300dpi, original size)
- Web-optimised versions (72dpi, various sizes)
- Social media crops (square, story, feed)
- Print-ready files (CMYK if needed)
- Layered files for future edits (if applicable)
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to elevate your artisan products with professional photography? Our product photography team specialises in candles, ceramics, and homewares for Perth makers. Get in touch to discuss your next shoot.