5 Tips for Coffee Bean Photography

1. Use a simple background.

For these photos I used a piece of plywood as the backdrop. Product photography is usually pretty minimal. The more “cluttered” the photo, the less likely the product will be able to stand out.

2. Experiment with different angles.

There is nothing wrong with setting up your tripod and taking a straight on shot, but don’t forget to try a bird’s eye view or even a picture from below if using a glass table to place your product on.

3. Play with movement.

It is very easy to add a little movement to coffee bean photography or liquid photography. If you aren’t using a tripod with a self timer you may need a second set of hands to assist in pouring the coffee or dropping coffee beans. I also suggest using the Burst Mode option on your camera so you can capture multiple shots.

4. Use props.

Props can add context and interest to photos. As long the the photo is properly executed, an “unusual” pairing of items can be very memorable to the viewer.

5. Play with aperture.

Think of aperture as how we see things in real life. Our eyes concentrate on a certain item or distance and everything else becomes a blur. Using aperture in photography forces the focus to exactly what you want people to see first.