A guide to photographing your online store's products to increase your sales by 100%
First impressions matter. You need to attract customers to your online store, and an image is the shortest and most important way to draw your targeted customers' attention to your store. If written content is the road, then visual content is the main gateway to that road. Professionally photographing your e-commerce store's products can be a great start to increasing your sales.
Achieving online sales relies heavily on optimizing the customer's shopping experience, and your online store's product images are the effort and investment that takes your online store to the centre of the customer's attention through expressive images. So, you need to know the tools for successful photography, mainly if you rely on yourself instead of providing a professional photographer and product photography studio. One of the critical points is paying attention to the backgrounds of your store's products. Choose photography ideas to show your product innovatively, suit your targeted customers, and other tips you will need. So, we have prepared this guide to help you professionally photograph your online store's products and increase your sales by 100%.
You can also get ideas for successful online stores if you haven't started your online business yet.
The importance of photographing your online store's products
Your online store may contain very distinctive products and services. Still, there needs to be an excellent image that reflects this, and here comes the importance of photography that professionally reflects the features of your product or service because the online purchase process relies heavily on striking product images because the customer cannot touch the product with his hand. Here, the image is the most valid proof for him; the image summarizes a lot of the words you want to say.
Also, remember that you compete with many online stores that may offer the same products and even more competitive prices, so your offer must be more distinctive. Images help promote products and increase awareness of the store and your brand, attracting new customers.
Learn the Basics of Building a Trademark.
Preparations and tools for shooting
Camera with an acceptable quality
You can rent a camera or use your cell phone camera, but it must be good quality. Most cell phone cameras are now high-quality and easy to control. A camera is a start, but it's just one element of taking great photos.
A tripod
A tripod helps you take consistent and organized photos without worrying about whether you can arrange the layers of the photo to include the elements you wish to include. You can take professional photos with good practice in using it, coordinating the photo before capturing it, and ensuring you have the right background and frame.
Decorations and backgrounds for product photography
There are a lot of tricks in the fields of props and backdrops for product photography, such as the so-called lighting tent. It's inexpensive to capture images by playing with shadows like a pro. Don't be fooled by too many details; the more straightforward the decorations are, the more elegant and professional they will be. Start with one element, add more when needed, and avoid complexity and too many details that may steal attention from your main product in the photo. White or light-coloured backgrounds help focus on the product; try to use a bright white canvas or white paper for the background of your pictures.
Lighting
When photographing products, you may not need expensive lighting. Shooting next to a window, for example, allows you to control different degrees of natural lighting. The natural light from the windows spreads out nicely and helps you control the light levels as desired. If the lighting is dim on one side of the product you photograph, you can use a white sheet of paper to reflect some of the light from the window.
Preparation
Now that you know what you need, set up your set and arrange the elements so you can capture the images you envisioned. Adjust your lighting, background, and product placement and get ready to shoot.
Essential tips when photographing your products
- Good planning: Before you start photographing your product, it's a good idea to make a plan, such as determining how many photos you need, preparing with product photography ideas, and, of course, the tools mentioned.
- Proper lighting: Lighting plays a pivotal role in the quality of an image, and the source of that lighting also makes a huge difference. Shadows and ambient light play a magical role in creating a great image. Will you use sunlight and shadows or rely on flash and light tricks? Your choices will depend on the product, purpose, and target audience.
- Focus: What point will be the focus of the image? What do you want the consumer's eye to catch in the product? Is it a specific part? Is it the colour? Sometimes, you will even leave the focus on the most crucial point to arouse the consumer's curiosity to look at the product image for longer to search for the product's focus, "such as the opening and closing point of the product, for example."
- Composition: Every image has a set of elements, and the composition of those elements in a visually consistent way makes all the difference between an attractive image and an unappealing one. Think of it as the visual message you are sending to the consumer.
- Colours: Color is a science, not just a matter of coordinating some of your favourite colours. Research the science of colours because they play a massive role in the appeal of an image. If you have three colours of the same product and you're only going to put up one picture, choose the most appealing colours. You need to catch the consumer's eye even if they prefer another colour at purchase, but some colours are more visually appealing than others.
- Isolate the product: Sometimes, the background elements overwhelm the product, so you feel that the product is between the details of the image and its elements and the background. In that case, isolate the product from the elements around it, for example, by opening the lens quickly. This decreases the depth of field, and a more significant part of the focus comes out of the focus range, so the focus is on the product, and what appears around it appears blurry.
- Image adjustments: In the end, you may need to edit the images and add some effects. For this, you may need software, such as Photoshop, or a free tool that requires little experience, such as Canva. You can check out many free tools for digital marketing.
Product Photography Ideas
Many product photography ideas use the above to make your product the centre of your customers' attention and express your brand.
- Show pictures of your customers using the product. This conveys how your product makes a difference in their lives.
- Add motion to your image, Especially if the product is associated with movement, such as a girl running or a child playing in a park.
- Hang the product and take pictures from multiple directions to make it appear three-dimensional. This will reassure your customers about the quality of the product.
- Focus on texture: Some products need to be recognized by their texture, such as clothes, bags and shoes; showing the texture gives customers confidence in the product quality they can't hold.
- Take close-ups, but use them carefully, especially for small products.
- Use reflective surfaces in the photos. "For example, have the name of the product or brand appear in the reflection."
- Use a model while photographing the product, especially if the product needs it.
- Use accessories in the same colour as the product.
- Use nature to showcase your product.
The success of your product photography hinges on the fact that the image is attractive, compelling, and connects with the consumer. You don't need expensive equipment, but new ideas and attempts to produce better images all the time. Keep an eye on the reactions to your product photos in your online store's social media because it's critical to read which photos your targeted audience wants to see. It's a clear indicator of successful and engaging shots.