Selling products online is not as easy as it sounds. In the first year of your business, you probably won’t even have enough sales to make a profit. That is why it is crucial to use tactics such as great product photography to boost your sales as much as possible.
Product photography is the art of taking high-quality pictures that will boost your sales. There is a lot that goes into product photography to make it attractive for visitors. The product photo should also come with descriptions and creative copy so the customers can take action.
So, if you are a small business that wants to understand product photography, you have come to the right place. Here is what you must know.
Product Photography Explained
Product photography is when you take pictures of your products to post on your social media platforms, website, and more. The primary aim behind taking these pictures is to showcase the product and boost sales. Consumers need to understand what you are offering through these pictures so they can be in a better position to decide.
Keep in mind that the goal of such photography is to capture a realistic image of your product. This is the most important goal because the customers can’t come and examine the product in person. So, it is your duty to convey the experience of physical shopping through your e-commerce store.
The Importance Of Product Photography To Your Business
The importance of product photography lies beyond just boosting sales. Here are all the reasons product photography is important to any business in the digital world:
1. Helps You Create A Brand
One of the most important things you need to do as a business is to establish yourself as a brand. While there are many elements that go into branding, the great product photography is one of them. You can use such photography to help your audience understand the following:
- How your product can be used
- What mood and tone do you want them to associate with your product
- What is the ideology behind your business
- Who are you targeting
- What are your values
- And much more
For example, if you are a brand selling environmentally-friendly products, then you can use different elements in product photography to convey this message. You can use earthly tones, greenery props, and much more to let the consumer know who you are. In the long run, your customers will see your product photography and understand exactly what you have to offer them.
2. Increases Sales
Of course, this is also one of the top reasons every business must invest in product photography. The only hurdle with online shopping is that customers don’t have a way to feel the product or try it out before they make a purchase. Because of this, they rely on your product photography and visual content to decide.
If your photography is not up to the mark, then the visitors to your website will not turn into sales. That is why we recommend that you invest in professional product photography for your business. Professional photographers know what they are doing and will help you convey the message you need.
In the long run, this will help boost sales, and you will easily begin turning visitors into customers. So, be sure to get the product photography right, no matter what.
3. Stay Ahead Of Your Competitors
There is so much noise in the digital world that you need to work hard to differentiate yourself from your competitors. Great product photography can be one of the best ways to differentiate yourself from others. However, one of the most important aspects of this is consistency.
Every time you upload any product photo, it must be consistent with your branding across all platforms. That is because if you are not consistent, then the audience will think you are unprofessional. Clear and aesthetic product photography will help you stand out because it will enable you to build trust with your customers.
So, in the long run, you can get as creative as you like and show your audience what you have to offer. It will help you stay unique, which will lead to better trust and sales.
4. Makes The Product Look Desirable
Product photography done in the right way can make your products look desirable. You have to use the right lighting, props, creative methods, and much more to ensure that your products look great. However, they should also look realistic so that your customers can make an informed decision.
For example, you can use great props but still take product photos from every angle. Doing this will help your audience understand the product in its entirety. Then, they can use these images to decide whether they want to purchase your product or not.
Update yourself on the latest product photography trends and tips to make the most of this. The more appealing your product looks, the more your audience will be willing to buy.
5. Stay Unique To Customers
Finally, you need to stay unique to your customers. It can be easy to get lost in the digital world because of all the noise. There is so much information and content that it has become much more difficult to catch the eye of customers.
This is where fantastic product photography comes in, as it can help you rise above the noise and create visually appealing content. Such content will potentially lead to higher conversions in the long run. Even with this, it is crucial to stay consistent.
We recommend that you create calendar content so that you can create meaningful yet frequent content that will help you stay unique. The power of product photography can help you boost your brand in no time.
Different Types Of Product Photography
Now that you are familiar with the importance of product photography to your business, it is crucial that you know the different types. After all, you need to take a myriad of these types of photos to offer your customers visually appealing content. Here are all the different types of product photography:
1. Detailed Product Shots
As the name suggests, a detailed product shot is where you take a close-up of the product. These shots show all the details to help you understand the product better. For example, if you are selling jewelry items with intricate designs, then you need to show detailed shots of the items.
It will help highlight what the item is offering and ensure that the features of the product stand out. If there is something that your product has and the competitor’s products don’t, then be sure to take detailed product shots of such features.
2. Single Shots
Of course, these are the most common product shots you will find on any brand’s website or social media. It consists of a single product that faces the camera along with other elements. The aim behind such a shot is to ensure that the customers can see all the features of the product.
You can take single shots when you release a collection to upload the shots on your website. After all, you need to show each product without the others so the customer’s focus can remain on it. You can upload these on your e-commerce store, website, or other platforms.
3. 360-Degree Product Photos
The most important thing you can do for a product takes a 360-degree shot. That is because it will allow you to showcase the product from each side. It will help the customer understand everything the product has to offer and what it looks like from everywhere.
These are some of the best shots that are a great replacement for the experience of feeling and holding a product inside the store. The key is to take many pictures from all angles and then weave them together in one image. As you do, you will have a beautiful and complete view of your products.
4. Group Shots
Of course, group shots are also common in product photography which includes a few products in one image. For example, if you are launching a new collection, you can have one shot that features the entire collection. Many skincare brands use this technique as most of the products they offer complement one another.
On the other hand, if you are offering a promotion, even then, you can take group shots to tell the customer what you are offering. For example, group shots are common where the promotion is of buy one get one free. So, be sure to think about the context of the product photography you plan on doing.
5. Lifestyle Product Shots
This type of product photography is a great way to show what your product will look like when it is being used. For example, a woman using perfume is an example of lifestyle product photography. It shows the product in action so that customers can visualize how they can use the product.
On the other hand, many brands use these types of shots to sell a lifestyle. Many luxury brands use this type of product photography to associate a luxurious lifestyle with their products. So, you can use the power of such shots to showcase the function and lifestyle of your products.
A Checklist of Product Photography For Small Businesses
If you are a small business, you might be on a tight budget. Not everyone has the budget to opt for a professional photographer, and that is alright. Instead, you can enhance your knowledge of such photography and get the right materials to do this yourself.
So, if you are planning on photographing the product pictures yourself, here is a complete checklist for you to follow:
- Camera: You can invest in a DSLR or even a high-quality smartphone will help you take some fantastic product shots
- Tripod: This will help you take the picture with focus, and you can experiment with angles
- Lighting: You can use natural or artificial lighting, depending on the effect you want to give
- Reflectors: These are ideal for misdirecting or directing light around your products
- Props or Accessories: You can use these to get creative with the product shots and offer a better visual appeal to customers
- Background: Many people opt for white background product photography, but you can also opt for neutral colors
- Editing Software: It is crucial to edit your pictures so that you can ensure product pictures
You must check all these things from the list to have everything you need for some amazing product photos. The costs will be minimal, and you will not have to hire a professional product photographer. However, don’t expect your photos to look great on the first try.
Product photography is a process of trial and error, and you will have to be consistent to get it right. If the first batch of product photos is not perfect, don’t worry. You can keep practicing till you get the hang of it and keep increasing your knowledge through different resources available online.
The more knowledge you have, the more you can apply it with ease and get better product photos with time. If you still can’t get it right, it will be much easier to hire a professional product photographer.
They will help you save time, effort, and money. Because of this, you will have fantastic product photos for all your social media platforms.
Final Thoughts
That is everything you need to know about what product photography is. It is very important for businesses to get it right so that they can boost sales, get more customers, boost their brand, and much more. As a small business, you must opt for product photography to convey your core message to customers.
Be sure to hire the right professional product photographer to help you get the results you need. In the long run, it will be one of the best investments for your brands as you will get returns for a long time.
