The global e-commerce market is continuously growing, with the market expected to hit sales of $58.74 trillion by 2028. In this rapidly evolving and growing market, brands must continuously find new and innovative ways to drive sales and find new customers. This is why we wrote a previous article on the ‘5 Ways to Make Your E-commerce Business Boom’. The article can guide small business owners through digital marketing strategies that will enable them to increase their brand recognition and reach their target audience. Among these strategies is creating engaging content that attracts website visitors and converts them into potential customers.
As humans are naturally visual creatures, photos are the most frequently used content type for user engagement. No matter which type of online business you have, you can leverage this information by using a good camera and taking quality product images that stand out from other ads and brands — here’s how.
The role of product images in customer conversion
The product enhances visual communication. Unlike brick-and-mortar stores where customers can see the product for themselves, e-commerce websites have to provide product images and descriptions to draw visitors to the website and have them equate the quality of photos with the quality of the item they have in mind.
Hence, high-quality photos convey to prospective customers that your brand and its products can be trusted, making them feel more confident about their purchase decision. Retail Technology Review found that 75% of online shoppers rely on product images throughout the e-commerce customer journey. Ensuring the photos are detailed, well-lit, and taken from multiple angles also increases the chances of customers making an informed buying decision instead of skipping past your website.
When customers know exactly what they’re getting online regarding the product’s size, color, texture, and other specific attributes, they’ll be more likely to be satisfied with the product and even make repeat purchases.
Best practices for quality product photography
Invest in a good camera
In order to capture detailed product photos, you need to invest in a camera that delivers excellent image quality and resolution. The good news for those on a budget is that you don’t necessarily have to shell out for the newest cameras on the market, with many platforms offering top-quality used models from established brands. The used mirrorless cameras on Adorama are from famous camera brands, including Nikon, Fujifilm, and Sony, all at discounted prices. One example is the Sony Alpha A6300 digital camera, whose mirrorless format makes it more lightweight and portable than bulky DSLRs. With its 24.2-megapixel full-frame sensor and hybrid autofocus system, you can accurately represent the rich colors and details of your products. Meanwhile, the Sony Alpha A6500 builds upon its successor’s fast performance with redesigned grip and controls for better ergonomics. Both of these top-of-the-range cameras can be bought as used models.
Experiment with angles and lighting
As customers prefer to see a variety of images instead of a single product photo, feel free to experiment with angles and lighting. However, you will want to keep the focus and quality of your images consistent all throughout, so using full-height tripods like the Vanguard Alta Pro 2+ 263AB100 can help produce stable shots with minimal noise and clutter. Its center, which can rotate to 90 degrees, is perfect for flat lays and size comparisons, while the adjustable height of its legs makes outdoor photography for editorial and lifestyle shoots a breeze. While natural lighting during the daytime is always recommended, you can use reflectors and ring lights to achieve the best results.
Optimize product photos
You can use reliable photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom to elevate your products’ overall visual appeal in terms of focus, composition, and color grading. However, you have to ensure that you don’t lose any of the post-production quality once you upload your photos to your chosen e-commerce platform or website.
Therefore, it is recommended that you invest in a digital asset management (DAM) system for lossless image compression, as well as image dimension optimization that can make your images perfectly rendered even for mobile shoppers. In the DAM marketplace, the SAP Hybris integration is one platform that can serve as a scalable and seamless repository of your image content and product information, allowing you to access and protect your digital assets across different channels and teams.
In summary, a good camera delivers high-quality product photography that entices e-commerce shoppers and converts them into your brand’s loyal customers. Prioritizing creative expression and image optimization also enhances the potential of product images to generate leads and lessen returns.
