When a shopper enters your physical store, they go through a complete sensory experience. The shoppers can feel the products, look at them, and smell your store. However, that is not the same for e-commerce stores, as you can’t offer the customers a complete experience.
e-commerce product photography is all about recreating the same experience virtually so customers can get as close to your products as possible. That is why the top tips include investing in a great camera, using a white background, using color psychology, and more.
So, if you want the best tips for shooting e-commerce products, you are in the right place. Here is your complete guide.
1. Invest In The Right Camera
Did you know that it takes the human brain only thirteen milliseconds to process an image? Unfortunately, that means you don’t have a lot of time to make the right impression on your customers. That is why we recommend you invest in the right camera so that the quality of your pictures is exceptional.
Yes, some people have taken some amazing shots with their iPhones, but a professional camera will offer you many other possibilities. For example, you can experiment with various lenses on your camera to shoot products from different distances or change focus. The DSLR camera will guarantee that you show the fine details of your product to your customers.
Of course, the more details you show, the more your customers will trust your product and be compelled to buy. So, don’t underestimate the power of a great professional camera, and invest in one for your e-commerce store.
2. Opt For A White Rolling Background
We recommend that you use a white rolling background for your e-commerce products. That is because you must aim to focus on the product in your photography and nothing else. If there is a lot of clutter in the background, it will take focus away from your products and become a distraction.
The best part is that you can use photo editing software later if you want to add some color to the background to showcase your brand personality. All you have to do is hang a sheet of white paper and let the fabric roll on the ground so that it can create a curve. It is an ideal tip to use for standard e-commerce product photography.
Of course, even if you are not using a white background, we urge that you don’t add too much clutter to the background. If you do, it will take away the focus from your product.
（Click to learn What Is White Background Product Photography?）
3. Leverage The Power Of Color Psychology
Product photography is all about conveying the right emotions so that your target audience can feel something that will lead them to buy your product. That is where color psychology comes in, as it will help you capture emotions for your product. Depending on what they symbolize, using different colors will ensure customers make a purchase.
Here are some colors and what they represent to help you get started with understanding color psychology:
- Blue: Represents trust, reflection, coolness, and efficiency
- Red: Represents warmth, strength, energy, and excitement
- Green: Represents harmony, restoration, balance, and environmental awareness
- Yellow: Represents friendliness, confidence, and creativity
- Orange: Represents security, fun, and warmth
Of course, these are just some of the colors and what they represent. All colors represent something, and you must figure out how to incorporate them into your product photography. For example, environmentally friendly brands use colors such as brown and green that represent the earth in their product photography.
4. Utilize A Tripod
You can take as many images as you like, but if there is a lack of balance, then your products will not look great. That is why we recommend that you use a tripod to obtain that extra balance you require. If you take pictures manually and keep moving, it will affect the image quality.
Of course, you can refine these imperfections in the editing stage, but utilizing a tripod will save your time and effort. Photo editing can also be expensive, which is why it is important that you use the right tools during the shoot. Even investing in a tripod will not break your bank.
There are endless tripods in the market you can select for your e-commerce product photography. Once you do, you will have great balanced photographs that will help you stay ahead of your competitors.
4. Lighting Can Make All The Difference
Lighting can make all the difference between a professional and amateur e-commerce product photo. That is why it is important that you select the right lighting for your shoot so your products can look great. There are many cameras that will have settings to help you compensate for poor or low-quality lighting.
You can also use editing software to fix a bad lighting issue, but it will still not fix the picture completely, as sometimes bad lighting can ruin the entire shoot. That is why we recommend that you make lighting a top priority. Here are some considerations to keep in mind.
Natural Lighting
The first thing you must consider is opting for natural lighting. That is because artificial lights can leave blue or yellow tints on your product pictures. Besides that, you will have to exert more effort into editing pictures if you use artificial lighting.
Consider Light Placements
The second thing you must consider is the light placement. For example, if the lights are coming from behind your products, you will see them in the picture. On the other hand, if the lighting is behind your camera, then you will see shadows in the pictures.
（Click to learn Product Shooting Lighting Arrangement Guide）
Build A Lightbox
If you want a simple solution to all your lighting problems, then you can opt to create a lightbox. It is easy to make, and you can easily shoot any of your small products in no time. The lighting in these boxes is phenomenal, which is why many people use it for their photography.
5. Offer A Sense Of Scales
Many times, people have bought a product that is too big or small, as they did not understand the size from the product pictures alone. If you want to save the hassle of returns and ensure your customers get what they want the first time, then you need to offer a sense of scale in the photography. It means that when the person looks at the picture, they will easily tell the size of the product.
Yes, you can include the dimensions in your product descriptions, but that is not enough. Most people need visual elements to help them understand how something looks. For example, if you are selling locket charms, you can take product photos with the charm in someone’s hand.
You can also use other objects to offer a sense of scale to a customer. These include pens, mugs, and many other things. Remember that these objects should be in everyday use by the customer so that they can understand the size without a hassle.
6. Experiment With Angles
Ensure that your customer understands your product from every angle so that they can make the right decision. That is why an important tip is to experiment with angles when doing e-commerce product photography. We recommend that you invest in a turntable as it will rotate, which means you don’t have to manually keep turning the product.
On the other hand, you can also experiment with different angles, such as top-down or taking it through a glass table. It is your chance to be creative and see what you can do with your product pictures. However, the key is to strike a balance and maintain the integrity of the product as you take the pictures.
Once you do, it will help you get the best product shots that will showcase your brand personality. Besides that, it will also help your customers better understand how the product works and what it is.
（Click to learn What Are The Best Angles To Choose For Product Photography?）
7. Take Multiple Shots Of One Product
When you are doing e-commerce product photography, you must take as many pictures as possible. That is because if you have one or two pictures, you will have to reshoot them as it might not feel as great after the shoot. When you have many pictures, it will offer you the freedom to select what you feel is best for the product.
Try out different angles, positions, distances, props, and much more that will offer enough diversity and creativity. Experiment with your creativity, and you never know what you will end up with once you are done. We recommend that you upload all these pictures on the computer.
After that, you can go through each in detail and decide the ones that you want to use for your e-commerce store. Some images might look phenomenal on your tiny camera screen, but they may not look as great on the big screen. So, doing this is crucial to selecting the right pictures.
8. Edit Your Pictures On A PC
Shooting the products is just as important as editing the pictures. That is why we recommend that you don’t edit the pictures on your smartphone but use a PC. There are many good picture editing software that can help you create professional photos in no time.
These include Adobe Photoshop, Canva, Fotor, and many others. Of course, it can be challenging to navigate these editing platforms if you are using them for the first time. Here are some of the techniques that will help you improve your e-commerce product photos in no time:
- Color correcting: You must ensure that the color in your product photo accurately reflects the color of your product in real life. If it does not, then you must color-correct your e-commerce product photos
- Sharpen: It is important that your customers can see the details of the product in the image. If that is not the case, you can use a sharpening tool to clarify your pictures further
- Background removal: Are there shadows on the product that you didn’t spot while taking the pictures? If that happens, you can utilize a background removal to help you clear the background
- Brighten: Finally, you can utilize a brightening tool to strike a color balance or make the pictures appear brighter
You must use a PC to take these editing actions because the smartphone screen is too small to help you understand the finer details. So, upload all the photos on your PC and begin editing them with any tool you like. Once you do, your images will look professional in no time.
9. Use The Macro Setting Of Your Camera
Do you sell a product that has a lot of fine details, such as jewelry? If you do, then you will get excellent results by using the macro setting on your professional camera. Such a setting offers you to zoom in on the details of your product so that your customers can have a better idea.
Of course, once you offer these details, your customers will trust your products and brand more. It will enable them to make a purchase based on what they see, which is why it is an excellent setting for you to use during your e-commerce shoot. If you sell jewelry, this is perhaps the best setting on your camera you can utilize.
So, what are you waiting for? Experiment with the macro setting on your camera and see how beautifully it can capture all the fine details of the products you are selling.
10. Only Use High-Quality Images
Shooting e-commerce products is all about choosing the high-quality images that will give you use for a long time. That is why we recommend that you focus on the image sizes. This is especially true if you are selling on a marketplace or platform that has specific image sizing requirements you must follow.
Here are some of the most popular platforms and their image size guidelines you can follow:
- Amazon: According to the platform, the pixel dimensions must be a minimum of a thousand in width or height
- Shopify: The maximum image file size at Shopify is 20 MB, and your image must be up to at least twenty megapixels
- Etsy: Etsy recommends that you use pictures that are at least a thousand pixels wide
- eBay: According to eBay, the minimum size of your picture must be 100 x 150 pixels, and the format must be JPEG
Of course, these are just some of the platforms and their image size guidelines. Each platform will have a detailed guide of these technical requirements, and you must follow them strictly. If you don’t, the platform will not accept your product images, and you might have to reshoot.
（Click to learn What Are Good Product Photos: A Guide To Measuring Image Quality）
11. Optimize Your Images
You must optimize the images of your e-commerce products. That is because if your images are the wrong size or format, it can take ages to load on the website, which means your customers will leave. At least 50% of consumers leave a web page if it takes more than three seconds to load.
If you don’t believe us, then let us tell you that Amazon found out that they would close to two billion dollars each year if their pages were slower to load just by even one second. While you don’t have billions of dollars to lose, you still don’t want your customers to run away.
That is especially true if you are new to the e-commerce world. It is also crucial that you optimize your images for SEO. The most important thing you must do is have image alt-tags.
These alt-tags allow search engines to interpret your images so that your website can be at the top of the search results. Besides that, you must keep the text to a minimum and avoid any keyword stuffing. Once you follow these guidelines, you will have some great e-commerce product pictures that will drive customers to your store.
12. Invest In The Right Tools
If you don’t have the right tools, you will never get the results you need. That is why you must invest in the right tools that will help you capture some excellent e-commerce product pictures. Here are the top tools we recommend that you get:
Light Tent
A light tent or a lightbox will help you have the best lighting for your product. You can easily create one by using a white paper or cloth and a plastic container. It will keep all the light in and guarantee you take some excellent product pictures.
Shooting Table
You need a place to keep and display your products for the shoot, which is where the shooting table comes in. Just make sure that the surface is even and it is sturdy so that the products can remain in place. If your products are small, we recommend you tape them to the table, so they stay in one place throughout the shoot.
Tripod
A tripod means that you will get consistently focused and clear images, which will lead to high-quality images. Tripods are available in many marketplaces, and they will not break your budget. That is because you will find tripods for as low as $20, which is a great value.
Studio Lights
If you want to do an indoor shoot, then you will have to invest in studio lights. Many people don’t even consider this option because they think it will be too expensive, but there are some affordable, decent studio lights out there. You just have to do research and figure out one that will suit your needs and budget best.
13. Showcase Your Branding
It is important that your e-commerce product pictures reflect your brand. That is why you must plan your shoot in such a way that it helps your brand identity to shine through. For example, if your brand is youthful and fun, then we recommend you take product images filled with color and light.
On the other hand, if you sell environmentally friendly products, then we recommend that you incorporate natural elements in your pictures, such as flowers, grass, and other things. It will showcase your brand by offering a more natural feel. You want your brand image to transfer into your product photography.
So, this is one of the most important factors you must consider when you are planning your shoot. Once you do, you will have set some guidelines that will allow you to represent your brand and get the best pictures in no time. Remember to keep this consistency in all your product shots for the best results.
14. Hire A Professional Photographer
Finally, we recommend that you hire a professional photographer to take your e-commerce product pictures. These experts understand the art of product photography and will take your e-commerce pictures to another level. They will also offer you tips to make your product shoot the best so that you can get images that convert your leads into customers.
Many businesses think that this is an expensive move, but it will give you a high return on investment in the long run. Besides that, you can find many affordable photographers in your area that are looking for a chance to shine their creative powers. These photographers will not break your budget and offer you some great results for your product pictures.
So, if you think taking e-commerce product photos is difficult, you can hire the services of a professional. They can take pictures while you focus on other aspects of your e-commerce store. Once you do, you will be delighted with the product images.
Final Words
These are the top 14 tips you can follow to shoot the best e-commerce products in no time. Of course, you will not get the hang of all this during your first shoot, as it takes time, patience, and consistency. If you don’t want to wait and want great pictures on the first try, then you can hire a professional product photograph to reap some fantastic results.
