Images are becoming more and more important when creating a website, especially if we are talking about an e-commerce . Gaining the customer's trust in an online store is the most important factor and product photography plays a fundamental role in this. High-quality images are undoubtedly an attraction for consumers. And not only that, they also help the customer feel more predisposed to buy than if they find poor-quality images that reflect disinterest and abandonment of the site, and will also not help to promote the qualities of the product. Images are one of the most important parts of your online showcase; if they show every detail of the item and are true to reality, you will avoid future complaints and returns.
Nowadays, photography is accessible to everyone, so we have put together a series of tips that will be very useful if you do not have the necessary budget to invest in professionals, and you want to take the images yourself. Although it is always better to have the experience of a professional photographer.
1. Define the product.
You have to keep in mind the type of product you are going to sell, because the background and context of the photograph can vary. Photographing, for example, decorative items is not the same as photographing food or clothing. Each product has a different function and depending on this, the consumer will prefer to see it in one way or another. When it comes to fashion, the customer will always value more those pages where a model appears with the product, because they need to have a reference of how it would look in reality.
2. Simple images with a neutral background.
The simpler the images, the better. To do this, use a neutral-colored background, preferably white. Using other colors can cause unwanted reflections on the product that confuse and distract the user. Also, do not include unnecessary elements in the image because they will steal the spotlight from the item. There are some products that, in addition to being photographed with a neutral background, it is also advisable to photograph them in their environment, such as sofas or other decorative products. This will help the customer to have a more realistic view of the product and ultimately decide to buy it.
3. Photograph several points of view.
Take as many photos as you need, or rather as many as your users need. Take pictures of the product from different angles and take close-ups, especially of its most unique features (logo, embroidery, decorations, etc.) to show the product in its entirety. Keep in mind that the customer cannot see or touch the product, so the more photos that reflect what the product looks like, the more secure they will feel.
4. What equipment to use?
In addition to a reflex camera (any is a good option), it is important to have a continuous background . You can create it yourself using paper, fabric, foam or vinyl or choose to buy a softbox specifically for this type of photography for a very affordable price. Use a tripod to provide greater stability to the camera and to be able to shoot easily at lower speeds, although it is not essential. Set up your small studio in a large place, where you can move around freely. Remember that you will be taking photos from different angles, so you will need to move around.
5. Take care of the lighting.
Correct lighting can make all the difference in the final result. Don't worry if you don't have the budget for a flash, you can always use continuous light or natural light . If you use a window, midday light is the best for taking photos, as it will be whiter. Add a curtain to make the shadows less harsh. And if the light is diffuse , it's even better. For this reason, we recommend that you use any accessory, such as a white umbrella, translucent plastic or paper, that creates subtle shadows and diffuses the halos of light.
6. Don't forget about white balance.
One of the keys to product photography is that the image provides a view as faithful to reality as possible. Therefore, you have to be very careful with the alteration of colors, no matter how subtle. The easiest thing is to keep the white balance on automatic, and edit it later. Shooting in RAW format will make things easier for you, since with a specific program for this format, you will be able to develop the image without losing its information and you will get an impeccable result.
7. Always use the same style.
Visual coherence will make your page much more attractive and will not convey a feeling of disorder and neglect. Therefore, always use the same background for your images and establish margins. Always maintaining the same style is synonymous with harmony and, therefore, makes the customer want to stay in your store.
8. Enhance your images with an editing program
Editing your images is a must if you want to achieve more professional results. In addition, this step will be short since you only have to adjust the white balance, correct the lights and shadows, apply a light unsharp mask and reframe the photo if necessary. If you have a large number of images, you can use programs that allow batch editing, such as Lightroom, which will save you time.
9. Properly optimize your images.
We already told you all about it in this post , but we'll repeat it again so you don't overlook it. The size and resolution of an image matter a lot: for SEO, loading speed,... Generally speaking, your image should be at 72 dpi, in RGB mode, with a size that does not exceed 900 px on its longest side and in JPG or PNG format.
As you can see, photographs are very important when selling online and getting them to be of good quality is very simple and inexpensive. You can do it yourself by following these tips!
