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Former Google Contributor

How to take great photos in your favorite stores

Hello Local Guides! I’m Anna, the Photo Lead for the Local Guides team.

 

We really enjoyed seeing everyone’s incredible photos during Eat Like a Local month! For our celebration of small businesses, I wanted to give out a few more tips—but this time for in-store photos.

 

These tips work for pretty much any kind of business: clothing stores, boutiques, grocery stores, coffee shops, shoe stores, hardware stores, book store—anything you can imagine!   

 

Here are my top 3 strategies for taking photos in stores:

 

  1. Lighting is key!

This is always going to be my number 1 tip for whatever you are shooting. Lighting is the key to all good photography, but you don’t need fancy studio lights to take great photos. Learn to use the light you have, and you’ll be in good shape.

 

Daylight is always great, which is why airy spaces with big windows tend to look so good in photos. You’ll want to avoid taking photos in SUPER-dark places, but if you have to, the key is making the best use of available light. Try boosting the exposure in your camera app to so that others can see the space.

 

Lighting is keyLighting is key

 

  1.  Try a photo tour 

Getting the vibe of a place is one of the hardest things to do. You want to represent a place accurately through good photography and really show people what it’s like to be there. One easy strategy is to try a photo tour with three different types of shots: wide, medium, and close-up.

 

Wide shot

Show the WHOLE space. Get back as far as you can and really try to show the entire shop.

 

Try a photo tour: Wide shotTry a photo tour: Wide shot

 

Medium shot (or #shelfie!)

Get in a little closer and photograph a smaller area of the store. You can even try a #shelfie: It’s like a “selfie,” but of a shelf with items on display.

 

Try a photo tour: Medium shot or ShelfieTry a photo tour: Medium shot or Shelfie

 

Close-ups

Now, get really specific and show the individual products—whether they’re shoes, shirts, records, or something else entirely. When you share these photos, you let other people know what they’ll find when they visit a shop.

 

Try a photo tour: Close-upTry a photo tour: Close-up

 

  1. Turn on your grid

Every camera has a grid. This feature helps to keep your photos super straight and really assists with composition.  

 

Turn on your grid for iOSTurn on your grid for iOS                  Turn on your grid for AndroidTurn on your grid for Android

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You will be impressed with your much straighter photos and see some incredible results!

 

Photo using the gridPhoto using the grid

 

All of these tips apply to phone cameras as well as professional cameras. You don’t need fancy equipment to be a great photographer, just some practice and a good eye.

 

One other thing: We understand you can run into challenges when you’re taking photos in someone’s business. Before you shoot, take a moment to review our community policy if you’re not sure about taking images in businesses or have any other questions about interactions with business owners.  

 

We can’t wait to see your photos! Remember to share them with #LocalGuides, because we’re going to spotlight favorites each week right here on Connect.

108 comments
Level 8

Re: How to take great photos in your favorite stores

Thank you @AnnaDickson!

Level 9

Re: How to take great photos in your favorite stores

Thanks @AnnaDickson for the great tips !

Level 10

Re: How to take great photos in your favorite stores

@AnnaDickson Thanks a lot! for your very nice tips. i can do it my self.

Mohammed Omar Faruque
Connect Moderator

Re: How to take great photos in your favorite stores

@AnnaDickson Thanks again For your great tips about store Photography. Its really helpful for all #LocalGuides.

Happy Guiding!!!

Level 1

Re: How to take great photos in your favorite stores

thank you @AnnaDickson this is going to help me a lot!!!

Level 10

Re: How to take great photos in your favorite stores

wow , this is my favorite section , indoor photography , here are few of my indoor photo collection , need to learn a lot , thanks @AnnaDickson for the tips , these might help a lot .20171028_125617.jpgIMG_7975.JPGIMG_8080.JPGIMG_8103.JPG

Level 10

Re: How to take great photos in your favorite stores

@NarenChandra Nice pics!

Amazing view from ur photos!

U r good at photofraphy!

Local Guides from Taiwan.

My LGs profile➤https://www.google.com.tw/maps/contrib/101643820823137654634/◀

Level 8

Re: How to take great photos in your favorite stores

Thank you @AnnaDickson and @LuisRG

 

Best regards from Brazil!

Level 10

回應: How to take great photos in your favorite stores

@AnnaDickson  Well angle to take photos is good for who use google maps know more about the place.

LG can make easily it if they want to!

Local Guides from Taiwan.

My LGs profile➤https://www.google.com.tw/maps/contrib/101643820823137654634/◀