top of page
  • Writer's pictureyzhensiang

Sharper, Clearer, Better: The Magic of the Forgotten Technique in Product Photography

trending : fast (shallow dof)

advantages of slowing down


Product photography is an essential aspect of any business, as it is what showcases a product and entices customers to make a purchase. In product photography, it is crucial to capture the product's details and features accurately, highlighting its best qualities, and showing it in the best possible light. However, depending on the composition and the products. It can be challenging to capture using traditional photography techniques to show all the details in a single image. This is where focus stacking comes into play.


Focus stacking is a powerful technique in product photography that enables photographers to capture an extended depth of field by combining multiple images of the same product, each with a different focus point throughout the intended range. This technique results in an image with sharp focus throughout the product, highlighting all its details and features. (Example shown below is a comparison of before retouching straight out of camera image and after retouching with a stack of 8 individual images)

One of the most significant benefits of using focus stacking in product photography is that it allows photographers to capture more detail and achieve better results in representing the product. This technique is normally used when photographing products with intricate designs, such as jewelry or watches, so that it can be photographed in a way that showcases their details and features. For example products such as diamonds with intricate patterns, may not be visible with a single shot.


Another advantage of focus stacking is that it can improve the overall image quality. By using focus stacking, we can use a wider aperture in doing the shoot. This can result in a more blurred background and make the product stand out more while keeping the sharpness of the entire product. Additionally, keeping the aperture on the optimum level will also avoid image diffraction which will also soften the image output. Lastly, focus stacking allows photographers to maintain a consistent level of sharpness throughout the entire image, reducing the likelihood of any part of the product being out of focus.

It is also worth noting that focus stacking is a valuable technique for e-commerce product photography, where the image of the product is often the only representation the customer sees before making a purchase. Using focus stacking to capture high-quality images of products can improve customer trust and satisfaction, leading to increased sales and brand loyalty.


In conclusion, focus stacking is an essential technique in product photography that can help photographers capture intricate details and achieve higher quality images. Using this technique can help products stand out and improve the overall image quality, leading to increased customer satisfaction and sales. Do consider using focus stacking in your next product photography to create stunning images that showcase your products in the best possible light.



bottom of page