6 Useful Product Photography Tips That Every Online Seller Must Know About
Product photography is one of the most vital aspects of online selling. It’s what makes your items stand out among all others. But it might not have always been like this – as recently as five years ago, retailers would often just use stock photos or use their photos with no editing done to them. And yet these days, people are much more demanding when it comes to photographs used for stores. They won’t shop without seeing high-quality pictures which accurately represent the product.
This is why a good product photography is important, and if you’re an online seller, you must know about the following tips for taking great product photos:
Hire a Professional Photographer
If you’re not comfortable taking product photos yourself or don’t have the time or equipment to do it properly, then you might want to consider hiring a professional photographer. They have the experience and equipment necessary to take great product photos, and they can help you achieve the look you’re going for. If you work from Chicago, you may consider yourself lucky as you will have access to some of the best product photographers in the world. Besides the fact that Chicago has great product photographers in all ranges, it is also centrally located and can serve as a great starting or endpoint for product photoshoots around the country. Even though it might sound like a costly investment, hiring an expert photographer can be worth it in the long run.
Use a Good Camera
A good camera is essential for taking high-quality product photos. If you’re using a smartphone to take your photos, then you might want to consider upgrading to a digital SLR camera. This will give you more flexibility and control over your shots and will result in better-quality photos. They’re not as expensive as you might think, and they can make a big difference. If you don’t have the money to invest in a new camera, then consider borrowing or renting one from a friend or local photography store. Regardless of what camera you choose to use, make sure that it’s in good working condition and has been properly tested.
Lighting is Key
Good lighting is essential for taking great product photos. It can make or break your shots, no matter how talented you might be with a camera. The best way to achieve good lighting is to use natural light whenever possible. This means shooting outdoors or in a room with large windows. If you must shoot indoors, depending on what time of day it is, you might be able to use sunlight coming in through a window. However, if it’s nighttime or the weather is bad, you’ll need to use artificial light. In this case, you should use a softbox or some other type of diffused lighting to avoid harsh shadows and reflections. The best artificial light for product photography is studio lighting – it’s very bright and consistent, making it perfect for taking pictures of items.
Use an AI-Powered Background Editor
In addition to using proper lighting, cameras, and editing software, you can also improve your product photos with an AI-powered background editor like PhotoRoom’s Instant Backgrounds. This tool uses artificial intelligence to instantly generate realistic backgrounds that complement your products.
With Instant Backgrounds, you simply upload your original photo and the AI will remove the existing background and replace it with a tailored, studio-quality image. The advanced algorithm matches the lighting and angles of your product shot to create shadows, textures and other elements that make your item pop.
Use a White Background
A lot of people think that these are just for studio photographers who take pictures for print ads or catalogs. But they’re not – anyone can use them. And if you don’t have a studio and need lighting equipment, don’t worry – there are plenty of ways to set up an inexpensive home studio with minimal effort. All you need is some spare time and space in your house or apartment where it’s possible to put two large sheets of foam board back-to-back on top of each other against a wall without taking up too much space. Once you have your background in place, the next step is to light it evenly. You can do this by using a white reflector to bounce light onto the background. This will help to eliminate any shadows and make your products look their best.
Use a Good Photo Editing Software
Even if you take great product photos, there’s always room for improvement. That’s why it’s important to edit your shots before posting them online. This can be done with any photo-editing software, but Adobe Photoshop is the most popular choice among online sellers. Photoshop allows you to adjust the brightness, contrast, and color of your photos, as well as crop and resize them. This gives you the ability to make your products look their best before publishing them online. The best part is that Photoshop is a fairly easy program to learn, and there are plenty of online tutorials available if you need help.
Show Off Your Products from All Angles
When shoppers can see a product from all angles, they can get a better idea of what it looks like and whether or not they’re interested in buying it. That’s why it’s important to show off your products in as many different ways as possible. This can be done by taking multiple shots of each product – one from the front, one from the back, one from the side, etc. And don’t forget about close-ups. Showing close-ups of your products’ details can be extremely helpful for shoppers, as it allows them to see exactly what they’re buying. Also, make sure to only use images that represent your product accurately. Your customers need to trust that what they’re seeing is the real thing, so don’t use any misleading or exaggerated images.
As you can see, there are a lot of things to consider when taking product photos and since the quality of your photos can make or break a sale, it’s important to get them right. By following these six tips, you’ll be well on your way to taking great product photos that will help you sell more products online. And remember, practice makes perfect – so keep experimenting until you find what works best for you.