Aside from the general style of your e-commerce website, high-quality photos will have a significant impact on whether or not consumers choose to purchase with you. Having superior product photos may make a significant difference in the attractiveness of your e-commerce store.
Considering that online buyers do not have a similar visual image as those who purchase in-store is critical to your success. They are unable to interact with, try on, or feel the things you offer. In addition to showing what the product appears like, outstanding product photography will showcase the material, texture, and appearance of a product from various angles and lighting circumstances.
No matter how inexperienced you are in front of the lens, you can shoot amazing product photographs that will enhance your internet sales. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of ten techniques for taking amazing Do-It-Yourself (DIY) e-commerce product photography in your own home. Incorporate these tips into your first photoshoot to make your e-commerce website presentable and produce more profit for your business.
The background and context of your product’s picture are important considerations.
There are several best practices to follow when picking a background for your product images and presenting them in the appropriate context, which will be discussed in this section.
Choose a backdrop for your project.
What do you think: should you photograph shots with a conventional background, or should you capture “lifestyle” photos (or both)?
How you answer this question depends on what you’re capturing and where you want to use the photographs. If the pictures are only going to be displayed on your website, it is advised that you choose a standard and uniform backdrop. Your website’s navigation will be more intuitive for online buyers as a result of this.
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Make your image as clear as possible.
The clarity of your product photos for your e-commerce shop is solely the most critical aspect of your product photography strategy. Images that are unclear or grainy make it more difficult for buyers to acquire a clear picture of your item and, as a result, have a bad impact on the user experience.
Visitors will see your site as less trusted if its images are of poor quality, and they may choose to spend their money elsewhere. If you’re shooting with a DSLR camera, be sure it has a broad range of aperture settings available. When you reduce the angle on your camera’s lens, it becomes simpler to concentrate your camera’s lens on the product you’re trying to sell.
This will allow you to capture a crisper, clearer shot that does the product credit. Modern iPhones, in portrait mode, are also capable of replicating this look.
What is a great way to take sharp photos?
A few of the things that might be bothersome while photographing are the images’ flatness and blurring. Those that are sharp are far more attractive than fuzzy photographs. It is quite frustrating whenever you take a photo of a great occasion and the pictures turn out soft, unclear, or out of focus.
Let’s begin with the reasons why a picture could appear fuzzy in the first place:
- With a slow shutter speed, you may record camera shaking, which would result in a fuzzy image in the end.
- It’s possible that your subject is moving, resulting in motion blur, which is exacerbated by choosing a slow shutter speed.
- A soft picture would result from insufficient focus acquisition.
- It is possible that you have a faulty lens or a lens that is incapable of creating sharp images.
- You might have your ISO turned up to a ridiculously high setting, resulting in a lot of noise and a loss of information.
This means that you must deal with all of the difficulties simultaneously to attain the best possible sharpness results.
How to Take Sharp Pictures?
Techniques for Taking Crisp Photographs
- Decide on the proper ISO setting.
To begin, set your camera’s ISO to the lowest “base” level it has available. It’s important to remember that the camera’s base ISO will provide the highest quality photographs with the greatest degree of clarity. You will notice more noise in your image if you increase the ISO (sensor sensitivity).
- Make use of the Rule of the Hand-Holding
If you have a zoom lens with a focal length of more than 100mm, it is recommended that you follow the general hand-holding “rule,” which dictates that the shutter speed should be equal to or faster than the focal length specified on the lens while shooting handheld. Example: If you are shooting at 125mm with a zoom lens, your shutter speed should be at least 1/125 second to avoid blurring the image.
It’s important to keep in mind that these only impacts blur caused by camera shake. If you are photographing a fast-moving subject, you may find that you require a faster shutter speed than this in order to capture a crisp image.
- Select Your Camera’s Operating Mode Wisely
The camera automatically metres the scene and makes an educated judgement as to what shutter speed should be used in order to expose the photograph correctly. By adjusting the brightness sensitivity, you can simply correct the camera’s ISO setting. Ensure your camera is in aperture priority mode and that you have the lowest f-number possible set on the aperture dial.
- Select a Shutter Speed That Is Fast Enough
Set your device to shutter focus and choose the appropriate metering mode before pointing it at the item you wish to picture and half-pressing the shutter button to begin shooting.
- When Photographing In Low Light, Use A High ISO Setting
Take another photo if you are still getting fuzzy images. Suppose you are still getting unclear pictures; attempt to keep the camera stable without moving it too much. If it doesn’t work, try setting a shutter speed that is quick enough to take clear images while increasing your ISO instead.
When photographing in low light, it is fairly uncommon to use a high ISO to obtain a quick enough shutter speed. Although this increases the amount of noise and grain in a photograph, it is typically preferable to getting a fuzzy image.
- Maintain Control of Your Camera
When photographing with your hands, there is a specific correlation between your camera’s shutter speed and the amount of blur in your photographs. Consider the situation as if you were carrying a firearm in your hand.
Moving around when shooting is not recommended – you should maintain as much stability as possible while standing, pulling the stock snugly into the shoulder and exhaling before firing. It is the same strategy that you may use for your photos, which is especially useful when dealing with slow shutter speeds.
- Maintain Complete Concentration On Your Subject
Try to focus appropriately and how to cope with challenges related to concentration. This one is crucial since the clarity of your images is directly related to your camera’s focus. The first thing you have to master is how to tell the difference between camera shake or motion blur and a sharpness problem in your image.
Suppose the subject of your photograph is out of focus, but anything nearer to the camera or farther away is precisely in direction and clarity. In that case, the problem is most likely due to a focus problem with the camera.
In most cases, utilising a shutter speed that is too slow while shooting handheld results in a hazy image with no crisp parts of the picture. In the last instance, when a fast-moving item in your photograph appears blurry or flaky in the path of motion, this indicates that your shutter speed was not quick enough to minimise subject movement. That isn’t a focus issue; instead, try using a faster shutter speed.
If you are having difficulty obtaining a decent level of concentration, the following are some suggestions for you:
- Reflected light can trigger auto-focus failure, resulting in the camera’s inaccuracy in acquiring the correct focus point. Make sure there is enough light for your camera to focus on before you start shooting accurately.
- In most cameras, the central focus point is the most precise spot to use for focusing. In the event that you are having difficulty gaining concentration because your focal point is not in the centre, it is recommended to relocate it to the centre, focusing, and recomposing.
- Many cameras allow you to choose a secondary button for focusing so that you don’t have to touch the shutter button. If you’re used to half-pressing the shutter button to focus instead, getting comfortable with back-button focusing will take some time. However, after you give it a shot, you could find it to be quite handy.
- The intensity around the focus point is taken into consideration by the camera’s focusing function. In the case of a spotless white wall, for instance, if you try to concentrate your camera on it, it will never be able to obtain focus since the camera will not detect any areas of contrast.
- When a white wall with a dark product is used as a backdrop, and the focus point is placed in the space between the wall and the object, the camera will automatically acquire accurate focus.
- It is advice to locate the rectangular focal point in a region with the greatest amount of contrast. Edges of items, lines dividing various colours, numerals and characters written on objects.
- Attempt to concentrate on the thing many times until you can easily see in the vision that it is in focus. It is necessary to have a decent viewfinder and good vision in order to do this task. As a result of their narrow viewfinders, certain entry-level DSLRs make it difficult, or perhaps impossible, to determine whether or not you have achieved proper focus.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do if you can’t decide whether or not the object is in perspective by looking through the viewfinder, so shoot many shots while continually changing the focus and reviewing the images on the camera’s LCD screen will do.
- Make Sure to Clean Your Lenses.
A filthy and oily lens will cause improper camera focusing and low contrast in the images captured.
Take a series of photos in rapid succession.
Set your camera or device to “continuous shooting” mode (also known as “burst mode”), and then picture your object in bursts by simply holding down the shutter button on the back of the camera.
Burst mode is very useful for photographing a moving object, such as children because it increases the likelihood of capturing a sharp image on the first try.
Most cameras nowadays can take at least three photographs per second, and in many cases, up to four or five photos per second. Using a little panning to follow up with your object, you may get clear images even when your object isn’t standing still.
- Take A Picture Of The Full Product
Product-only photographs are intended to present your product in the best possible light from all important angles, but they are not required. They are often photographed against a white backdrop, which aids in the creation of a uniform look throughout your product range. These photos provide a high-level description of your product and are suitable for use on your product page.
Despite the fact that it may seem simple, make absolutely sure that the full product is displayed in the hero shot for the product.
Your merchandise should be straight and level, free of creases, and with a white surrounding and background for it to be effective. If this is not the case, customers are less inclined to make a purchase. Product photography that is professional in appearance signals to potential buyers that you are a legitimate business and not a hobbyist.
Using a user-friendly programme like Retouch, you can easily retouch your images (e.g., erase wrinkles, dust, or background clutter).
- Photographing Things On Their Own As Opposed To Employing Models
A common example is that most consumers are hesitant to purchase clothing online due to their uncertainty about whether or not the goods will fit them properly. As a result, numerous clothing companies utilise models in their product photography.
On the other hand, consumers are often comfortable with the idea of purchasing products such as pens or mugs online, which is why it is not required to incorporate humans while shooting these types of items.
- Maintain Consistency In Your Sizing
Maintain a broad enough buffer between each product and the border of the container. This allows the product to have some breathing room. Your customer’s browsing experience might be badly impacted if your product photographs are not all of the same sizes as each other. It appears to be out of proportion visually.
- Reflections Should Be Included
Product reflections may be used to give your e-commerce store’s product photos a more opulent appearance while also adding depth to it. This is best accomplished in post-production or by utilising a tiny mirror to reflect the image. Mirrored surfaces make shooting more difficult, and you may find yourself spending hours attempting to move your tripod out of the picture.
- Combine reality with the reflection.
As soon as you begin capturing reflection photographs, it might be tempting to concentrate just on reflection itself. On the other hand, your reflection images should always have a good blend of reflection and reality.
Your reflections don’t have to be enormous in order to be effective. It is possible to incorporate a modest reflection into your composition and have it been visually engaging.
- Distractions should be avoided at all costs.
The most effective technique to simplify reflection images is to eliminate any distracting elements from the frame, leaving just the most crucial aspects of the picture – the subject and the reflection – in the image frame.
When you remove everything from the frame except for your object and its reflection, something simple and magnificent happens.
- More than one image should be displayed for each product.
It is sometimes preferable to display many photos of a single product. Customers want to view the product from various perspectives, close-ups of the product’s intricacies, and how it appears on a real human being, among other things.
Customers who purchase online do not enjoy the identical shopping experience as those who browse in stores. They are unable to test a product. They are unable to perceive all of the details themselves. Product information (such as sizing charts and clothing inspiration photographs) must be provided in sufficient quantity to promote the product properly.
Why Do You Need More Than One Product Image on Your Product Page?
Customers should be able to see your stuff from any aspect. Your product photographs aren’t just for show; they also have a functional purpose. When it comes to e-commerce businesses, product photos are critical since they help customers better comprehend what they are purchasing.
In order to be successful as an e-commerce business owner, you must ensure that your buyers have adequate visual data about your items.
- More detailed product images can assist in lowering return rates.
Product photographs may assist internet retailers in conveying the genuine appearance and feel of the items they sell. However, this isn’t the only reason why you should include many product photos in your product listings.
The other reason is straightforward: product photographs have an impact on return rates. Product return rates result in significant losses for merchants. In fact, 22 percent of online customers return the things they purchase because they appear to be different from the photographs displayed on the websites where they bought them.
According to a recent study, incorporating more product photographs enhances the purchasing experience by generating expectations for customers about what the product would look like in real life. It reduces the amount of time spent on unneeded customer assistance.
It is undeniable that the internet has given consumers greater power. Consumer behaviour has shifted, and customers are now more curious than they were previously. Before making a purchase, shoppers are fast to conduct studies, reviews and ratings, and contact you with any questions they may have.
However, to be completely honest with you, most product queries may be resolved simply by providing better product photos. By including multiple product photographs – along with product descriptions – to provide customers with information about your merchandise, you may lessen the number of customer service enquiries concerning your merchandise, such as questions about sizing, colour, materials, and so on.
The more data you supply – whether it’s visual or written – the fewer enquiries you’re likely to receive. This enables you to devote resources to the areas where they are most needed.
- Photos may be used to demonstrate the scale
This is why it is critical to provide more than one product image on your product landing pages. It aids your customers in visualising the dimensions of your items on their shelves.
For example, if you’re selling a grill, don’t just display a grill picture; offer a view of the grill in a backyard with people around it.
One of the most challenging aspects of running an online business is being unable to display the full size of the things you’re selling. This is especially true if you’re offering a single product in a variety of different size configurations. Considering how your product will be utilised is critical when determining how you should display its scale.
Suppose you’re selling apparel or accessories, and you want to show them off by having a model wear them. In order to boost shareability for social proof, more product photographs should be included. When you have many product photographs on your product page, you provide your consumers with extra pictures to engage with their social media networks.
According to recent research, 27 percent of buyers routinely utilise internet reviews to help them determine which businesses to visit.
When consumers give reviews online or publish on their social media networks about things they enjoyed, they typically include images from the object they purchased as well as photos from your website to illustrate their points.
In your capacity as an entrepreneur, you would want to ensure that your products have a beneficial impact on the world. Having a large number of high-quality and visually appealing product photographs that your consumers may share can assist you in doing this.
By encouraging your customers to post more photographs of their items, you increase the possibility that future consumers will discover your products. This will also increase website traffic and, perhaps, purchases.
- Put a watermark on your photographs.
You’re devoting a significant amount of time to product photography for your eCom store. Take into consideration watermarking your product photographs to prevent individuals who sell the same (or similar) things from exploiting your photos without your consent.
If you choose to watermark your product images, try making the watermark as inconspicuous as possible. You still want the customer’s attention to be drawn to the goods, not to a conspicuously displayed watermark such as the one seen below.
What is the best way to watermark your photographs? Step-By-Step
- Without An Internet Connection, You May Watermark Your Photos
Visual Watermark is a software programme that runs on your computer, not on the internet. It is possible to secure your photographs even if your internet connection is poor or your computer has gone offline.
Local watermarking is also significantly faster than utilising web-based solutions, which saves time. Modern cameras are capable of producing extremely large pictures. Even with fast network connections, sending them takes a significant amount of time. Visual Watermark begins watermarking your photographs as soon as they are taken.
Working offline implies that no one will be able to access your original files. When you utilise a web service, the proprietors of the web services have access to your source file. Nobody knows what they will do with them, especially if they are obtained through a free web service.
- Create A Custom Watermark For Your Business
There are several watermark components in Visual Watermark. Text, a brand, a website address, a logo, and copyright symbols can all be used to watermark photographs. You have complete control over the watermark, including how little or large it is, whether it is opaque or transparent, and whether it is rotating or straight.
More than 200 typefaces and 66 effects are included in the programme, allowing you to create a genuinely distinctive watermark with no effort. You can also use fonts that you have created yourself or fonts obtained through Monotype or Adobe font memberships.
Using the programme, you may save watermarks for future use or distribute them around your organisation. You have the option of creating as many watermarks as you like. You will be able to locate an acceptable template in a short period of time, depending on the project.
- Select The Position Of The Watermark For Each Image In The Batch
You can watermark landscape, portrait, and cropped photographs all at the same time with Visual Watermark! Drag and drop all of your pictures into the programme, then build your own watermark. Whenever necessary, the software will automatically adjust its size and location.
You have the option of customising the size and position of the app. On the third app screen, please choose the Preview button. This will display a dialogue box where you can see a preview of how the watermark will appear on each photo in the batch. Individual watermark positions can be established as and when they are required.
- Protect Yourself Against Watermark Removal Software
Several firms are developing watermark removal algorithms. They accomplish this by evaluating a batch of watermark information photos and determining which portion of the image has a watermark. Then they’ll be able to get rid of it.
Due to the fact that they use the same watermark throughout all of their photo previews, photo stock sites are particularly vulnerable. A visual watermark is a tool that somewhat randomises watermarks in order to increase their robustness.
Every photograph is marked with a watermark that is almost the same but slightly different in appearance. It becomes more difficult for automatic algorithms to remove the watermark as a result of this entirely.
- Display Each Colour Of The Product
If you sell a product in a variety of colours, make certain that your website includes images of each colour available. If your consumers purchase more than one colour, you will see a rise in the size of their carts and the average order value.
It is unnecessary to take more than one product shot if the product is available in various colour options.
- Use the Services of a Professional
In the short term, not hiring a photographer may appear to be a cost-effective option; nevertheless, we can tell you that bad product photographing for e-commerce websites will result in greater financial losses over time. If you’re attempting to build a company by selling these items online, you should engage an expert to help you no matter what you sell.
Professional photographs enhance the legitimacy of your brand and communicate to customers that your company is a serious and reputable commercial enterprise. To top it off, attractive pictures that are well-lit and rich in detail and texture elicit a favourable emotional response from customers, which is always a good thing.
Conclusion
We believe that putting these nine product photography suggestions to use will enable you to boost your e-commerce conversion rate in the future.
In terms of content and photography for your website, include images that will captivate every user that comes to your website.
