How to Take High-Quality Photographs of Products that Sell

Why High-Quality Product Images Matter

In the world of eCommerce, high-quality product images can make or break a sale. Clear, well-lit, and professionally composed photos build trust in the brand. This helps to reduce return rates and enhance conversion rates thereby improving your sales. Whether you’re a small business owner or a DIY entrepreneur, mastering product photography techniques is essential to increasing your online sales.

The Psychology of Product Photography

Customers make purchasing decisions based on visuals. Studies show that products with high-quality images receive significantly more engagement and conversions than those with poor-quality or stock images. A well-crafted product photo can create an emotional connection, making the item feel more tangible and desirable. Additionally, customers are less likely to return a product if they have a clear and accurate visual representation of it before purchasing.

Essential Gear for Product Photography

Camera Choices: DSLR vs. Mobile

• DSLR/Mirrorless Cameras: Offer superior image quality, manual settings, and interchangeable lenses, making them ideal for professional product photography.
• Smartphones: Modern phones have powerful cameras and apps that make DIY product photography accessible. Some flagship models come with advanced computational photography features that enhance image quality.

Lenses and Accessories

• Macro Lens: Ideal for capturing small product details, such as textures and engravings.
• Tripod: Ensures stability and consistency, especially for long exposure shots.
• Remote Shutter Release: Prevents camera shake and allows for hands-free operation.
• Lightbox: Provides an even and controlled lighting environment, reducing harsh shadows and reflections.
• Reflectors and Diffusers: Help manipulate lighting to enhance product features.

Lighting Techniques for Professional Product Photos

Natural vs. Artificial Light

• Natural Light: Best for organic, lifestyle shots; works well for clothing and accessories. Ideal for brands aiming for a natural aesthetic.
• Artificial Light: Studio lights and LED panels ensure consistency and eliminate unwanted shadows, making them ideal for commercial product photography.

Soft Lighting for Clarity

• Use Diffusers: Softens harsh shadows and prevents overexposed highlights.
• Reflectors: Bounces light to reduce unwanted dark areas and create even illumination.
• 3-Point Lighting Setup: A key light, fill light, and backlight create depth, highlight textures, and add professionalism to images.
• Ring Lights: Commonly used for smaller products and beauty-related items to achieve a uniform glow.

Angles & Composition: Capturing Products from Their Best Side

Choosing the Right Angles

• Front View: Essential for eCommerce listings as it provides a clear, straightforward representation of the product.
• Side and Back Views: Offers a complete perspective and helps customers understand the product’s dimensions and design.
• Close-Ups: Highlights intricate details and textures, essential for jewellery and accessories.
• Scale Shots: Helps customers gauge the product’s size by comparing it with common objects.
• Lifestyle Shots: Shows the product in real-world use, helping customers envision how it fits into their lives.

Composing the Perfect Shot

• Rule of Thirds: Keeps the product centred but visually appealing by aligning it along grid intersections.
• Negative Space: Focuses attention on the product and avoids unnecessary distractions.
• Branding Consistency: Ensures a uniform look across all images, maintaining a professional brand identity.
• Depth of Field: Using a shallow depth of field can emphasise the product by blurring the background, making it stand out more.

Overcoming Common Product Photography Challenges

Shooting Reflective Surfaces

• Use a polarising filter to minimise reflections and glare.
• Adjust angles to avoid unwanted reflections from lights or surroundings.
• Employ soft, diffused lighting instead of direct light sources to prevent harsh reflections.
• Use black foam boards to control light reflections and add definition.

Capturing Products on a White Background

• Use a seamless white backdrop or a lightbox for clean and professional results.
• Adjust exposure settings to keep the background bright but not overexposed.
• Edit with background removal tools for a pure white finish suitable for eCommerce platforms.
• Utilise gradient backdrops for a subtle yet appealing aesthetic.

Post-Processing & Editing for Professional Results

Basic Edits

• Adjust brightness, contrast, and sharpness to ensure clarity and detail.
• Crop and straighten to maintain uniformity and alignment.
• Remove dust, scratches, or blemishes using editing software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom.

Retouching & Color Correction

• Maintain colour accuracy by calibrating your monitor before editing.
• Use batch editing for efficiency when handling multiple images, ensuring consistency across a series.
• Adjust white balance and saturation to match the true colour of the product.
• Enhance textures and fine details without over-processing.

Exporting for Web Use

• Save images in JPEG or PNG formats depending on transparency needs.
• Optimise file sizes without losing quality to improve website loading speeds.
• Use proper naming conventions and alt text for SEO purposes.

Best Camera Settings for Product Photography (Cheat Sheet)

Expert Insights: Advice from a Professional Photographer

David Lazarus, founder of dlphoto, shares: “Lighting and consistency are key in product photography. Invest time in setting up the perfect shot rather than relying on post-editing. Small businesses can significantly improve their online presence with just a few simple adjustments to their lighting and angles.”

Conclusion: Elevate Your eCommerce Product Photography

By mastering product photography techniques, you can create compelling images that drive conversions. Whether you’re using a smartphone or a DSLR, understanding lighting, angles, and editing will enhance your product listings. Investing in quality photography helps establish credibility and professionalism, ultimately leading to increased sales and customer satisfaction.

Looking to perfect your shots? Learn more about professional product photography techniques and take your brand visuals to the next level!