The internet has been one of the most influential innovations in human history. With its numerous features, the internet has been able to connect various kinds of people across the globe. One such feature is its ability to allow companies to create an online store, commonly known as an E-Commerce website. E-Commerce is an internet platform for online shopping in which many companies are able to sell their products to the consumer without the need of a physical store. In fact, it was during the Covid-19 pandemic that the amount of E-Commerce websites experienced a drastic increase as almost everyone was prevented from leaving their house.
With the increased number of E-Commerce websites comes a higher number of product photographers. The phrase “Seeing is believing” speaks truth, as without any images of the product, customers are unable to physically see and touch the product. However, with product photography, customers are able to preview the product improving their experience and it can be expected that E-Commerce sales will greatly increase. In order for an E-Commerce website to be successful, here are 5 professional photo shoot tips that can help improve product sales.
1. Focus On The Product
When browsing an E-Commerce website, the first thing the consumer will see about the product would be its image. As such, gaining a good first impression with a visually appealing image is crucial in drawing attention to the product and encouraging customers to explore more about the product. Nevertheless, regardless of the quality of the product’s photography, if the main focus of the photo isn’t the product being sold, the product photo would have lost its purpose. As a matter of fact, a common cause for the main product losing focus is a busy background which causes the product to lose focus resulting in confusion to the customer on what is being sold. However, if a busy background is necessary for the product photography, blurring the background to give the image a portrait format will help to highlight the product.
In addition to a busy background, if the product was small and shot at a further distance from the camera, the resulting image may become blurry when the consumer zooms in. To prevent this, a product needs to take up a majority of the photo to remain as its main focus. With each type of product photography comes a percentage needed for the product to be the main focus.
Type of PhotographyPercentage of Image Space for Product
| Type of Photography | Percentage of Image Space for Product |
|---|---|
| Standard Product Shot | 80% – 100% |
| Close-Up or Detail Shot | 50% – 80% |
| Lifestyle Shot | 65% or more |
| Group Shot | 60% – 80% (per product in the group) |
2. Eliminate Distractions
As stated before, even if it was a creative product photoshoot, if the main product isn’t highlighted, the photo would have lost its purpose. Therefore, a general rule during an ecommerce photography setup is to keep it simple. Simplicity in a product photography will allow the target audience to know what product is being sold to them. As such blurry the background or removing unnecessary elements in the product photoshoot will help in highlighting the main product.
For instance, an ecommerce website wants a product photograph for a cosmetic item like a lipstick. Upon receiving the product photography, several cosmetic items were present on the image. Though the mentioned image may have seen usage as a way to differentiate the cosmetic category from the rest, it isn’t usable as a product photo. Due to the presence of several cosmetic products, customers will be confused as they are unable to identify the intended product being sold. As such, removing the unnecessary elements from the aforementioned image will allow customers to identify the intended product being sold.
3. Shoot From Many Angles
Unlike the local stores, a product photography is a 2-dimensional image resulting in certain details being lost. These lost details can negatively impact the product’s credibility, decreasing the amount of sales. For that reason, it is highly recommended that the photoshoot of the product is taken from various angles increasing the viewable details. For example, by providing several images of a toy product from various angles, the customer is able to know what product is capable of and the items available when they receive the product.
Regardless of the angles, if the customer is unable to see the product or is missing details due to the lighting, then it would be difficult for the customer to make a decision based on the images alone.
4. Lighting Is Key
Lighting is important in any ecommerce photography setup since without light, customers would not be able to view the full detail of the product within the image.
As such, ecommerce websites must have lighting for their photoshoot of their products in order to produce a high quality image. The lightings that can be used for an ecommerce website includes:
- Natural Light:
- Its soft, diffused natural light provides a clean and authentic look.
- Ideal for showcasing products in a realistic setting.
- Recommended usage during morning or early afternoon
- Studio Lighting:
- Continuous Lighting
- Offers powerful bursts of light, great for freezing motion and highlighting details.
- Softbox Lighting:
- Creates soft, diffused light to minimise harsh shadows.
- Ideal for highlighting textures and details without overwhelming reflections.
- Umbrella Lighting:
- Bounces and diffuses light for a softer, more natural look.
- Recommended usage for both key and fill lighting.
- Ring Light:
- Circular light source placed around the camera lens.
- Reduces shadows and produces a flattering, even illumination on the product.
- LED Lighting:
- Energy-efficient and adjustable in colour temperature.
- Suitable for various product types and provides consistent lighting.
- Backlighting:
- Place light behind the product to create a halo effect and separate it from the background.
- Adds depth and highlights product contours.
- Accent Lighting:
- Highlights specific features or details of a product.
- Adds a touch of drama and emphasis to key elements.
- Diffusers and Reflectors:
- Softens harsh light using diffusers.
- Reflectors will bounce light back onto the products, filling in shadows.
- Light Tents or Photo Cubes:
- Enclosed structures with diffused walls for soft, even lighting.
- Great for smaller products like jewellery or electronics.
- Colour Temperature Control:
- Adjusts the warmth or coolness of the light to match the desired mood or product characteristics.
The type of lighting used can vary depending on the product being taken as each type of lighting can serve different roles in an ecommerce store.
5. Invest In A Professional Photographer
Regardless of the pricing of service for a photography session, since professional photographers specialise in product photography, capturing outstanding images while utilising the tips given are easier for them to achieve. Additionally, though the cost for their service can be pricey, the profit gained from the E-Commerce sales makes up for the investment.
Nonetheless, if the company has a tight budget when creating an E-Commerce website, a cheaper option would be to invest in tools such as a smartphone with an excellent camera, bluetooth remote shutter, or a ring light. This will allow companies to acquire a decent product photography while staying within their small budget.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when it comes to providing high-quality product photography for an E-Commerce website, focusing on the product, eliminating any distractions, shooting in various angles, providing the necessary lighting and investing in a product photographer that provides a professional photo shoot will help to ensure the quality of the product’s image. With a highly detailed and visually appealing image of the product, customers are more likely to purchase it, boosting E-Commerce sales.
