How Important is Product Photography in eCommerce

By Team AmeriCommerce - Updated On 2/6/2020

Product photography is a HUGE aspect that you need to think about when trying to persuade people in to buy your stuff

Did you know that people remember 80 percent of what they see, and just 20 percent of what they read? The power of an image is hard to ignore, and if you're not including great images of your products then you could be losing out on some serious sales. 

The truth is, the better your stuff looks, the more you will sell. 

So we've created a photography cheat sheet for you to download below, giving you plenty of awesome tips to help you take professional product photos, without having to break the bank. 

But before you download our cheat sheet, check out these top 4 thing's to consider, when planning your product photography.... 

1. Choose a set amount of images

The first thing you need to consider when planning your product photography is how many images you want to showcase. If you look to sites like eBay or Amazon, you'll see that they give the user an option to add many product photos. This really helps the viewer get a detailed visual insight into what they are buying.

If you're selling a lot of products in your store then you may not want to clutter your site with loads of photos, but it's important to keep the amount consistent for each product. As a general rule, think about showing three photos for each product.

2. Use the image to highlight the benefits

In addition to showing multiple images, try and think outside the box and use your images to showcase the benefits. For example, one of the main selling points of a tablet is how slimline it is, and many vendors offer an image of the tablet next to a pencil, to really highlight this feature.

You could even consider creating life shots, with people using your product. This is an effective approach that many successful brands decide to go with. It connects with your customers emotions and shows them how they can use the product in their daily life.

3. Show ALL colors and styles

Does your product come in a different color, or style? Say for example you are selling shorts that have different colors and patterns. Don't just take one photo of the shorts in the most popular color. Make sure you show your visitors the various colors and styles of your product. It can really make a difference in whether you get a sale, as not everyone has the same taste.

4. Make your images appealing

This is probably the most important point to consider. The more appealing your products look, the more likely you are to receive a sale. There are various tricks that you can do, to make your products look as appealing as can be!

  • Get the lighting right so that it's evenly lit
  • Experiment with the photo settings to get the best results
  • Make sure your camera is stable
  • Spend time editing the photo
  • Think about what background you want to have
  • Use different diffusion methods
  • Get the best angle for your product

How do I make sure I'm doing this correctly?

Download our DIY product photography cheat sheet

As you can see, when it comes to creating the perfect product photo, there is a lot to consider. And if you're not a professional then this can seem like a daunting task.

Well, fear not – we've created a photography cheat sheet (see below for a sneaky teaser) so you can learn how to take your own professional photos, without spending tons of money! 

Check it out below or download our cheat sheet here. 


Add this infographic to your website by copying and pasting the following embed code:

Takeaway

Product photography is important. In fact, it's so important it can be the difference between making a sale and losing a lot of customers. Your visitors will always be drawn to an image before they read the text on the page, so you need to make sure that your images look awesome.

Our photography cheat sheet offers plenty of tips and advice on how you can shoot the perfect product photo, but if you need help with other parts of your store then be sure to give us a call! Our platform offers a bunch of benefits to help your online store attract customers.

For more articles like this one, make sure you Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter and Add us to your circles on Google+

About the Author

Team AmeriCommerce

We're a bunch of nerds, a few cat people, several musicians, numerous gaming addicts, countless beard aficionados, and possibly a hipster or two. Since 2005 our team has been building one of the world's most powerful E-Commerce platforms designed to do stuff other platforms can't.

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Comments
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Keri Blakinger
August 14, 2014 9:11 PM
This is a really excellent post -- and not just for the purposes of selling products online. I think some of this information is valuable for photography in general. For my job I have to take a lot of pictures (although not generally of products) and some of this information is really valuable for that purpose as well.
David Adams
August 15, 2014 8:55 AM
I believe a good picture goes a long way at showing what the buyer is getting. If the photo is of something on a table or carpet, people tend to view the item as used or just not important. When you set up an area to take photos of an item, it makes that item look like it's on display, which is what people like seeing.
Josh R.
August 15, 2014 10:24 AM
I have done plenty of ads and I absolutely agree that the image used is by far the most powerful part of the message. It serves to draw attention and magnify the importance of whatever verbal message the ad can contain. Photography can be tricky. The biggest challenges I have faced involve shooting food. Food photography is a real specialty. I have taken shots of all kinds of products myself for online stuff, but for food I find a pro. Also, everyone should be aware that many online markets have specific requirements for image size, backgrounds and content. Check with the market before you go too far on your project. They will reject photos.
Kathy J Firak
August 15, 2014 12:25 PM
Excellent information! As a professional photographer for over 30 years I have seen just how much importance big companies place on making their products look their absolute best. ECommerce is quite competitive and good photos can improve sales. You can see some of my product photos at www.ProductPhotographer-USA.com or see my full portfolio at www.firakphoto.com
Alex London
August 17, 2014 4:35 PM
I've actually done a bit of an experiment with this in my own shop. I've found product shots that I've taken in a lifestyle type setting sell on average 60% more than products with a simple white background shot. Now this may be due to the type of products I sell, but still, something to think about.
Bryan (Store Admin)
August 18, 2014 9:36 AM
@Keri Blakinger thanks for your comment! @David Adams, I agree with you on that. Taking photos in a 'scene' environment, not a blank canvas, seems to be work better, and is also much more likely to be shared in Pinterest. @Josh R, great advice! I imagine Food photography would be challenging! @Kathy J Firak, nice to have photographers stopping by. Thanks! @Alex London, you and I both concur with David Adams. Lifestyle scenes are a much better way to shoot product photos. Sometimes, it's acceptable to shoot items on a white background, such as t-shirts. But I would always suggest adding images of the apparel on models, if possible. It makes a big difference to see a t-shirt on a flat surface, as opposed to how it actually looks when worn.
Bo Tipton
August 18, 2014 5:57 PM
This is one of those bookmark, pass it on, save the information type post. A great photography down to basics tutorial. I know that pictures certainly work to get my attention. I agree with you Bryan that lifestyle scenes are better than white backgrounds or no backgrounds at all.
AnnieMariePeters
September 11, 2014 1:17 PM
Fantastic cheat sheet! The importance of product photography really can't be stressed enough. I think it's interesting that you mention the 80/20 see vs. read ratio. Look at how popular Pinterest has become! Our customers want to SEE and experience our products, not just read about them.
Mike Williams (Store Admin)
September 12, 2014 9:19 AM
@AnnieMariePeters - You're absolutely right! A clean presentation is an absolute must.
Emma Coulson
September 15, 2014 8:33 PM
Fun infographic and tips. Here are some interesting data points behind doing product photography the right and most innovative way...including the data behind some of the techniques out there: http://3dproductimaging.com/blog/evolution-product-photography/
James Cooper
July 27, 2015 1:26 AM
Product Photography plays the vital role in e-commerce business. As they said, first impression is the best impression always. People gonna buy things by just seeing the images of that product so its really important to take the perfect shot!
Rvjig Mumbai
January 12, 2017 4:29 AM
I like your blog it's amazing now i am going to bookmark it. ecommerce photography || ecommerce apparel photography || ecommerce fashion photography in mumbai || product image editing in mumbai
Abbas Mandal
September 22, 2017 4:47 AM
Jahid Gcw
October 2, 2017 4:05 PM

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