When making the switch from point and shoot cameras to DSLRs, one aspect of the DSLR that can be confusing is understanding how to shoot clear-cut close-up photos, such as product photos. Such photos can be especially challenging for three reasons.

• Tiny details. With certain products you need to be able to highlight precise details in the object. This can be difficult without the proper lighting and without a good macro lens on your camera.

• Glare problems. If the product has a shiny finish, either on the object itself or on the packaging, you’re going to have to experiment quite a bit with the angle of your lighting to avoid problems with glare. In the photo example shown here, you can see tiny glare spots on the plastic of the bottles. You typically won't want this mistake in your product photos.
• Depth of field. Depending on the settings you’re using with your camera, you may end up needing to use a very shallow depth of field (using an open aperture on your lens with a small f-stop number). If this is the case it may be difficult to keep the entire product in sharp focus from front to back.

With these problems in mind, use these half dozen tips to figure out how to use the DSLR's various features to shoot great product photos.

1. Lighting is key. Related to the depth of field and glare problems referenced earlier, having good lighting in your scene will be an important consideration to create the best possible product photos with your DSLR camera. If the lighting isn’t great, you’ll then have to adjust the settings on the camera to compensate for what’s missing in the lighting. So before you concern yourself with your camera’s settings and performance, make sure the lighting is as good as it can be, and you’ll make things much easier on your camera.

1. Keep the background all white. One of the most effective backgrounds for product photography is using an all white background, which allows the product to really stand out. If you don't have studio equipment available, you can create a makeshift all white background with a bed sheet or a piece of cardboard.
2. Keep an eye on exposure. However, you have to keep in mind that an all white background can make it difficult for your DSLR camera to achieve the proper exposure. Your photo could end up with the product poorly underexposed, because the background is too bright for the camera to properly set the exposure. To compensate for this, use exposure bracketing, which is a feature that some DSLR cameras can automatically do (called AEB). With bracketing, you shoot a series of photos with slightly different exposure settings, increasing the chances you'll have a good exposure on at least one of them.
3. Use the DSLR’s exposure lock feature. Another option with a DSLR camera is to use a "gray card" or "exposure card." Place it in front of the product, and hold the shutter halfway to lock the exposure, or use the AE-Lock button on your DSLR camera. Remove the gray card and then shoot the photo. By measuring the exposure based on the gray card, the DSLR camera should yield a more accurate exposure, even with a white background.
4. Manual focus may be needed. Consider using manual focus when shooting product photos. If your product contains a lot of detail, it's important that the detail is sharply focused and is easy to see. The camera's autofocus might not focus quite as sharply as you can manually, especially on the small details in the product.
5. Take your time to get the look just right. Finally, take your time and treat the product photo as if you're shooting in a studio. Use a diffused light to give the product a good look. Use a tripod to keep the camera steady, ensuring a sharp photo. Make sure the lens is clean. Finally, consider using a macro lens to achieve the sharpest possible photo.