Have you ever bought a product online? Instagram? Some online store? Bet you saw a picture of that product before you decided to buy it. Those beautiful product photos you saw were not taken just for fun. They were intentionally taken to convince people like you to buy. Since you eventually bought the product, it is safe to say the product images worked, didn't they?
Product photos play a crucial role in the marketing and advertising consumer goods. They help you visually communicate a product's features and benefits to potential customers and can significantly influence their purchasing decisions. From online business websites to print catalogs, product photos are everywhere and serve as the primary visual representation of a product for many consumers. However, creating high-quality product photos is a complex task. It requires careful planning, attention to detail, and specialized equipment and techniques.
In this piece, we will show you the importance of product photos and how you can use them to boost product sales. You will also learn some best practices for taking and using product photos effectively.
What is Product Photography?
Product photography uses specific photography techniques to take attractive photos of a product. It is the art of capturing high-quality images of physical products for use in digital marketing, and other promotional materials. Product photographers typically work with commercial clients, such as manufacturers, retailers, and eCommerce businesses, to create visually appealing and accurate representations of their products. Product photography aims to showcase the product in the most attractive and appealing way possible while also accurately conveying its features and benefits.
Image taken from Strikingly User
To get the best from product photography, you need a professional photographer. However, if you are just starting, you probably cannot afford to hire highly-rated photographers to take your product images. Below, we have shared tips and tricks on going about it without spending too much. These business tips will be equally useful if you are into professional product photography.
How Product Photos Affect Sales in Your Business
Product Photography can be a turning point for your business sales. The following are the reasons you must take product photos seriously in your business.
1. They Can Help Customers Visualize the Product
Photos help customers understand what the product looks like, how it functions, and how it can be used. This is especially important for products that are difficult to visualize from a description alone, such as furniture or home decor.
2. They Can Showcase the Product's Features and Benefits
Good product photos should highlight the key features and benefits of the product, helping customers understand why it's worth purchasing.
3. They Can Increase Trust and Credibility
High-quality product photos can help customers trust the brand and the product, leading to increased sales.
4. They Can Increase Conversion Rates
Product photos that are well-lit, in focus, and accurately depict the product can help increase conversion rates by making it more likely that customers will add the product to their cart and complete the purchase.
5. They can Improve the Overall Shopping Experience
Good product photos can make the shopping experience more enjoyable and engaging for customers, leading to increased sales.
6 Product Photography Ideas that can Improve Product Sales
Here are some cool product photography ideas you can explore to make your images more appealing.
Show the Product in Use
One way to help customers visualize how they will use a product is to show it being used in action. For example, if you are selling a kitchen gadget, you could take a photograph of it being used to prepare a meal. This can help customers see how the product works and how it can fit into their kitchen routines.
Lifestyle Photography Works Like Magic
Lifestyle photography involves taking pictures of a product in a natural setting, surrounded by people using it in everyday life. This can help customers see how the product fits into their lifestyle and what it might look like in their or environment. For example, if you are selling a piece of furniture, you could take a photograph of it in a living room setting, complete with throw pillows and decorations.
Close-up Shots
These allow customers to see the details and features of a product more clearly. This can be especially useful for products with intricate designs or small details that might be hard to see in a full-length photograph.
Use Props
Adding props to your product photography can help give customers a better idea of the product's size and scale and provide some context for how it might be used. For example, if you sell a piece of jewelry, you could include a hand or a mannequin in the photograph to give customers an idea of how the product will look when worn.
Try Different Angles
Experimenting with different angles can give customers a better view of a product. For example, you could photograph a product from the front, side, and back to give customers a full understanding of its size and shape.
Use Natural Light
Natural light can add a softer, more natural look to your product photography. It can also help to reduce shadows and create a more balanced overall image.
Amazing Product Photos Starter Kit for Photographers and Entrepreneurs
- A good camera
- Tripod
- Good lighting
- Background
- Location
- Props/ accessories
- Editing software
- A Good Camera
A good camera is an essential tool for taking great product photos because it allows you to capture high-quality images that accurately represent the product. A camera with a high megapixel count, good low-light performance, and the ability to capture a wide dynamic range can all be valuable features for taking great product photos.
Having a good camera can also give you more flexibility and control over your images. For example, you can adjust the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to fine-tune the exposure and capture the perfect shot. You can also use a variety of lenses to achieve different effects, such as a wide-angle lens for capturing an entire product or a macro lens for taking close-up shots of small details.
If you do not have a good camera, you can use a phone instead. A phone with at least 64-megapixel camera can produce reasonably good product photos. Combine that with proper editing, and you have market-ready product images.
- Tripod
Ideally, you should not stand your device against anything to aim your lens. It might fall off or get the wrong angle. A tripod serves that purpose as it allows flexibility and adjustment over time. This will be especially useful when taking more than one photo at a time. You can get good tripods at affordable prices from Amazon or AliExpress.
- Good Lighting
Poor lighting can make your product photos look unappealing or obscure vital details. This can negatively impact sales. You can showcase the product in the best way possible with good lighting. Good lighting will bring out a product's texture, color, and form, making it more appealing to potential customers. It can also help eliminate shadows and highlights that distract from the product.
There are several ways to achieve good lighting for product photography. These include using natural light, artificial light sources such as studio or continuous lighting, and a combination of both. It's best to experiment and find the lighting setup that works best for your products and your desired aesthetic.
Another way to create lighting is lightboxes. Some light boxes are designed specifically for use with small objects. They have a built-in turntable or other features that make it easier to take multiple angles of an object. Others are designed for larger objects with a spacious interior and adjustable light sources.
In general, using a lightbox can help improve product photographs' quality and consistency, which can be especially important for e-commerce businesses that rely on product photos to sell their products.
- Background
When taking a product shot, you want to use a plain and neutral background. It allows the product to be the focus of the image rather than being overshadowed by busy or distracting backgrounds. A plain background also helps to eliminate distractions and create a clean, professional look.
Using a plain, neutral background can make it easier to post-process a product shot. It will require less editing to remove any background elements that may be present. A plain background can also be helpful if you plan to use the image in a variety of contexts, such as on a website or in print materials. It will be more versatile and easier to integrate into different design layouts.
Image taken from Strikingly Product
- Location
After the whole set up, you need a good location to carry out your shoot. Mind you, you don't have to break the bank to get a nice location for your product shot. Use any available space, it could be your room, outside your apartment or even a field. Of course, doing it professionally is always the best and safest. Use a studio, if you can afford it.
- Props and Accessories
They can affect product photos' overall look and feel. They can be used to add context, fill negative space, or draw the viewer's attention to specific aspects of the product. For example, if you are taking a photograph of a piece of jewelry, you might include a velvet box or a display stand to give the photograph a sense of luxury. On the other hand, if you are taking a photograph of a tool, you might include a glove or a hard hat to give the photograph a sense of functionality.
- Editing Software
Photo editing software can help to improve the look of the product and make it more appealing to potential buyers. With editing, you can correct lighting and color balance and remove blemishes or distracting elements from the background. However, it is essential to be careful when editing product photos. Overly retouched or unrealistic images can be misleading and harm the credibility of the product and the company. It is generally best to stick to making subtle improvements rather than drastically altering the appearance of the product image.
In conclusion, product photos are a crucial element of any e-commerce business. They can make or break a sale and play a significant role in building trust with customers. By following the tips outlined in this article, you can ensure that your product photos are high quality, visually appealing, and accurately represent your products.
A Strikingly eCommerce website lets you showcase your product photos and add their descriptions. Your customers can also pay for your products directly on your website. This makes buying easier for your customers and takes the burden of processing payments off you. Check out some of our eCommerce website templates.
