Online consumers rely on product photography to replace the senses they would normally use when shopping physically for their goods. As such, the images of products in online stores need to be of a very high standard, showcasing the product to the seller in the best possible light. Your product photography needs to be of a quality that will tempt prospective customers from your competitor’s product listings, straight to the checkout stage of your store. Does photography really have that much power? The answer is yes; it can also make a difference to the number of returns your business receives as well as helping to build your reputation and bringing repeat sales to your site. Here, we asked the experts at Click Studios for their take on how your small business could benefit from professional product photography, whether you sell from your own site, or through a third-party.
A False Economy?
It may seem like a good idea to take your product images yourself or get a friend to help you out, but there is no substitute for professional product photography – not if you are seriously committed to building and developing your eCommerce business. Professional images of your product range not only gives consumers an idea of what the product looks like, but they can also be the difference between the customer wanting something and the customer is made to feel like they need it! Furthermore, your business will be judged by the quality of your images. If the photography in your marketplace is poor, dull, not well lit and a bit out of focus, the customer is not likely to have the confidence to part with their hard-earned money with you and is likely to go elsewhere. The images you use and how those images are taken and displayed are a direct representation of your business brand, so elements such as composition, shadows, saturation, color palette and in some cases location, all need to be consistent. This is where working with a professional product photography service can really help.
One Size Doesn’t Fit All
A professional product photography service will also be able to advise which type of image is best suited to your product; not just for the main thumbnail but for the further information images as well. For example, as well as having your main product image on a pure white background, you may also choose to have a lifestyle/action image, a product grouping shot and maybe even a scaled product picture. Whatever ideas you have, the professional photographer can guide you in the right direction. Increasingly, flat lay photography is being used for a variety of product ranges; it is very popular in clothing. Some eCommerce stores, such as Amazon, require flat lay photography when selling clothing, whilst in other situations, it may just be the best way to showcase the product.
Flat lay photography involves taking the picture from a birds-eye view i.e. directly above the product(s). The products below are laid out on a flat surface in a structure that will appear the most appealing in photographs. Although simple in its application, there are a few flat-lay product photography styles to choose from, depending on the product and the type of mood you want to create. Flat lay product images are designed to instantly grab attention; they appeal to customers as they are creative and each image can be unique differently with the addition or removal of one or more props. Flat lay product photography is widely used on social media, especially platforms such as Instagram where it is all about the imagery and aesthetic.
It is easier than ever to take your own pictures for your eCommerce platform, especially if you own a smartphone, but investing in a professional product photography service can really enhance your image and help you stand out from the crowd. You can write a very detailed product description but ultimately, it will be the product images you use that will guarantee the sale.
