What Is Ecommerce Product Photography? 12 Best Tips in 2023

Like an on-site store, the visual appeal of any online store is very important. Displaying your products in the most aesthetic and appealing form affects many customer buying decisions. With new advancements in technology, customers now expect to view a product’s each detail from all angles.

Good ecommerce photography can greatly impact your conversion rate, as customers are usually tempted to buy attractive products. Even if you have a high-quality product with the best features, you can still lose your audience if it is not displayed well on your page. In this post, we will find out how to efficiently use ecommerce product photography and apply the best practices so that you can make your online store stand out.

What Is Ecommerce Product Photography?

Applying photographic knowledge and practices to ecommerce product photos to display on your web pages is called ecommerce product photography. Product photography is utilized by online businesses in many online and offline marketing strategies to promote their products. Due to much growth in the ecommerce industry over recent years, ecommerce product photography has become a sub-industry that uses various advanced techniques to build a brand’s online presence. It has been found that high-quality product images can significantly attract your customers.

Also learn about How to Develop A Successful Ecommerce Website?

Two Types of Ecommerce Product Image

There are two basic types of ecommerce product images:

1) Product-Only Images

As the name suggests, product-only images usually show a product over a white background. It showcases your products from all angles and highlights them on a page as it is showcased in front of a white background. Other colors can also be used in the background to make the products stand out, but white makes the store look more consistent. White better highlights the product’s style and colors.

2) In-Context (Lifestyle) Images

In-context images showcase products being used in real-life situations. These types of product images are very popular these days as they let users visualize the products being used in their lives. Fashion and apparel brands commonly use in-context lifestyle images to attract customers.

Why Is Ecommerce Product Photography Important for Online Business?

There are mainly two reasons why high-quality ecommerce product photography is important for online businesses:

• Branding
• Improved Customer Experience Across Touchpoints

1) Branding

Product photography is becoming increasingly important for eCommerce companies. Product photography authenticates the product’s quality and acts as a window into an eCommerce business, bringing transparency and trust to your brand. Every brand must establish a long-term relationship with its customers; images are critical to that objective.

2) Improved Customer Experience Across Touchpoints

Pictures can greatly influence your customer’s experience. Visuality influences customers to buy a product. Images assist users in fully understanding product information and reconciling what they read with what they see. A clear, high-quality image provides buyers with immediate information about a product. They can tell the color, pattern, style, shape, and quality of the goods just by looking at them. All these factors convince customers to buy a product.

Tools You Need for Product Photography

Let’s move on to utilizing the best qualities of ecommerce product photography with the right tools. Here is a list of must-have tools you need to take great product pictures either yourself or through your marketing team:

• DSLR Camera or Smartphone
• Tripod
• Lighting
• Shooting Space
• Light Tent
• Editing Tools

1) DSLR Camera or Smartphone

You can either use a DSLR camera or a smartphone with a good camera for clicking product photos. A DSLR camera has greater image quality, manual settings, and interchangeable lenses, enabling photographers to take detailed and professional-looking product images. It gives you more control over settings like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, giving you more creative options.

On the other hand, a smartphone provides portability and ease, making it ideal for short product pictures or on-the-go photography. Many smartphones now have excellent cameras, including features such as portrait mode, HDR, and high-resolution capabilities, allowing users to shoot stunning product photographs.

The decision between a DSLR camera and a smartphone camera is ultimately determined by the photographer’s desired level of image quality, control, and resources.

2) Tripod

A tripod provides stability and eliminates camera shake so it is a must-have for ecommerce product photography. It enables photographers to keep their cameras steady while shooting more focused shots. A tripod also allows photographers to experiment with extended exposure periods or take multiple photos for focus stacking, both of which can improve overall image quality and product presentation.

3) Lighting

How can we forget lightning for taking aesthetic photos? It aids in accurately highlighting the product’s characteristics, textures, and colors. Use natural or studio light or even a blend of both in different lighting arrangements. Natural light can produce soft and diffused lighting settings, which is very beneficial for products that require a natural and organic appearance.

On the other hand, studio lighting allows for greater control over light direction, intensity, and color temperature, making it perfect for generating consistent results and eliminating undesired shadows. Whatever lighting you use, make sure to arrange a well-lit setting that successfully showcases the product and brings out its genuine characteristics.

4) Shooting Space

Creating the ideal shooting environment is like setting the stage for a captivating ecommerce product photography performance. It’s all about finding that sweet spot where you can fully manage the lighting, angles, and composition to showcase your products best. Your shooting environment should be a distraction-free zone, whether a dedicated home studio, a cozy spot with a clean background, or a well-designed tabletop setup.

There should be no clutter, distracting reflections, or pure concentration on your incredible products. And ensure there’s enough space for your products, lighting setup, and any extras or accessories that might give a little spark to your shots.

5) Light Tent

Lighting is the hidden ingredient that can elevate your ecommerce product photos from average to outstanding. The light tent, often known as a lightbox or a product photography box, is the unsung hero of controlled lighting situations. This handy tool is similar to a magician’s box in that it is composed of translucent material that diffuses light and eliminates those annoying bright shadows and reflections.

A light tent can give your products a beautiful, even glow that exudes professionalism. It’s a game changer for those tiny little goods like jewelry, cosmetics, or electronics, where every minute detail and color accuracy are critical. What’s the best part? Light tents are easy to set up and transport, making them an excellent choice for online product displays.

6) Editing Tools

Once you’ve captured your stunning product images, it’s time to work some digital magic to make them shine even brighter. Enter the world of editing tools, where you can modify exposure, colors, sharpness, and other parameters. Consider yourself in front of Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom, with the ability to modify and enhance your photographs.

These editing wizards provide many options and functionality to ensure your products appear their best. You can make your product photographs into art pieces by accurately repairing flaws, cropping, and resizing. Apply filters or presets to your product catalog to generate consistent branding and aesthetics, ensuring your photographs are visually appealing and match your brand’s identity.

12 Best Tips for Ecommerce Product Photography

Now you are ready to take ecommerce photographs. But Wait! You also need to learn the best tips for ecommerce photography, as they can further elevate your images. Let’s learn 12 amazing practices that are used in any kind of ecommerce photography:

1. Rule of Thirds
2. Optimize for SEO
3. Place Acrylic Glass
4. Utilize a Sewing Thread
5. Use the Right Color Palette
6. Adjust the Lighting Properly
7. Use High-Resolution Pictures
8. Use a PC or Laptop to Edit Images
9. Keep the Product Stable With Tripod
10. Take Shots of an Item From All Angles
11. Learn the Product Photography Guidelines
12. Use a Standard Image Size of 500 X 500 Pixels

1) Rule of Thirds

Do you know a proven rule that is used to take product photos? Remember the rule of thirds! Imagine dividing your photo into a 3×3 grid and placing your subject along the gridlines or at the intersection points. This simple composition technique adds balance and visual interest, making your product stand out.

2) Optimize for SEO

Don’t forget about search engine optimization (SEO) when it comes to product photos. Use descriptive filenames and alt text that contains keywords. This assists search engines in understanding the content of your photographs, increasing your chances of appearing higher in search results and attracting more potential consumers.

Read more about the Importance of Website SEO.

3) Place Acrylic Glass

How can you give your products a sleek, professional appearance? Simply place them on a piece of clean acrylic glass! The glass offers a shiny reflection to your item, improving its presentation. Furthermore, it eliminates undesired shadows, ensuring your product takes center stage.

4) Utilize a Sewing Thread

A sewing thread can be your hidden weapon for those tough photos when you need to suspend your goods mid-air. Attach the thread to your object discretely and suspend it from a hook or stand. This approach gives the appearance of floating and adds a magical touch to your product image.

5) Use the Right Color Palette

Colors can trigger emotional responses and impact purchasing decisions. Choose a color palette that complements your product and is consistent with your brand. Consider color psychology and apply it intelligently to create a visual experience appealing to your target audience.

6) Adjust the Lighting Properly

Lightning can make or break your product photos. Experiment with natural light or invest in studio lighting equipment to obtain the desired effect. Avoid harsh shadows and make certain that your product is evenly illuminated. If you take the time to find the right balance, your photographs will sparkle.

7) Use High-Resolution Pictures

While doing ecommerce product photography, remember that customers crave details. Use high-resolution photos that show off your product to its full potential. Crisp and clear images assist people in making informed purchasing decisions and instill trust in your brand. So never compromise on the image quality!

Learn more about How to Build Website Credibility?

8) Use a PC or Laptop to Edit Images

While smartphones are convenient for fast snapshots, editing on a larger screen allows for more exact control. Transfer your shots to a PC or laptop and edit your product photos with photo editing software. Adjust the brightness, contrast, and colors to create attention-grabbing visuals.

9) Keep the Product Stable With Tripod

Nobody enjoys seeing fuzzy photographs, especially when purchasing online. As we already described, a tripod will keep your images steady. It eliminates camera shakes and produces photographs that are sharp and professional-looking. It also frees up your hands so you may make modifications or add props without jeopardizing the steadiness of your images.

10) Take Shots of an Item From All Angles

Customers want to see every element of the goods they’re thinking about purchasing. Capture images from various perspectives, such as close-ups, side, and rear views. This gives potential purchasers a thorough view of your products, increasing their confidence and lowering the likelihood of returns or disappointed consumers.

11) Learn the Product Photography Guidelines

Learn about the product photography rules for your platform, such as Shopify, Amazon, or Etsy. Each platform has its own visual criteria, so make sure you adhere to them to avoid delays and present your products in the best light possible.

12) Use a Standard Image Size of 500 X 500 Pixels

Lastly, use standard image sizes. Consistency is the key! Use a standard image size of 500 by 500 pixels for product photographs. This ensures consistency across your online business and gives clients a visually appealing browsing experience. Avoid pixelation and large graphics, which can slow loading times and negatively impact the user experience.

Remember that ecommerce product photography is all about presenting your products in the best possible light and making them appealing to customers. You’ll be well on your way to developing excellent product images if you keep these guidelines in mind.

Reap the Benefits of Ecommerce Product Photography!

Understanding what’s best for your business is necessary to grow. Out of all the things an online business must consider for success, product photography is another main factor. As we discussed these 12 best tips in our blog, we hope you are now well-equipped to optimize your product images. Just use the required tools, good lighting, best ecommerce product photography guidelines, and Voila! You have an aesthetic product catalog to showcase on your web page.

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