9 Pointers for Better Product Photography
No one disputes the convenience of online shopping, but it falls short of traditional brick-and-mortar shopping in one major way: the ability for a customer to see or handle a product. That’s why good product photography should be a top priority for ecommerce sellers. Here are a few tips to get your listings picture-perfect in every sense of the term.
Get to know your camera settings
While most DSLR allow for novices to simply point and shoot with good results, take your photography a step further by learning about the various image-quality settings for your camera. Not only can you adjust shutter speed and other image elements, but newer DSLRs have dedicated settings for specific items, like food!
Background matters
Think about the devices your customers use to view your products and choose a background that enhances what you’re trying to sell instead of detracting from it.
Keep it clean
High-resolution photography picks up smudges, flaws and even specks of dust. While it’s possible to edit out some mistakes, you can save time (and cash, if you farm out your post-production processing to a vendor) by starting off with items in immaculate condition.
Steady on
The slightest movement of your hand can compromise your photo’s crispness.
One of the simplest ways to improve the quality of your photos is to simply use a tripod or hard surface to steady your camera as you shoot.
Show the product in use
Size, scale and features matter to buyers. If you’re selling a container, place a simple object inside to give customers an idea of what will fit in it; conversely, place a piece of furniture in a furnished room. A hand or coin placed next to a smaller object will give customers a needed visual.
Consider enhanced photography
There are many easy-to-use and reasonably priced tools that attach to DSLR cameras that can help add pizazz and dimension to your photos, such as 360-degree, fish-eye, wide-angle and macro shots. If your products are smaller than a breadbox, consider a tabletop lightbox setup to provide optimal lighting without the need for a lot of pre-shot setup. Finally, you might want to look into editing software, such as Adobe Lightroom, which helps users organize, enhance and share images.
But understand the benefits of keeping it simple
Your product photos should get sales, not win artistic awards. Simple photos shot in natural light without fancy filters can do the trick for many ecommerce sellers.
Review all images
Don’t be so quick to hit the delete button as you shoot – there’s no way of knowing through the camera’s preview screen whether the shot has merit. Wait until you upload your images before deciding what stays and what goes.
Edit thoughtfully
Whether you’re a Photoshop pro, use your computer’s built-in editing settings or employ an outside image editing service, bumping up your photos’ clarity and lighting helps to showcase your products better.