Recently top-down photography has gained a lot of popularity because of the detailed information of products it displays. Although this type of photography is simple, it is more effective.
With the increasing interest of individuals in taking shots, people are learning various new ways of capturing photos of their favorite products, places, and individuals.
The top-down shot is famous on various social media such as Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram because of its unique aesthetic aura.
You may wonder how you can do top-down photography perfectly or which equipment is necessary? No need to think further because you will know everything about top-down photography in this guide.
Let’s dive in.
What Is Top-Down Photography?
In top-down photography, the camera is placed 90 degrees above the object to take a shot of the subject’s top surface by taking the photo from above.
Top-down photography is also called flat-lay or overhead photography because the camera is positioned above the product. This type of photography is famous because it provides a detailed view of the product.
Requirements For Top-Down Photography
No doubt you can do top-down photography with any camera and smartphone. And without some of the following listed equipment, you can also do top-down photoshoots, but it will not be high class.
In order to take professional-level top-down photos successfully, the following equipment is required.
The top-down photography setup includes the following equipment.
- Camera
- Lens
- Tripod
- Accessories
- Lighting
- Camera mount
- Backdrop and surface
7 Tips To Do Top-Down Photography Perfectly
You must follow a few straightforward tips to get the perfect top-down photo. These tips will enhance the result of your photography and will provide you with top-class results.
Shooting top-down photos have distinctive methods which intensify the image quality. So learning some of these will undoubtedly enhance your experience with top-down photography.
Let’s boost your photography level by exploring some tips and ideas on top-down photography.
1. Choose Full Frame Camera
Although you can take top-down photos with your smartphone, a full-frame camera is preferred as it will provide you with high-quality images. A mirrorless camera has sharpness and clarity, and, therefore, it is most suitable for top-down shots.
2. Focus On Light Setup
For photography, taking pictures in natural or artificial light is your choice.
If you are using natural light, shoot at a place where soft light comes at a 45-degree angle and if you want to avoid the shadow, use reflectors as well.
If you will employ artificial light during photography, add one or two lights at a 45-degree angle.
If you don’t know whether to use natural light or artificial light for top-down photography, follow this tip- In case you want to control the light intensity, use artificial light. In other cases, use natural light.
3. Use Broad Aperture Lens
Using an appropriate lens for taking top-down pictures is also a good tip to remember during photography. When you use a wide aperture camera lens for top-down photos, it enhances the focus, captures even very minor details of the product, and provides you with a highly focused and detailed image.
4. Make Use Of a Camera Tripod
As it is clear that top-down photos are taken from the above. Therefore to capture images perfectly, using a tripod is necessary as it will eliminate the chances of blurring photos because when taking pictures without a tripod, your hand may shake, which will result in blur images. Therefore many professional photographers also rely on tripods for sharp, accurate photos.
5. Adhere To Composition Rules
The most crucial thing one should consider while taking top-down photos is composition. Because it makes the picture eye-catching, therefore you should keep the composition simple, neat, and organized.
You will get the best results from top-down photography if you strictly follow the composition rules. Also, in this way, you will style the shot flawlessly.
6. Use Unembellished Background
Another important thing you should give importance to while doing top-down photography is the background.
For top-down shots simple background is preferred as it enhances the subject’s focus.
For the background, you can select light shades like pastel, beige or white shades of cardboard, fabric or paper. You can also try patterned marble or wood. But keep in mind using light shades is best!
7. Add Props To Enhance The Image
For enhancing the image, adding props is the best choice. Props not only add texture but depth and color to the frame. It also adds a sense of balance and a charming appearance.
The props you can use for top-down photography depend on the product you are taking pictures of. In the case of top-down clothing photography, accessories like jewelry, shoes, bags etc., can be used as props, whereas in top-down food photography, you can use main ingredients as props.
Don’t consider props unnecessary because it increases the attention towards the image’s main subject.
Purposes For Which Top-Down Photography Is Famous
You can do top-down photography for any purpose, but here are some most famous objectives for which top-down shots are popular. This includes;
- Top-down product photography
- Top-down food photography
- Top-down dishware photography
- Top-down box photography
- Top-down clothing photography
The Final Words
Top-down photography is gaining more fame on social media as compared to other photography genres. For doing top-down photography professionally, you will require some equipment like a camera, tripod, lens, background, light etc.
As top-down photography displays the above surface of the products, it is somewhat different from taking pictures from the front. The seven tips we shared in this guide will make your top-down photography experience more alluring and stunning.
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