How To Take Photos Of Goods For An Online Store Correctly

Customers expect the internet commercial offer to meet their expectations. If a regular store offers to personally inspect, examine the thing that interests you, the network has to trust exclusively the photographs of the products, their descriptions.

For this reason, posting a variety of high-quality product shots is a critical element of the success of any online store. Convenient navigation, stylish design cannot compensate for their absence. According to statistics, professional photography of a certain product increases the number of potential buyers by 2%.

What should you take into account when taking photos?

Size/Resolution

Small photos are a dubious sales generator. It is important to provide the target audience with high-resolution pictures. Don’t forget to optimize for networking. Do it wisely: masterpieces of millions of pixels slow down website loading, scaring away visitors from the very start (really high resolution is the exclusive privilege of photo stocks). At the same time, the corresponding parameters are:

• the ability to use the zoom function;
• element of admission to other online trading platforms.

Background: white vs colored

For most products, a white background is fine: an analysis of seven million images showed that 76% of the cases correspond to replacing the original background with white. It:

• allows you to concentrate directly on the product;
• matches any web design;
• draws attention to the CTA (call to action) button;
• minimizes file size.

A series of photos of the same style gives the company’s image a fundamental solidity.

Photo source: https://static-sl.insales.ru

If the white background seems boring to you, you can get more creative with the design of category pages:

• Solid color fill. A colored background works best for solid black/white items. Other color variations work well with traditional neutral backgrounds. Shoot in a white setting, then process and change the background color. You can use a free service for image retouching. This will give you colorful images for your category pages, and more subtle images for your product cards.

• Thematic approach. Using a specially designed wall as a background creates a cast shadow on the subject, emphasizing its shape. Reception allows you to achieve the depth of the picture.

• Natural background. Such pictures excite, attract attention, make you want a certain thing. This is not a budget option, but an effective result is worth the time/money! To avoid busting, alternate alternative images with traditional studio versions.

Accurate color reproduction

Color is another critical aspect of online shopping. Make sure the photos represent the true colors of the product range. Otherwise, the company is expected by disappointed customers with claims of a discrepancy between the order and the real thing.

Please note that computer monitors, web browsers are characterized by different color profiles. Avoiding dissimilar interpretations, convert JPEG files to sRGB color space.

Visibility of goods

To reproduce the effect as close as possible to reality, show the product from different angles: use a front, back, side, top, bottom view. If possible, imagine different states of the item – open, closed, in company with related products or accessories. Be sure to show the product in action – the context gives a good idea of ​​the actual volumes, practical application.

Close-up

A huge part of Internet users makes purchases using mobile devices (phones, tablets). It is especially important for them to see a large, high-quality image of the product. Take care that it can be viewed even without using the zoom function. Attention to detail is the right visual message.

Photo source: https://static-sl.insales.ru

Color palette

If there are different color variations of the product, try to add shots of individual shades/patterns/prints. This will allow consumers to make the right choice without being disappointed.

If customers are forced to imagine what the desired order looks like, and the color or pattern is radically different from the imagined result, the online store expects the brutal reality of returns, negative reviews, and an unpleasant reaction from the regulars of social networks.

Item size ratio

At times, it is difficult to display the real size of a thing: using a ruler, a coin, a hand for comparison is not always possible, if only for aesthetic reasons.

Use a white box as a little trick: a kind of frame narrows the space, allowing you to imagine the dimensions, and the unobtrusive background does not distract from the main thing. An attractive maneuver has the added benefit of creating a width/height rating scale.

Shadow

Skillful use of this technique raises the level of the brand’s images from amateur to professional, separating favorably from niche competitors. The paradox of shadows: they often get in the way, hide the attractiveness of the subject. There is a difference between the shadows on the product and the shadows from it: the former spoil the picture, the latter add a special charm.

Use natural light or add shadows later using special photo editing programs, but always stick to two inseparable rules:

• maximum realism;
• sequence (the same type of shadows for images of the same category).

Credibility will keep the focus of attention, and the sameness will emphasize the professionalism of the presentation.

Taking photos

It is advisable to work on high-quality, unique personnel, rather than using a ready-made manufacturer’s catalog. The preference for one of the other two options depends on the needs of the store owner, his free time, abilities, and budget.

The services of an experienced specialist are a chance to focus on the priority aspects of the business. The risk lies in the controversial copyright: clarify the controversial issue before starting a collaboration.

Self-photography requires minimal knowledge, bright lighting (the usual sun is enough), a good camera (not necessarily expensive, sometimes a smartphone is enough).

Photo source: https://cdn.pixabay.com

The visual presentation of a product is equated with its quality. Ignoring the seriousness of the above information, the entrepreneur risks the reputation, authority, future conversions of the online store.