WORKBOOK AND
GUIDE DIY your stock photos
you need for your blog and
your online business
IN THIS GUIDE YOU'LL FIND TIPS TO HELP YOU
IMPROVE YOUR DIY PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS. AS
WELL AS AN ESTABLISHED WORKFLOW TO SAVE
YOU TIME AND EFFORT WHEN CAPTURING THE
PERFECT PICTURES FOR YOUR ONLINE BUSINESS.
© MEMORIESFORYOUCO.COM
INDEX
I've included an index to navigate around this workbook
easier. Take and use the pieces that you need to improve
your photography skills and streamline your business
workflow. I am by no means an expert photographer, I just
like to DIY business projects where I can so I can invest in
other aspects of my business.
Please know that this workbook should not be resold,
shared, or reformatted for business use. Please use this
resource to improve your skills as an entrepreneur.
Page 3-13 - How-to-guide for DIY Stock Images
Page 14 - Photoshoot Checklist
Page 15 - Photoshoot Checklist
Page 16 - Photoshoot Prop Ideas
Page 17 - Props I want to use, and shopping list
Page 18 - Backdrop Ideas
Page 19 - Camera Gear Wish List
Page 20 - Folder Structure
Page 22 - About Me
© MEMORIESFORYOUCO.COM
3.
In this guide, you'll find tips to improve your DIY
photography skills. As well as an established workflow to
save you time and effort when capturing the perfect
pictures.
As an entrepreneur, you might have the skills to DIY your
business photography, but you might be overwhelmed by
all the steps. In my early days as an entrepreneur, I
needed a photoshoot workflow that would save me time,
but I never found one. This workbook will help you take
away the overwhelm when trying to DIY your stock
images. The workbook and guide will help you focus on
selling products and creating content instead of stressing
about the details.
Step 1. - Plan
Take a few minutes to plan out what you'll need to create
a productive photo shoot. Make a list of blog posts you
plan to write or website pages you want to create. Off of
that list, create a list of photos that you need to go with
those posts, pages, or products. You'll also want to create
a list of backgrounds to use and props. You don't
necessarily need expensive equipment. You can take
amazing shots with an iPhone, good natural lighting, and
some DIY backgrounds. I've included some checklists to
get you started. You'll find them starting on Page 14 of
this workbook and guide.
© MEMORIESFORYOUCO.COM
4.
Step 2. - Gather
After you've created your lists, it's time to gather the
items you need for your photoshoot. I like to batch my
DIY photo shoots so I can set up the required space and
materials. Batching saves time because you can
immediately add your pictures once you create your
product or write your post. I've included many checklists
in the pages below that will help you make your
photoshoot more successful.
Step 3. - Location
I take my pictures near a window on the north side of my
house. I use a table with adjustable legs to move the
height up and down depending on the project and the
angle I'm trying to capture. Having a small step stool
nearby to use allows me to shoot over the subject, so I
don't need to place items on the floor.
Step 4. - Sizes and composition
Take photos in landscape and portrait mode to use the
images in all media types, including Pinterest, blog posts,
social media, and products.
© MEMORIESFORYOUCO.COM
5.
Composition is essential in all types of photography.
Knowing a few techniques will take your DIY photography
skills to the next level. One of these techniques is using
the rule of thirds. The concept advises that you divide
your image into nine equal parts, placing three divisions
alongside and two outside them (1st + 2nd lines). This
helps balance the composition with thicker or thinner
elements depending on where they are placed within an
image. You might have these imaginary lines on your
camera's display. Try setting the subject/object where
these lines intersect instead of the dead-on center.
Another tip is to shoot the photo at a slight angle which is
better than shooting from the side. Use a 3/4 or 45degree angle.
Step. 5 - Lighting
Play around with exposure and white balance on your
camera. You don't have to have an expensive DSLR
camera to adjust the settings on your camera. Even the
iPhone allows you to adjust the exposure. If you have a
DSLR, shooting in manual mode will give you the most
exposure and white balance options. The great thing is
you don't have the lighting perfect; you can make quick
and easy adjustments when editing on your computer.
Did you know lightroom has a free app for your phone
and can take pictures directly from the app? Shooting
directly from the Lightroom app will help you eliminate
the editing process.
©MEMORIESFORYOUCO.COM
6.
I
Do you want a blurry background and a clear, focused
subject? Depending on your camera, you might need to
place your subject or the object 6" away from the
background to create bokeh or blurry background look.
The iPhone now has a great portrait feature that quickly
helps you capture blurry backgrounds with a clear,
focussed subject. Click the portrait mode in the camera
app and turn the camera upside down. Hit the shutter
button, and you'll have a fantastic picture with that cool
blurry background.
Quick Tip # 1.
Take photos for future uses. You may never know when
you'll need it or want to use it in a post. You might need a
landscape photo for a blog post and a similar photo for
Pinterest in portrait layout, so don't forget to change the
composition slightly to adjust for these different sizes.
My table setup with
poster board and
form board on
foldup table with
adjustable legs.
A peak at the side
of foam board
and poster board
held with clips.
© MEMORIESFORYOUCO.COM
DIY Stock Photo
using these items
around the house,
my iPhone and the a
filter on the Photos
App.
7.
Quick Tip #2.
Another quick tip for quality photos includes cleaning
your camera lens. Especially the lens on your camera
phone can get extremely dirty. It's incredible what a lens
cloth or your clean t-shirt can do to take the grime off the
lens. Plus, it only takes a few seconds.
Quick Tip #3
Delete photos that are out of focus, duplicates, don't
need, off-centered, etc. There is no reason to take up
space on your phone or camera card with photos you
don't need or can't use. You might be in a rush now, but it
will save you a lot of frustration later when you truly do
need the pictures and you have to scroll through junk
images.
Quick Tip #4
Colors elements matter with your images. When picking
out your backgrounds, objects, and props, consider the
overall color. Another tip is you can edit your photos with
overlays or presets to have an overall cohesive look to
them. Also, if you provide physical products for your
customer, you'll want to make sure you capture the
colors correctly. You don't want an unsatisfied customer
because the color of the product looks way off.
© MEMORIESFORYOUCO.COM
8.
I
Shooting during the day will help you get the best look
with your photography. Stay away from using a flash to
avoid harsh shadows.
Use a diffused light, with the help of see-thru curtains, will
help dampen the shadows. Also, shoot parallel to the
window and use a white foam board or poster board in
an L shape to bounce light back to the product or
subject. Using these types of low-cost reflect will minimize
the shadows created in the room. On-Page 6 I share
photos of my setup.
Remember, it doesn't take a lot of money to create your
images. You can use items and equipment you already
have lying around the house.
Step 6. Enlist helpYou might need an extra set of hands to hold up
reflectors or to block shadows from forming. Kids are a
great source to be your helper for the day. Plus, you can
teach them all kinds of skills while building your online
business.
Step 7. Upload and organizingIt might not seem like it now, but downloading images
and moving them to the pictures folder and a subfolder
folder will save you a lot of stress and time. I've created a
list of subfolders you can make in your computer's
pictures folder; you will find it later in this workbook.
© MEMORIESFORYOUCO.COM
9.
If you have an iPhone and use a PC, you can use an app
like Photo Sync to add photos to your PC without much
hassle.
Once your photos have been moved to the appropriate
folder, you can also tag/keyword the images and rename
them to search for the images later easily. In my blog post
on How to Organize your digital Photos on a PC, I go into
this in more depth. You can find it here.
https://www.memoriesforyouco.com/how-to-organizeyour-digital-photos/
The main task is to get them out of your downloads
folders if they happen to be stuck in there.
On Apple devices, you can create albums instead of
folders so you can easily access your business photos
while keeping them in the Photos App.
Step 8. Edit and ResizeYou can change the white balance or adjust the
exposure. You can adjust the overall exposure or light
balance so all the images look uniformed, even if shot on
different days or locations.
© MEMORIESFORYOUCO.COM
10.
Consistently using the same presets in editing software
will make your images look more cohesive. You can find
these presets or filters in the Photos, PicMonkey,
Lightroom, or Photoshop Apps. These presets can set the
overall tone you're looking for on your website or in a
blog post.
Crop or straighten images to make the photos look more
professional.
Add watermarks, text, or overlays to make it harder for
your image to be stolen and used elsewhere by someone.
However, make sure to "save as" and keep the original for
later without text or watermarks.
Next, I resize my images to match the requirement for my
website's theme. Each theme and product listing site has
different size requirements. Check with your theme or
the site where you list your products for the size needed
for your images.
In most cases, recommend using JPEGS over PNGS on
your website. JPEGs will less likely slow down your
website. PNGS are used when you need a transparent
background.
©M E M O R I E S F O R Y O U C O . C O M
11.
Don't have time to edit your photos? Look for pockets of
time during soccer practice, in the pickup line, or the
doctor's office. Quick Tip: Use Lightroom, PicMonkey, or
Canva on your phone to edit your images and upload
them from there to your website.
Renaming the edited photo to include the photo's
description may enhance SEO and later help you find
photos in your computer's search feature.
Next, you need to compress your images. You can use
Photoshop to do this or a site called TinyPNG, which will
compress both JPEGS and PNG files. I love using
ShortPixel to compress the images loaded to my website
and blog automatically. The purpose of compressing the
file is to make the file size smaller without losing the
quality of the digital photo. One larger file on your
website might not slow it down much, but once you have
hundreds of images on your site, you'll see a significant
change in site speed. Here's a link to ShortPixel
https://shortpixel.com/otp/af/FYT7BPH1341649
Step 9- Upload images to your website or in the product
listing. Add the photo description, change the file name if
needed, change the alt texts will all help optimize your
pictures on your website. You're done! You can reuse
images in social media posts change reformat the size
and add text overlays, graphics, etc.
©M E M O R I E S F O R Y O U C O . C O M
12.
Purchasing Stock ImagesIf you know that bootstrapping your photography is not
for you, I suggest using Deposit Photos. I like Deposit
Photos because I can pay as I need them. AppSummo
offers a Deposit Photos promotion a few times a year for
around $40 for 100 images. You must claim the
download credits within a few days, but the credits never
expire.
I've made the conscious decision to purchase stock
images or DIY stock images for 99% of my business. I
don't want to worry about not having the proper
commercial use terms with my photos. You might find
free commercial use photos on different websites.
However, it's hard to know the source of these pictures
honestly, so I try to stay clear from using them. Plus,
buying commercial use stock photos does save me time. I
use DIY images for my products and tutorial blog posts
because I need them to be specific to the topic or item.
I also search multiple stock images in larger blocks of
time. Since I've purchased many credits with Deposit
Photos, I can buy images that I plan to use in the future. If
I'm not ready to pull the plug with purchasing a particular
photo, I add it to my "favorites" list inside Deposit Photos.
©M E M O R I E S F O R Y O U C O . C O M
13.
I've also created folders inside of my Deposit Photos
account so I can look for specific types of photos, such as
ones on a desk with a computer or Fall/Thanksgiving
photos. I can quickly access my account and choose
pictures that I've already liked instead of scrolling thru
thousands of images to find the right one.
When using stock photos, stay away from cheesy
corporate looks. These types of images usually don't
visually describe a small business. They feel out of place
and feel less personable. Keep in mind; free photos
might not offer the overall look you're going for on your
website. You're better off spending money to pay for
visually appealing images or taking the time to shoot
photographs that will appeal to your readers and buyers.
Certainly, don't use photos from Google Photos or other
unsourced pictures in your posts, pages, or products. It's
unethical, illegal, and downright wrong to use another
companies photos.
Don't forget to check out my photo organizing blog post
to get more ideas on organizing your digital photos in
your personal and business life.
https://www.memoriesforyouco.com/how-toorganize-your-digital-photos/ or
https://www.memoriesforyouco.com/ where you'll
find other resources about photo organizing and a free
workbook to help you organize your digital photos.
©M E M O R I E S F O R Y O U C O . C O M
PHOTO SHOOT
IDEAS
Ideas for a successful photo shoot
Make a list of photos you need
Decide if you will purchase stock photos instead.
Gather props to use in the shoot
Take photos in daylight to avoid needing a flash
Watch for shadows
Practice in front of different windows with diffused light
Take photos both in landscape and protrait
Use different props to create different looks
Go outside but try morning shots or 1 hour before
sunset.
Use the rule of thirds when shooting photos
Use 3 items in the shot or odd number of items for
best look
Use a tripod to keep camera steady and hands
available
Use a timer or remote button to avoid camera shake
Use a deflector
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PHOTO PROP
IDEAS
Using items you already have around the house
ribbon
books
notebooks
shredded paper
mug with coffee
plant
flowers
vase
eyeglasses
blanket
camera
flat basket
laptop
wooden charger
mobile devices
marble slab
serving tray
string
a coaster
keyboard
paper clips
binder clips
coffee beans
lavendar
pens
coarse sea salt
pencils
epson salts
scissors
printed photos
stationary
old letters/postcards
lit Candle
letter board
small clock
watch
beauty supplies
art supplies
©M E M O R I E S F O R Y O U C O . C O M
PHOTO PROPS I WANT TO USE FROM HOME
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PHOTO PROP SHOPPING LIST
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WISH LIST OR SOMEDAY LIST
©MEMORIESFORYOUCO.COM
BACKDROP
IDEAS
Common backdrop options that can find easily
Faux wood on printed paper from Hobby Lobby
Marble cutting board
leftover wood flooring
contact paper
Form board for background
Lightbox
Seamless background for product photography
Countertop
Faux Fur
Foam board
Tablecoth
Other:
MEMORIESFORYOUCO.COM
©MEMORIESFORYOUCO.COM
CAMERA GEAR
WISH LIST
Items that might want to purchase
Lighting
Tripods
Remote button shutter
Better camera
WiFi camera card
Seamless background for product photography
Use a deflector
Adjustable table to adjust height
Digital photo storage such as external hard drives
Adjustable table to adjust height
Camera lens cloth
©MMEEMMOORRI EI ESSFFOORRYYOOUUCCOO. C
. COOMM
FOLDER STRUCTURE
IDEAS
suggestions of where to store your photos
Pictures Folder
Personal Pictures
Business Photos
Blog Site Photos
Stock Photos
Personal Stock Photos
Headshots
Screenshots
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin
Pinterest Pins
Product Photos
Logo
Holiday
Interior Office or Action Shots
©MMEEMMOORRI EI ESSFFOORRYYOOUUCCOO. C
. COOMM
FOLDER STRUCTURE
IDEAS
create your own folder structure for your business images
OtherOtherOtherOtherOtherOtherOtherOtherOtherOtherOtherOtherOther-
©MMEEMMOORRI EI ESSFFOORRYYOOUUCCOO. C
. COOMM
PHOTOSHOOT
CHECKLIST
AND PHOTO PROCESSING
MAKE A LIST OF PHOTOS YOU NEED TO TAKE
GATHER SUPPLIES YOU ALREADY OWN
SHOP FOR PHOTO PROPS OR PHOTO TOOLS
DECIDE WHERE YOU'LL SHOOT YOUR PHOTOS
LAY OUT YOUR BACKDROP AND PROPS
START SHOOTING PICTURES AND TESTING THE LIGHTING
PLAY WITH THE ANGLE, CAMERA SETTINGS AND PROPS
CHECK YOUR LIST OF PHOTOS THAT YOU NEED
TAKE PRODUCT PHOTOS, SOCIAL MEDIA PHOTOS AND BLOG POST PHOTOS
TAKE PICTURES WITH BOTH YOUR PHONE AND DSLR
WATCH FOR SHADOWS, PROPS NOT SQUARE, FOCUS AND REFLECTIONS
UPLOAD PHOTOS TO COMPUTER
SAVE PHOTOS TO FOLDER WHERE YOU CAN FIND THEM LATER
EDIT EXPOSURE, CONTRAST OR HIGHLIGHTS
USE PRESET TO CHANGE THE OVERALL TONE
EDIT WHITE BALANCE
CROP AND OR STRAIGHTEN
ADD TEXT AND/OR WATERMARKS
SAVE AND DOWNLOAD, IF NEEDED
READJUST SIZE FOR THE DIFFERENT MEDIA NEEDS and SAVE AS
COMPRESS THE IMAGE USING TINY PNG OR SHORTPIXEL
UPLOAD PHOTOS TO WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA OR ONLINE STORE
ADD ALT TEXT, DESCRIPTION AND RENAME, IF NEEDED
OTHER:
©MEMORIESFORYOUCO.COM
ABOUT ME...
Visit me at memoriesforyouco.com where I blog about how to
preserve, organize, and create photo projects with your favorite
pictures. I have a passion for photos, making memories, and
reliving those precious memories with photo projects.
As a reminder: Please know that this workbook should not be
resold, shared, or reformatted for business use. Please use this
resource to improve your skills as an entrepreneur.
RESOURCES:
https://shortpixel.com/otp/af/FYT7BPH1341649
Deposit Photos: http://depositphotos.com?ref=34958152
AppSummo: appSummo.com
https://www.smugmug.com/features/photo-storage/unlimitedphoto-storage
Again, you can find me at:
https://www.memoriesforyouco.com
https://www.facebook.com/memoriesforyouco
https://www.instagram.com/memoriesforyouco
https://www.pinterest.com/memoriesforyouco
https://www.etsy.com/shop/memoriesforyouco
Your friend,
Tina Marth
. COOMM
©©MMEEMMOORRI EI ESSFFOORRYYOOUUCCOO. C