How to photograph organic fertiliser for your online store
A bag of compost is not exciting, but the right shots make it understandable and trustworthy. Plan the pack, the contents, a scoop for dosage and the plants it is for.
Organic fertiliser is a product people cannot judge by looking at the bag. They want to know what is inside, how much to use and whether it suits their plants. Your photos can answer all three. Here is a shot list that works with a phone and a little outdoor light.
Start with the pack
The first image should be the bag or tub, upright, label readable, in daylight. Make sure the weight, product name and any directions on the pack are sharp. Wipe the pack first; soil dust on a sealed bag looks careless. Shoot on a plain surface such as a stone floor, a wooden crate or a bench.
Show the contents
Open a bag and pour a small heap onto a plain tray or board. Shoot it from above and from a low angle so the texture is clear: crumbly, granular, fine or coarse. Buyers want to see whether it is a powder, pellets or a damp mix. If your product is a liquid, show the bottle and a small amount in a clear measuring cup.
Add a scoop for dosage
Dosage is the single thing buyers worry about most. Put the product in a clear scoop or spoon and photograph it beside the pot size it is meant for, with the amount written in your description. A visible scoop turns "use a little" into "use this much". Only state a dosage you have tried yourself or that comes from your supplier's tested guidance. If unsure, say "follow the instructions on the pack".
The bag next to healthy pots
Place the bag next to a pot with a healthy-looking plant, ideally one you actually grow. This gives the buyer context. Make sure the plant is real and healthy because of your care, not staged with a different product. Do not photograph a before and after that you did not actually do, and do not suggest the product alone caused a result. The post on avoiding exaggerated claims explains why.
Use outdoor light
Shoot in open shade near a balcony or garden, where light is soft and even. Direct midday sun makes shadows harsh and washes out the soil colour. The guidance in how to use window light for product photography works equally outdoors: soft, indirect light with the product beside the opening.
Show scale
A pack alone does not tell the buyer how big it is. Place the bag next to a pot or a hand so the size is clear. See how to photograph products for scale.
Keep it clean
Messy photos suggest messy product. Brush spilled soil off the surface, keep tools tidy and crop out clutter. At the same time, do not clean the product so much that it looks unlike what the customer will receive. Compost is brown and granular; that is fine.
Order of images
Pack, contents, scoop and dosage, bag with plants, scale shot, back of pack. The first three do most of the work.
Link with your listing
Photos support the text, but text should still state what is in the product, the weight and how to apply it. The guide to what details to put in every product description lists the basics.
Next step
Photograph the pack, the contents, a dosage scoop and a real plant, in soft light. The Founding Offer covers the first 10 stores with setup done together. Get in touch at /early-access.