Makers Product Photography Workshop

Workshop Overview:

• Dates: Saturday, March 7 2026

• Location: Portsmouth NH

• Duration: 1:30-4:30

• Skill Level: Intermediate Photographers with DSLR or Mirrorless Cameras.

• Group Size: Limited to 6 participants per instructor for personalized instruction

A Hands-On Workshop for Artists, Crafters, and Creative Entrepreneurs

Elevate Your Craft. Build Your Brand. Increase Your Sales.

Handmade products deserve photography that reflects their value. Whether you sell on Etsy, Shopify, Instagram, or at local markets, your images are the first—and sometimes only—impression customers get. This workshop teaches makers how to capture clean, professional product photos using simple tools, natural light, and a repeatable workflow you can use again and again.

No photography experience necessary.

Who This Workshop Is For

• Makers, artists, and crafters

• Etsy and Shopify sellers

• Small-batch product businesses

• Anyone who wants to improve their product photos using a phone or camera

Skill Level: Beginnersc

What You Will Learn

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Set up a simple, affordable “mini studio” anywhere

• Use natural light strategically for clean, premium-looking images

• Choose backgrounds and props that enhance your brand

• Capture sharp, well-exposed photos with your phone or camera

• Style hero shots, detail shots, and lifestyle images

• Edit quickly and consistently for a polished, professional look

• Build a repeatable product photography workflow for your shop

Workshop Outline

1. Understanding What Sells

Learn the four elements of effective product photography: clarity, honesty, consistency, and story. See real examples of how better photos increase perceived value.

2. Lighting That Makes Your Work Shine

Discover how to shape and soften natural window light, eliminate harsh shadows, and bring out texture and detail using simple tools like foam boards and diffusers.

3. Backgrounds, Props & Brand Style

Explore how different surfaces, colors, and props communicate your brand’s personality without distracting from the product.

4. Shooting Techniques for Phone or Camera

Hands-on guidance for capturing:

• Hero shots

• Detail shots

• Scale and lifestyle images

We’ll cover focusing, exposure, composition, and simple camera settings.

5. Editing Made Simple

Learn how to improve your images in just a few steps using your phone’s built-in editor, Lightroom Mobile, or desktop tools.

6. Creating a Repeatable Workflow

Build your own product photography checklist so you can photograph new collections quickly and consistently.

Hands-On Shooting Stations

Participants will rotate through multiple styled setups, including:

• Clean white hero shots

• Lifestyle “in context” scenes

• Detail and texture close-ups

Bring several products you actually sell—jewelry, ceramics, textiles, candles, soaps, prints, food items, etc.

What to Bring

• Smartphone and/or camera

• 3–5 products you want to photograph

• Chargers, props, small accessories (optional)

SPS provides all backgrounds, reflectors, lighting tools, and styling materials.

You Will Leave With

• A set of polished, professional product photos

• A customized mini-studio setup you can recreate at home

• A step-by-step workflow for future product launches

• A deeper understanding of how images influence customer behavior and sales

Instructor: Susan Weigold

Product & Still Life Photographer • Visual Storyteller • SPS Instructor

Susan Weigold brings a rare combination of technical expertise, artistic intuition, and patient, beginner-friendly teaching to Seacoast Photography School. As a product photographer with over a decade of experience, she specializes in transforming everyday objects into clean, compelling images that elevate a brand’s story, perfectly aligning her with the needs of makers, artists, and creative entrepreneurs.

Susan’s work blends precision with simplicity. She understands how to use natural light, thoughtful styling, and practical setups to make small-batch products look polished and professional—without expensive gear or complicated studio systems. Her approach demystifies photography for beginners while giving more experienced students the creative push they need to refine their vision.

She has photographed handmade goods for artisans, local businesses, and boutique brands across New England, helping makers build stronger online shops, increase customer trust, and present their work with the professionalism it deserves.

In her classes, Susan is known for:

• Clear, approachable instruction

• Hands-on demonstrations that make complex concepts easy to grasp

• A calm, encouraging teaching style

• Practical, real-world tips makers can use immediately

Whether she’s teaching lighting, composition, styling, or workflow, Susan’s goal is simple: empower makers to create product photos that look as good as the work they’ve poured their hearts into.

Pricing:

• $125 per person

How to Register:

• Sign up now to reserve your spot. Spaces are limited to ensure one-on-one guidance.

Slow Down. Observe. Create Something Beautiful.

Join us for a workshop that blends technical skill with creative exploration and teaches you how to see the extraordinary in the ordinary.