It is a dream for every experienced entrepreneur to make the perfect product listing. However, when you add an attractive product name alongside a description, the product image is the missing puzzle of the ultimate product listing setup.
Product image is essential for every eCommerce store today because it is the first thing customers see before buying. To attract potential customers, they behave like 'faces' that your eCommerce products wear. As a result, they generate the first impression from a customer not just about the product but also about the website.
An attractive e-commerce image can influence visitors to buy a product, which converts them into paying customers. As a result, it can play a major role in increasing revenue, improving conversion rate, and making your brand more recognizable within the industry.
Although it seems straightforward, the product photography process isn't as easy. You can risk your entire business if the images are taken poorly.
Tips to Take a Professional Product Image
1) Don’t Hesitate to Use Your Smartphone’s Camera
Many photographers invest heavily in a 50-megapixel (MP) camera with a 100-millimeter screw-on lens. However, it is only sometimes the case in product photography.
We suggest going for the camera you have that fits the description. For many types of products, it is completely fine to shoot product images from a mobile phone.
If you look at the new mobile phones in the market, they have powerful lenses and settings that allow you to optimize your images in different lights and environments.
2) Shoot from Tripod for Consistency
Before we talk about the tripods, know one critical rule for you to follow regarding product photography, i.e., never position your mobile against something strong to aim your camera towards your subject.
It is very easy for this makeshift setup to collapse during the photoshoot and bring inconsistencies to the product image quality. For example, if you are resting your mobile on a series of books, make sure that your arrangement doesn't change during the shoot.
There is no problem in handling your camera yourself while shooting a few product images for your eCommerce website. However, as soon as your business expands, you will have to take more product images than usual. In addition, it can be challenging to stabilize the image orientation while shooting handheld.
To bring consistency within your product photography, you can check out the trending tripods in the market. There are two types of tripods in the market to consider:
- Traditional vs. Flexible
Traditional tripods are available for both cameras and smartphones. On the other hand, flexible tripods can be manipulated in different ways. For example, you can bend it in different angles and spots to get your desired angle.
- Mobile Grip
A screw above your tripod is attached to your camera to hold it in place. The adapter handles your mobile and screws it into any tripod, enabling you to operate the camera with the mobile screen pointing outwards and in your direction.
Once you decide which mount you require, please put it in front of your product and consider putting three pieces of tape on the ground to mark where you want your tripod leg throughout the shoot.
3) Natural Light or Artificial Light
As a photographer, you should always consider that different types of light can influence your product images. Remember, people visualize the product the best in person because they can see everything they need before purchasing it. The lighting arrangements reveal the critical product features that the visitors need to check before buying.
Image taken from Strikingly User’s Website
A single lighting arrangement doesn't need to work for every product. Some lighting arrangements may weaken the appearance of certain products. Therefore, you must consider two types of light to choose your primary light source, i.e., natural and artificial light.
Natural Light
Natural light is referred to as sunlight. It is considered the 'soft light' because the sun tends to cast a softer range of light than an energy saver, which shines directly on the products. Ecommerce product images thrive in natural light if:
- The photo is taken outside and used inside
- The photo is taken with a person (people tend to look better in natural light)
- You want to emphasize the product's surroundings rather than its specific attributes
Artificial Light
Artificial light includes energy savers, candles, and light bulbs. Unlike natural light, artificial light is called 'hard light' because it produces a more focused light surface. This type of light adds to the physical appearance of the products that you must highlight to impress the consumers.
4) Bounce Your Light to Soften Shadows
Whether you use natural or artificial light, you must reduce the shadows that any hard light may cast on the opposite end of the product. There are three ways to reduce your light:
Fill Light
You must involve a less-intense light source to support your primary source. The external light is called 'fill light' and manages the natural shadow that your main light produces behind a product. The best way to do it is to place your fill light opposite your main light so that your product acts like a bridge between both light sources.
Flashbulb Bounce Card
A bounce card, also known as the reflector card, is a small card that reflects the main light onto the surface beneath your product to eliminate the shadows.
Some bounce cards are attached to the flashbulb of the professional camera lens so they can diffuse the light from the camera's flash. The bounce card splashes the softer light on the target product from above your set (rather than straight at it), so you don't have long shadows behind it while shooting.
Standalone Bounce Card
If you are taking product images from your mobile phone, a flashbulb bounce card is not an option because you don't have the physical flash to attach it. Instead, create your standalone bounce card and place it opposite your main light source.
If you are a beginner in product photography, the bounce card can become a healthy replacement for fill light, which tackles the hard light from the camera lens directed toward the front of your product.
5) Shoot Variety of Product Images
Our last tip is not to go with the policy of one photo per product. Just like your customers hold, feel, and wear merchandise in the store, you must take multiple product images to stimulate this experience.
For example, if you are shooting clothing, you must capture the garments and the dummy whose color differs from the product's color. For additional photos, you can have clothing modeled on a person, allowing you to take photos from different angles and poses.
If you don't have people working alongside you, go for some clones and put clothes on them to make your customers wonder what they would look like after wearing them.
Add Product Images on Your Strikingly Website
Strikingly is a free website builder that allows you to build websites in just a few minutes. You can use this amazing website builder to build a formidable eCommerce website and start selling your products online.
Image taken from Strikingly
Once you have registered your free account on Strikingly, you can go to the dashboard and build a new eCommerce website. You can start by choosing a new template for your website. We provide users with a collection of responsive website templates for different business categories, which can run on desktop and mobile versions.
Image taken from Strikingly
Before you add your e-commerce images, you must add your products in the first place. Strikingly allows you to either add products from CSV or add products manually.
As you can see from the image above, you must add all the product details (name, description, price, image).
Image taken from Strikingly
Once you click on "Upload Product Image," you will have three options to upload your eCommerce product image:
- Upload the image from your computer
- Use Strikingly library
- Choose a picture from your uploaded images
Strikingly allows you to add products to your eCommerce website effortlessly through the drag-and-drop feature. If you want, you can also add videos to your website about how to use a particular product. Before uploading your images, ensure you have gone through the product photography tips to make every picture attractive.
Conclusion
Product images are an essential part of an eCommerce website. It can play a huge role in establishing trust and appeal within your target audience. As long as you capture quality product images, you are doing all the right things to make your product attractive.
As the capturing of e-commerce images has become more accessible, the eCommerce market has become more competitive. Anyone selling products can take photographs from their mobile phones and upload them on the Internet with their price tags. To beat this competition, you need to upload an attractive product image, and your entire eCommerce website should be appealing.
With efficient website builders like Strikingly, uploading an eCommerce product image has never been easier. If you are struggling to build your eCommerce website, make sure that you contact our Happiness Officers today. Register on our platform and create an eCommerce website that displays stunning product images.
