How To Photograph Products for Your eCommerce Business

Are you an eCommerce business owner looking for how to photograph products for your eCommerce business? Or you’re looking for tips to help you create the best product photos? Well, you’re not alone. Countless other business owners like you, both old and newbies, are in search of the same thing.

When it comes to eCommerce, the saying “we buy with our eyes” is true. Ultimately, the decision-making procedure behind buying the product is solely based on how visually attractive it. This is why nailing product photographs on your eCommerce site should be priority number one! It’s also why you need to learn how to photograph products for your eCommerce business. 

As an eCommerce business owner, nailing product images on your e-commerce website is a no-deal top priority. Product images are created to serve a sole purpose — to capture your website viewer’s attention. Your e-commerce website needs to aim at evoking positive emotions with visitors. Ultimately, happy browsers often have a higher chance of becoming a regular buyer. You see, about 93% of consumers consider visual appearance as a significant deciding factor before making a purchase.

At Style Photos, we’ve put together a few tips on how to photograph products for your eCommerce business. This includes tips to make the best product photos to bring your product to the limelight and increase sales.

Tips on How to Photograph Products For Your eCommerce Business

Well, there’s a saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. However, when it comes to product photography, a perfect photo may be worth thousands of dollars. Knowing how to take the best product images is a skill that has the capacity to boost your revenue margin.

Here are a few tips on how to photograph products for your eCommerce business:

Try the White Background Magic

Do you ever notice the background of most eCommerce businesses online? Well, most of them use a white background. In fact, some online marketplaces often insist on a white background for every product listed in their marketplace. A good example is Google Shopping. 

Well, the reason is simple. It creates a thread of consistency and puts your product at the centre of attention. A white background creates a better outlook from a purely aesthetic view, a much cleaner and professional finish. It also enhances the beauty of colourful products.

Using a photography shooting tent or a curved backdrop helps eliminate shadows. Aside from that, it also eliminates sharp angles capable of making your image look a bit harsh. 

Nonetheless, there is an argument for in-context product photography. Generally, some products only showcase their best look when shot in their natural environment. 

A good example is a table lamp. For a table lamp, a mix of photos on a white background, with close-ups, to give an idea of the material outlook. In the context of a home, the environment will help the customer visualize how the product will appear on their table.

Use Natural Lighting

For individuals who enjoy taking selfies, there is a common saying that “lighting is everything.” Well, the same is the case when taking product photographs. Lighting can make a significant difference. It can typically determine whether a product will convert sales or get overlooked by online shoppers. 

The truth is most products look much better when shown photographed in natural light. However, this may not always be an option. You can make artificial lighting by using a DIY light-box or a backdrop with reflectors and umbrellas. The idea is to try out different scenarios with and without the flash and choose the best result.

You Can Also Try Artificial Lighting

Artificial light sources include light bulbs, fire and candles. This type of lighting is called hard lighting thanks to the smaller, focused light it produces. 

Usually, it’s best to use artificial lighting when taking images of products with important physical details your customers are going to want to see. For instance, artificial lighting is best for taking pictures of wristwatches and jewellery.

Watch out for Shadows

Once you’re able to add excellent and precise lighting, the last thing to watch out for is shadows. Don’t let the shadows steal the show. If you prefer adding depth to your image, it’s best to try out the “Mirror effect” or reflection shadows. Both are effective and won’t steal attention from the product itself.

If you want to prevent an overcast on your product, an excellent pro tip will be to use a flash diffuser. You can also try placing a white plastic bag on your flash to extend the light source.

Display Different Angles

Sometimes, it’s crucial to take different shots from all angles depending on the nature, colour, shape, and size of the product. However, you can decide to experiment with different angles on each product to get the best shot for your product. 

Explore different mixtures occasionally but ensure the resultant product photograph is simple and understandable. This way, you can get your customers to interact with your product without stress.

Also, while testing out different methods, ensure to check customer engagement metrics. You can achieve this by analyzing and tracking shopper engagement levels. It’ll help you decide which photo is best for your product landing page. Include as many photos as possible. Also, adding a close-up shot or zoom option is an excellent idea.

FAQs About Product Photography and eCommerce

As an eCommerce business owner, there are several business-related priorities that will demand your time and attention. However, how to photograph products for your eCommerce business is one that you shouldn’t overlook. You can’t afford to present your products poorly.

The best option is to hire product photography services in Ontario. This way, you can rest assured that the whole process will be handled by expert photographers.

On the other hand, you may want to save expenses. In light of that, we have provided answers to some common questions about how to take product photographs.

How do I Set Up My Camera?

• There are a variety of devices in the market to pick from. Make sure you go for something outstanding and with enough features to fit your product photography needs. 
• Tweak the ISO, Aperture and shutter speed of your camera to fit the type of environment you will be shooting in.
• Use tripods. They bring about stability to your product photos.

How do I Set Up My Studio?

• If you can get a dedicated DIY studio, do it. It tends to be very valuable in the long run.
• Make sure it is situated in a place with proper lighting. Also, look out for shadows. They can interfere with your ability to create a crisp and neat image.
• Go for simple backgrounds.

How to Shoot Beautiful Products Photos

• Select nice solid background colour (preferably white)
• Ensure the lighting is not too far from the product.
• Do not overedit. Images with mild alterations are okay.

Having Trouble Picking Samples?

• Choose from your top product photographs.
• Use a white background for the main images.
• Ensure the images you select for display are sharp, very good in quality and can highlight every aspect of your product. 
• Ensure you get different angles of the products as much as possible. No consumer wants to buy a product that doesn’t look like what they saw online.

Which Editing Tools Should I Use?

• Firstly, do not overedit.
• You can try Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop for PC users and Snapseed for smartphone users.

Why do I need product Images?

In general, the look and feel of your eCommerce website can say a lot about your brand. In fact, it can determine your type of customer, your brand class, i.e. low, middle, or high. It can also give a significant indication of the price range of your products. Product images are a huge part of how your website will look to a prospective buyer.

Sometimes, it can be tempting to take shortcuts especially when it comes to product photography. Why cut corners when you can get pro product photography tips to take the best product photos? Statistics show that at least 51% of people with internet access prefer to shop online. To tap into such a huge market potential, you need great pictures of your products.

Conclusion

Knowing how to photograph products for your eCommerce business will go a long way to boosting sales and revenue. In the body of this blog, we show you the importance of using the right background for your product images. Furthermore, achieving a balance between available lighting and shadows can make all the difference in your images.

However, there are limitations to everything, and this includes DIY. Most people can shoot great photos in a single light environment, like the simple white background magic discussed above. However, to photograph difficult products such as clear or reflective products requires more. In most cases, you may need a multi-light studio setup and an excellent technical knowledge of photography.

If you’re reaching your limitations, you may want to consider hiring a product photographer. At The Style, we offer beautiful yet cost-effective product imagery. Contact us today to discuss your product photography needs.