Ecommerce and Product Photography
According to sellerscommerce.com, more than 2.77 billion consumers across the globe shop online.That’s a huge global market and a potential untapped resource if you haven’t yet made the jump to online sales. Ecommerce sales are projected to surpass $6.8 trillion in 2025, and more than 21% of purchases are expected to be made online. With numbers like these, it’s key to embrace the online retail journey.
Effective product photography is essential for successfully transitioning into the online retail space. How you position your products is everything– with so much competition in the online retail space, making sure you stand out essential to cultivating customer loyalty. How you showcase your products online is key to creating brand recognition and customer connection. Give your products the best chance of standing out with quality images that best showcase product value and tell your brand’s story.
Product Photography Types
There are several ways to successfully snap product photos that look great and are easily shareable online and on social. There are three main types of product photography:
Inventory
Inventory is used by online retailers to showcase products. Generally taken in isolation against a neutral background to capture product packaging and keep the focus on the product.
Digital Assets
Digital assets are great for social media, website graphics, and promotional materials. They show products in a staged environment to create attention-capturing visuals and capture product details.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle photography shows products being used in a real-life setting. It demonstrates how the products may be used within the context of the environment they are meant to be used.
Setting the stage for digital asset photography
Before planning your product photo shoot, it’s important to lay a foundation. There’s an art to photography–it’s crucial to understand the product you’re shooting and the brand behind it to ensure you design an aesthetic that aligns. Start by answering a few key questions:
- What emotion or feeling are you trying to evoke with your product? Do you want customers to feel bold? Excited? Nostalgic?
- What is the brand’s tone and message? Is your brand or product personality designed to be in your face, or more reserved?
- Is the product something that is seen, or does the product provide a benefit behind-the-scenes? Is it decorative or functional?
- How/where are these photos being used?
Once you’ve clarified what the product does and how it aligns with brand identity, you’re ready to start designing your promo shoot. If you’re unsure or just getting started, a branding agency established and experienced in product photography can help guide you through the process.
Important considerations
There are a few factors to consider to successfully execute a product shoot. Your product is the main event and should be the focal point of the shoot, so choose complementary colors, patterns, and props that don’t compete with it. Avoid using elements that visually distract from the product’s appeal.
Create a mood board ahead of the shoot to get a sense of what textures, layers, and colors enhance the product and add visual depth. A few other tips:
- Lighting is everything. Choose a lighting setup that minimizes harsh reflections and unwanted shadows, or consider professional studio lighting.
- Remember your angles. Be consistent in the way you shoot and represent products.
- Optimize camera settings. Shoot in RAW format, using a shutter speed of 1/250 or faster, and using an ISO between 100-400 to minimize noise.
With a little advanced preparation, you’ll be well on your way to high-quality photos that show your product in the best light.
Wrap Up
How your products are presented online is critical to connecting with customers and establishing a brand identity. Quality product photography plays a big part in that. Whether you choose to take your own product photos or are just starting to define your brand, it’s critical to have photos that set your product apart in the marketplace.
Shooting for the right medium is essential as well. Social media shots tend to be a bit more lax while a shot for a magazine advertisement is much more detail-oriented. Always have a plan in place!