When shoppers search for items on eCommerce websites, they wonder how the product will look when it arrives at their doors step. Now, if you’re an online shop owner, you may use stock photos to get the job done. But, do you think it can excite your customers? Probably not. What’s more, there might be several other online stores that have used the product image you chose.
This is the reason why you need to take product photography seriously. Reaching your target market and building a connection with them requires quality and eye-catching photos of your products. Continue reading to know how to take and deliver photos that sell.
Why is product photography important in the e-commerce business?
A picture speaks thousands of words. As cliché as this line may sound, it’s backed by statistics. According to a conversion marketing and analytics platform, Justuno, 93% of consumers consider visual appearance to be the key deciding factor in a purchasing decision.
Messages from photos are easier to process compared to any words or description. Thus, it also triggers customers’ emotions a lot quicker and can last a lot longer. Studies show that people remember 80% of what they see and 20% of what they read.
In a 2017 study sponsored by foreign companies BigCommerce and Square, nearly half of their respondents, or 49% cited not being able to touch, feel or try a product as one of their least favorite aspects of online shopping. That is why the power of photography for eCommerce is undeniable.
Since your customer doesn’t have the privilege to see the product physically, your product image is the only visual representation of the item that helps customers make informed decisions about their purchases.
Finally, quality product photography can directly help you increase conversions and sales. Studies have shown that high-quality product photos can lead to increased sales, as customers are more likely to purchase products that are presented in a visually appealing manner.
However, presenting a mediocre product image can hurt your online business. Without high-quality product photography, it can be difficult for customers to fully understand the features and benefits of a product, leading to reduced sales and customer satisfaction. Furthermore, poorly lit or poorly composed photos can give the impression that the business is unprofessional or untrustworthy.
7 ways to level up your ecommerce product photograph
It has already been proven by studies that photos speak louder than words. Now, are your product images relaying the right message to your audience? If your sales say otherwise, then consider the following tips to bring your e-commerce product photography to the next level.
1. Polish your setup
Your setup can directly affect your output product photos. No matter how good your photo composition is, you cannot pull it off if you don’t have the right equipment to support you. Product photography for e-commerce doesn’t require an expensive setup, however, there are some elements that you should never miss.
- A decent camera – We’re not going to convince you to buy a high-end DSLR camera, but if you already own one, then take advantage of all its features. Recent smartphone releases nowadays are equipped with lenses and settings that allow you to take top-quality product images.
- Camera Tripod – Holding a camera while taking a product photo isn’t wrong. However, when your online shop has a lot of products, you may have a problem standardizing your product photos. A tripod can eliminate this issue. With a quality tripod, you can take photos in a consistent position every time. It’s also easier to adjust your angle with a tripod.
- A good light source – There are two types of light sources you can use to pull off a good product photo for your e-commerce business – natural light and artificial light. Natural light gives soft light which is perfect for outdoor shots. On the other hand, artificial light is good for shooting smaller items as it gives a more focused light. With the right execution, you can use both types of light to highlight the details to impress your buyer.
- A white sweep – Using a white sweep is perfect for product photography for eCommerce. It eliminates sharp corners and blemishes in the background. It also reflects light on your product giving more emphasis to the products.
2. Show multiple angles of your product
As mentioned, your photos are the only representation of your products that your customers see. So, it is recommended to showcase all the angles of your products.
For instance, if your online store is selling clothes, you may take pictures of products at the store. You can also capture it on a mannequin or take a picture of it alone on a white background.
In fact, if you have the capabilities to capture the 360-degree vision of the product, then do so.
According to Shopify, only 0.52% want to see a single product photo for eCommerce. 33.16% prefer to see multiple photos; and 58.03% of them, prefer photographs that will enable them to have a 360-degree vision of the product.
3. Use white background
Many established online stores prefer product photos on white backgrounds. There are several reasons behind this. For one, the plain white background can add emphasis to your products. This minimalist approach also allows your images to look consistent on your collection page. Finally, you can easily reuse product images with white backgrounds.
4. Try adding infographics on your collection page
Using infographics is an effective way to enhance customer experience. Sometimes the combination of imagery and explanation makes for a more striking presentation than a simple photo of the product by itself.
This is especially important for products that are difficult to visualize just by reading a description. Good product photography for eCommerce provides customers with the information they need to make an informed decision. It helps customers feel more confident in their purchase and reduces the risk of returns due to misunderstanding the product.
5. Save the image on the right format
Your product image format matters! There are three formats that are usually used for product photos – PNG, JPEG/JPG, and GIF. Knowing which format to use allows you to improve page load speed and maximize image sharpness.
PNG is the only format that allows transparent background. It also supports a wider range of colors but saving your image in PNG format can cost a larger file size.
JPEG/JPG is the most common format used online because of its smaller file size. This file format however supports less range of color than PNG. It is not recommended to use JPEG format if your image is mainly lines or sharp images as the JPEG compression can blur it or make the contrast less apparent.
GIF is the only file format that supports animation. Interestingly, it has the least file size among the three. GIF files, however, are usually lower in quality.
6. Don’t forget to apply SEO to your image
Do you know that your image can help you rank higher on search engines? You read that right. One way to optimize your image is by adding an informative file name for your image. You can use keywords but don’t overstuff them as it may give a negative result.
It is also recommended to add alt text to your image. This alt text is displayed on your screen when the image didn’t load properly. Google and other search engines use alt text to obtain a better grasp of what the image includes.
7. Finally, speak only the right story
If you want to inspire your audience to take action and buy your items, you would want to maximize the quality of your product photos. That is why you should take time to edit your product images. However, it is also important to not over-improving your product photos.
Don’t try to manipulate your customer through your product photos. According to Weebly research, 22% of online product returns are due to the ordered items not matching the images. High returns of products for online shops may destroy your reputation and credibility.
Your product images should show the right size, color, and details to avoid disappointment. Customer satisfaction and trust are the most important intangible traits that can help your e-commerce business succeed.
Ready for Fresh Takes?
The quality product images are those that make visitors click through to the checkout. But product photography for eCommerce isn’t as simple as pointing and shooting. Your product photos must provide information that helps them make a more informed buying decision.
If you’re a small e-commerce business, you likely don’t have an in-house team for product photography. This is why Be Global E-commerce Corp is here.
We have experienced creative crews that can produce product images that are not only simply beautiful but can also deliver your brand personality. Our agency is dedicated to bringing e-commerce businesses into the limelight.
Let us help you leverage your product photo quality to the fullest. Book a consultation today to see how professional product images could make a difference for your brand.
