Let me just say this straight: Being a small business owner is a lot! I’ve been in it for 17 years and it never stops throwing challenges at you. I think you just get more seasoned at dealing with them.
I totally get how you’ve poured your heart into your product. You know it’s good. You know it solves a specific problem. But now you’re also expected to:
Show up online
Create content consistently
Make it look professional
Compete with big brands
And somehow do all of that… on a tight budget
It’s overwhelming.
And if you’ve ever thought:
“I know I need better photos, but I can’t afford a photographer right now.”
I see you. I’ve been where you are!
Here’s the truth I wish I could go back and tell myself when I was new, trying to get content out, trying to drive sales with FREE social media, which I still believe to be one of the best assets a small business owner has.
You need Content to drive organic sales from social media, its not the only way to sell but it’s free and it’s a very important trust builder in todays online space.
CONTENT can feel HARD, It’s NOT! BUT you NEED a system to produce it or else you will never keep up.
Once you have a simple method you follow every time, it becomes so much easier than you think.
If I Was Starting a Business Today, This Is Exactly What I’d Do
If I was a brand-new entrepreneur, tight on budget but serious about selling my product online, here’s what I’d do.
1. Pick One Corner in My House With Good Light
Nothing fancy.
Just find a corner with nice side light from a window. That’s it.
Side light is your best friend. It adds depth, shape, and makes your product look creamy and professional.
You don’t need a studio. You need consistent light.
2. Get a Styling Surface (Trust Me on This)
If you can invest in one thing, let it be a rollable styling surface or textured mat.
They instantly elevate your photos.
It doesn’t matter if your house isn’t Pinterest-perfect. That surface becomes your “brand space.”
Now every time you shoot, it looks cohesive.
Shop my favourite styling maps here.
3. Use Your iPhone. Yes, Really.
I would shoot on my iPhone.
Portrait mode.
Tap on the screen lock to focus.
Adjust my exposure (if needed) by simply sliding my finger up or down on the screen (its the little sun dial you see when you tap on the screen)
Done.
You do not need a DSLR to sell your product online.
What you need is clarity.
People don’t buy products they don’t understand.
They don’t buy products they can’t clearly see.
They don’t buy products they can’t imagine themselves using.
So your job isn’t to be artistic.
It’s to remove confusion. CONFUSION KILLS CONVERSION!
The Shot List I Would Use Every Single Time
This is where most small business owners go wrong.
They shoot randomly.
Instead, create a simple repeatable shot list.
Here’s a basic one you can use immediately:
-
A clean product shot (clear, well-lit, front view)
-
A close-up detail shot / Texture shot (show what it feels like)
-
A lifestyle shot (product in use)
-
A hands-in-frame shot (adds warmth + relatability)
-
All angles (front, back, side, packaging)
-
A short video clip of the product being used
That’s it.
If you shoot this list every time, you’ll never sit there wondering:
“What should I post today?”
Because you’ll have content ready.
Don’t Forget This (It’s Huge)
If you have reviews - use them.
Reviews are gold.
Screenshot them.
Overlay them on your product photos.
Mention them in captions.
Social proof reduces hesitation.
And hesitation is what kills sales.
Product Photos Alone Are Not Enough
You need a mix of:
Clear product shots (for understanding)
Lifestyle shots (for emotion, clients can see themselves using your product)
Video (for trust + depth)
Lifestyle is what drives the desire.
Product clarity is what seals the deal.
When people can see:
-
How it works
-
What it looks like from every angle
-
What problem it solves
-
How someone else uses it
They feel safe buying.
And safety is what drives conversions.
The Real Secret? Consistency.
Not perfection! If I can emphasize just one thing to any new business owner it would be : Consistency. Customers resonate with what feels familiar, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel everytime!
Use the same corner.
Use the same surface.
Use the same method.
Follow the same shot list.
When you remove the decision fatigue, content becomes faster.
And when content becomes faster, you actually stay consistent.
And when you stay consistent, your brand starts looking intentional, reliable, professional, and trustworthy!
If You Want Me to Walk You Through It Properly…
If this helped but you’re thinking:
“Okay but I still want someone to just show me exactly how to do this…”
I’ve created a full guide that walks you through it step by step.
It’s 23 pages long and covers:
- How to set up your space
- Exactly what camera settings to use
- How to use natural light properly
- Composition tricks that make your photos instantly stronger
- The difference between documenting and storytelling
- Simple tools that make everything easier
It’s basically me holding your hand and walking you through how to create visually delicious brand content with your phone.
You can grab it here → [Brand Visuals Guide]
You don’t need a huge budget.
You don’t need fancy gear.
You just need a system.
And once you have one?
Content becomes a whole lot less scary.
x o x
Tam
GET THE BRANDS VISUAL GUIDE HERE
