Professional product photography for outdoor activities: How to take product photos of hiking, fishing, and rafting gear for online sportswear and outdoor equipment stores

Those who are lucky enough to already live in the heart of nature are always looking to improve their daily outfits with comfortable hiking boots or protective waterproof clothing and other incredibly comfortable advanced garments so that they can work and play in nature in greater comfort. Even if you simply take your beloved dog for a walk every day, such outfits will make your outdoor activities more comfortable and enjoyable. Therefore, sportswear that protects against wind, rain, and cold is becoming incredibly popular now when big cities are getting even bigger, and people are increasingly missing nature.

Sports product photography of clothing and equipment for fishing

Let’s talk first about sports product photography of clothing and equipment for fishing, as this is one of the most popular hobbies. It allows people to spend peaceful and relaxing moments with nature, does not require a strong physical effort, and provides relaxation, which is extremely important for those who work hard. For many, their passion for fishing is not just a way of spending leisure time but also a way of life, which has led to the emergence of specialized stores, the catalogues of which are filled with photographs of fishing products. The wide range includes a variety of tools, from hooks to advanced underwater cameras. A product card with a description and a corresponding photo allows customers to choose the right equipment, no matter if they are fishing enthusiasts or professional fishermen.

Sports equipment photography for online fishing stores

The pages of online stores quickly fill up with new and improved products, so even an experienced specialist can find it challenging to navigate among the variety of inventories, accessories, and electronics. Sports equipment photography for fishing will help the buyer evaluate different options and make careful product comparisons before deciding on a suitable purchase. The fishing product range includes:

• Bulky goods (fishing rods and spinning rods, large inventory)
• Small accessories (wobblers, spinners, hooks, etc.)
• Fishing outfits and accessories (clothes, shoes, backpacks, bags)
• Electronic equipment (cameras, echo sounders)

As you can imagine, these items differ enormously in functionality and characteristics. Therefore, to get decent, informative photos of fishing tools and accessories, you need to give the task to a professional who understands both photography and fishing.

When shooting fishing goods, an experienced specialist has the following tasks:

• Choose an appropriate background, the choice of which depends on the purpose of the photo. Shots for an online store catalog often assume a white or neutral background and are not overloaded with additional attributes and accessories.
• Adjust the lighting so that the volume of the subject is emphasized in the picture. Correctly adjusted light will help to avoid unwanted reflections, for example, when shooting a shiny fishing tackle or an item with a glossy surface.
• Choose a suitable angle. Demonstrating the product from its best vantage point will help present the item in a favourable light and highlight its benefits. Large objects should be displayed in the photo at full size without the shape or scale being distorted. Small items need to be displayed, showing all parts, even the smallest. For example, hooks need to be shot to show their shape, as there are many different types: tapered eye, ball eye, looped eye, needle eye, and flatted eye, and customers need to be able to evaluate and compare products.
• Pay attention to the colours. Correct colour rendering is essential when it comes to fishing products. For example, when buying a wobbler or spinner, an avid fisherman will definitely pay attention to the colour. 

Also, no secondary objects should distract a potential buyer’s attention from the item itself, which for convenience should be depicted from several viewpoints so that the customer can examine it from different angles and evaluate its properties and characteristics. Items representing the same category, such as fishing rods, must maintain a consistent style in photos and be positioned according to clear and consistent guidelines. Following these steps will help keep catalog pages orderly and aesthetically pleasing. In addition, it is essential to show the correct scale and shape in product photos. Also, make sure you correctly emphasize the texture of the product’s material. Finally, all items must be in a saleable condition, so before shooting, you need to make sure that the product you are taking photos of is free from defects, traces of dirt, and dust.

In order to take product photos of fishing tackle, macro photography is required so that the interested client can see every tiny detail. Pictures of clothes and shoes should convey the texture, density of the material, and degree of comfort of the product. Images with electronics will be successful if they reflect the consumer qualities of the products by showing their functionality, high quality, and reliability.

Shooting fishing goods requires the photographer to have honed skills and experience. Otherwise, a promotion with low-quality content may have the opposite effect - the online store will go down in search results due to poor reviews, and profits will also go down.

Hiking equipment photography. Essential tips and tricks.

Interesting hiking equipment photography means adapting to several unexpected standards that help bring such products to life. Professional hiking equipment photos will evoke one main desire in a person: to own these goods.

The difference between photographing goods for hiking from many others is that post-processing is often indispensable. In addition, products in this category are perceived with particular interest if they are not worn by a model. Such preferences are because people tend to choose equipment for this kind of tourism without relying on emotions. After all, health and safety during a hike can depend on the correct choice of product.

Thus, if you offer clothes for hikers, then it makes sense to prepare appropriate mannequins and then remove them from the final images of the outfits.

With regard to other hiking goods, then you will have to use other tricks. For example, when shooting a backpack, you need to add two elastic fasteners from the inside to the straps to support them. Then, when shooting from the back of the backpack, symmetrically positioned straps will add attractiveness to the bag.

Photographing backpacks correctly is easiest when things are ready to go. This means that the backpack should have no cracks, creases, or blemishes. The item must be shown from the inside, as well as from the outside, especially if it is a relatively unknown brand. However, this does not mean that the condition and design of the lining fabric must also be photographed. Two angles are enough for a potential buyer to see the specifics of an item. The technical specifications will tell them the rest.

High-quality images of tents often need post-processing, since due to technical conditions, tents are often tricky to set up in photo studios.

Folding chairs need to be photographed both assembled and disassembled so that the buyer can see how comfortable and easy to assemble they are.

Trekking footwear is one of the essential products in this category. Shoes and boots need to be photographed in detail and from all angles. You also need to have a few photos of live models. Remember that the models’ outfits should be related to hiking.

Sports product photography for rafting

Almost everyone knows what rafting is, but few know what equipment and clothing are used for this extreme and sometimes dangerous sport. Let’s consider rafting equipment and sports product photography for rafting goods in greater detail.

The equipment needed for a water trip is not only a kayak, waterproof clothing, and a life jacket. In addition, there are many optional rafting accessories - important things that not only make your trip more pleasant but also safer.

The essential accessories are divided into two groups:

• Recommended wardrobe additions for active sportspeople

A jacket skirt or top deck is an obligatory wardrobe item for any sportsperson engaged in kayaking. Like a skirt, a piece of waterproof fabric is sewn along the bottom edge of the jacket, which is attached to the cockpit - the boat’s interior. It creates a sealed structure - the edges of the sportsperson’s clothes merge with the edges of the boat, and water does not penetrate inside. It is best to photograph this garment on a live model. You need to ensure that the photos that go into the product catalogue show the jacket skirt from several angles so that potential buyers can see all the details of the item. You can also take a 360-degree photo without a model to show this accessory in all its glory.

Gloves or mittens are necessary to protect the hands during rafting. This accessory is usually photographed on a flat white surface with good lighting.

A helmet and a liner are the most critical safety elements when rafting. Summer helmets have more ventilation holes, while winter helmets have fewer. The helmet should fit snugly on the head and have comfortable attachments so as not to stray over the back of the head. These accessories are usually photographed showing the smallest details: fasteners, material, and protective surfaces. The last few photos are taken using live models.

The two items are also photographed together to show their characteristics and dimensions accurately. The plastic helmet has a limited shelf life of no more than three to four years. It must be changed after a severe blow since the plastic deforms and ceases to perform protective functions.

The liner has two important functions: it warms the head under the helmet and contributes to a tighter helmet fit. In addition, a properly sized helmet with a liner increases the safety of the alloy.

An alloy sleeve is an optional insulation accessory. However, it is an important one because if the jacket does not have latex cuffs on the sleeves, this neoprene armband will help prevent water from entering the sleeve. The photographer should take photos of this item with a macro lens in order to show this accessory’s fabric in the image.

• Recommended rafting equipment

A boat skirt is like a sportsperson’s top deck. Its task is to protect a person as much as possible from splashes and water. It is made of neoprene or nylon, is waterproof, and is carefully secured to the cockpit and tightened with an elastic band on the person’s belt. This accessory should be photographed separately from the boat, and the images should then be processed using special software to show the item’s full functionality.

Shot line is an effective security tool. It is a lightweight, unsinkable polypropylene cable with two floats and a loop at the end, which a person who has fallen overboard grabs with their hands or puts around their chest. For kayaks, inflatable boats, and other small-sized watercraft, this is a must-have accessory. It is photographed on a smooth white surface under good lighting in a folded state, and photographs of the floats and loops at the end should be taken separately.

The sling cutter came to water activities from parachuting. In extreme situations, it is sometimes vital to quickly chop off slings, bindings, and ropes. A simple knife is not always suitable for this purpose. In rough water or a stressful situation, a sportsperson can cut themselves with a knife or accidentally damage their equipment. Therefore, a safe sling cutter has been developed for emergencies. The design is like a curved hook, with the cutting blades located inside. The lanyard can be grabbed by hand from either end and can easily cut through an interfering lanyard or bracing. This small accessory should be photographed on a white surface. You should also take a photo with a hand holding the sling cutter so that customers can see how convenient and easy it is to handle. You should also take a picture of this accessory attached to a vest.

Where to find an excellent product photo studio? The best services offered by professional product photographers in Toronto

We offer professional photography services for fishing, hiking, and rafting products in our product photo studio in Toronto. We have been offering product photography services for many years and have the necessary hardware and software, coupled with state of the art equipment in our studio. In our studio, you can use the services of the best product photographers in Toronto. Even if you live in another city, you can send us your goods, and you will receive completed photos and videos of the highest quality, which can be published in your online store or social media. Call or message us, and we will be happy to answer all your questions.