51ÊÓƵ

AsÌýaÌýmerchant, your products (and selling your products) are theÌýkey toÌýyour success. How you visually showcase them online can make all theÌýdifference inÌýconverting visitors into customers. Well-thought-out product photography should beÌýyour first step.

InÌýgeneral, there are several senses that draw people into aÌýstore orÌýexperienceÌý— whether it’s aÌýbakery that lures people inÌýthrough theÌýaroma ofÌýfresh pastries, aÌýmusic store playing aÌýcool new album, orÌýaÌýcosmetics counter offering aÌýsample ofÌýaÌýnew hand creamÌý— all these attributes touch onÌýhuman senses that can make shopping more enjoyable andÌýconvert shoppers into buyers.

When you sell online, theÌývisual appeal ofÌýyour products isÌýyour best tool toÌýdraw inÌýcustomers, soÌýit’s important toÌýmake your photos look asÌýprofessional asÌýpossible. This not only enhances theÌývalue ofÌýyour products inÌýtheÌýeyes ofÌýcustomers, but itÌýalso builds credibility ´Ú´Ç°ùÌýyour website.

IfÌýyou’re just starting your business, buying expensive equipment orÌýhiring aÌýprofessional photographer may not beÌýinÌýyour budget. SoÌýwe’ve shared aÌýfew product photography tips toÌýhelp you take great pictures ofÌýyour products with theÌýequipment you have (even ifÌýyou’re shooting from your phone).

Related: 8ÌýPhotography Tips ´Ú´Ç°ùÌýaÌýStunning Instagram Business Profile

Pay Attention toÌýProduct Photography Lighting

The main secret ofÌýgood product photography isÌýlighting. Without sufficient light, capturing aÌýclear, bright picture isÌýalmost impossible. The lack ofÌýlight causes aÌýlong exposure asÌýtheÌýcamera tries toÌýfocus, which will make theÌýimage blurry. Instead, you want aÌýphoto that shows theÌýdetails ofÌýyour products well.

Tip: use theÌýnatural light from aÌýwindow. Winter lighting isÌýideal with theÌýsky covered byÌýanÌýeven layer ofÌýclouds. Direct sunlight isÌýless suitable because itÌýgives too much contrasting variations ofÌýbright light andÌýdeep shadows. Also, avoid using theÌýflash ofÌýaÌýcamera asÌýbuilt-in flash provides sharp andÌýunattractive lighting.

Olga from theÌý51ÊÓƵ team has anÌý51ÊÓƵ E-commerce store ofÌýher own andÌýoften takes pictures ofÌýher productsÌý— bracelets andÌýpendants. ToÌýget detailed pictures, she uses white drawing paper asÌýaÌýbackground andÌýaÌý, which can easily beÌýreplaced with light from aÌýwindow.

WeÌýrecommend sticking with aÌýmonochromatic fabric, aÌýwooden board, orÌýaÌýsimple sheet ofÌýpaper ´Ú´Ç°ùÌýbackground inÌýproduct photography. Avoid using aÌýbackground that has distracting patterns orÌýstrong textures, which diverts attention from theÌýproduct.

While white isÌýaÌýuniversal background color, there are exceptions. IfÌýyour site has aÌýpredominantly white background, then you may want toÌýuse aÌýbackground with aÌýdifferent color. Otherwise, pictures can lose theÌýrectangular border andÌýyour items may look like they’re floating onÌýtheÌýpage.

51ÊÓƵ storefronts have anÌýoption toÌý (as well asÌýover 40Ìýother design options) toÌýmake product cards with aÌýwhite background more distinct:

SoÌýexperimentÌý— try different background colors that complement your products, then grab your camera, turn off theÌýflash, make sure your product isÌýinÌýfocus andÌýshoot!

Related: How toÌýTake Great E-commerce Product Photos With Your Phone

Keep Photos Consistent

Make sure that theÌýphotos ofÌýyour products have aÌýconsistent look andÌýfeel byÌýkeeping theÌýbackground, size, andÌýpattern theÌýsame. AÌýuniform style ties together theÌýaesthetic appearance ofÌýyour entire store, asÌýwell asÌýprovides aÌýsimplified view ofÌýyour products ´Ú´Ç°ùÌýyour customers. Needless toÌýsay, itÌýmakes great showcase photography.

Use aÌýVariety ofÌýAngles

Most online shoppers want toÌýsee andÌýlearn about your product before committing toÌýaÌýpurchaseÌý— soÌýshow aÌýfew different angles ofÌýyour products (and provide good descriptions). IfÌýyou have access toÌýaÌýprofessional camera, then it’s easy toÌýcapture high-resolution images, but ifÌýyou don’t, then make sure toÌýtake aÌýphoto ofÌýtheÌýindividual elements orÌýangles asÌýclose toÌýtheÌýproduct asÌýpossible.

Close-up product photography, orÌýmacro shots, provide theÌýperfect solution ´Ú´Ç°ùÌýshowing off theÌýdetails ofÌýyour items. IfÌýyou have aÌýsmartphone, chances are that you already use theÌýcamera toÌýcapture great photos ofÌýyour family andÌýfriends. There are certain limitations, but ´Ú´Ç°ùÌýmacro shooting, theÌýquality ofÌýphotos can beÌývery good.

Another way toÌýshow your product isÌýtoÌýplace itÌýagainst something that can show its scale. For instance, aÌýclose-up shot ofÌýyour product inÌýtheÌýcontext ofÌýaÌýperson, orÌýother object, will give your customers aÌýbetter understanding ofÌýhow big orÌýsmall itÌýis.

Demonstrate theÌýProduct inÌýAction

Upload aÌýfew photos that show where orÌýhow your product isÌýused. IfÌýyou sell items ´Ú´Ç°ùÌýhome, take pictures ofÌýthose products within theÌýcontext ofÌýaÌýhome. IfÌýyou sell fashion accessories, ask your friends toÌýmodel! Customers will beÌýable toÌýbetter understand theÌýsize andÌýcharacteristics ofÌýyour products after seeing them within aÌýfamiliar context.

ByÌýshowcasing your items inÌýtheÌýways they can beÌýused, you can shape your unique identity through product photography.

Related: How toÌýCreate Animated Product Pictures With Your Smartphone

Get Creative

There isÌýnothing better than new, unusual product presentation toÌýhelp differentiate your products andÌýstore from competitors. Take photos with unusual camera angles, use theÌýenvironment around you, orÌýlook ´Ú´Ç°ùÌýaÌýunique moment toÌýshowcase your products.

Olga found herself one day atÌýhome, surrounded byÌýher bracelets andÌýpendants, when suddenly her cat jumped onÌýher lap. ItÌýwas theÌýperfect moment toÌýexperiment with product photography, soÌýshe grabbed aÌýfew ofÌýher items, placed them onÌýher cat, andÌýsnapped aÌýfew unique photos that she used toÌýhelp promote her products!

Take theÌýtime toÌýfind theÌýright natural light, use aÌýuniform background, take aÌýfew pictures ofÌýtheÌýsame item from different angles andÌýinÌýdifferent environments, andÌýbeÌýcreative with product photography! Your goal isÌýtoÌýsellÌý— andÌýyou can doÌýsoÌýbeautifully.

Take theÌýtime toÌýfind theÌýright natural light, use aÌýuniform background, take aÌýfew pictures ofÌýtheÌýsame product from different angles andÌýinÌýdifferent environments, andÌýbeÌýcreative! Your goal isÌýtoÌýsellÌý— andÌýyou can doÌýsoÌýbeautifully.

Ìý

• Product Photography Mistakes That May Cost You Sales
• Simple Product Photography Tips
• How toÌýTake Great Ecommerce Product Photos With Your Phone
• The Best Camera ´Ú´Ç°ùÌýProduct Photography
• Product Photography Pricing Guide
• Cool Product Photography Ideas
• Product Photography Background Ideas
• Super Easy Way toÌýEnhance Your Online Store with Augmented Reality