E-Commerce Seller Financing   •   March 2, 2020

While in physical stores, buyers can observe products from various angles, touch them, or even try them on, it’s impossible with e-commerce businesses. Even though it’s possible to return or exchange products if they don’t meet buyer expectations, it is inconvenient to both buyers and vendors and can result in a loss of profits for the vendor. It may even end up in dissatisfied customer reviews, which can severely damage the reputation of the e-commerce business.

Therefore, in e-commerce, product images are especially important. While enticing product descriptions help potential buyers learn about the unique features of the products and benefits that they offer, product images are how your buyers can get to know your products.

6 Tips for Better Product Images

1. Set the Right Aperture

In photography, the aperture is the opening through which the light travels into the camera. If you have a DSLR camera, the aperture is usually marked with the letter F and a number.

A smaller number corresponds to a wider aperture. This allows more light to travel through, making the image brighter. A wider aperture also limits how much of the image is in focus. This enables you to make objects that you focus on look crisp and sharp while the background is blurry. This is excellent for portrait and product photography as the main object of the image is in the very center of attention.

If you do not have a DSLR camera and take your product images with your smartphone, set it in portrait mode. This will automatically adjust the aperture to wide, making your product the main focus of the image.

2. Use the Right Light Temperature.

To take quality product images, you need good lighting. The most optimal is natural light that is not bright. Yet, if you don’t have good natural lighting, an artificial light set can be an excellent alternative. However, you need to ensure that you are using the right lights, or you risk having product images that don’t look that good.

To take better product images, don’t use regular lamps. Light has a temperature, and regular indoor lights have a warm temperature.  This can change the color tones of your product images, and mislead your buyers.

Cool temperature is best for quality product photographs. For that, you need to use 5000K bulbs.

Affordable lighting kits from online marketplaces like Amazon, usually come equipped with those.

3. Point the Lights in the Right Direction

If you use a set of lights, position them at either side of the product. However, don’t point them directly at the product. Instead, point them at the background. This will create a more even light, shadows that are not sharp, as well as separate the product from the background.

4. Use Light Diffusers

Avoid direct sunlight or using bare lights that point directly at the product. That can result in very sharp light. Use diffused light instead.

If you shoot with natural light, shoot during a cloudy day, in the mid-morning, or during the afternoon. This will create softer light and result in better product photos.

Indoors, you can use a softbox kit. This will evenly light your products and won’t create light spots or sharp reflections.

For smaller products, you can use a lightbox. You can either purchase one or create it yourself.

5. Eliminate the Horizon Line

If your product images require a single-color background. To create a seamless look, use a large piece of paper that you can take to the wall and the floor. If you do not need a white background, you can experiment with colors, textures, or patterns that complement your product.

6. Get Creative with Your Lifestyle Shots

While photos with products positioned against a plain background direct all attention to the products, lifestyle photos can give a new edge and speak more directly to the buyers. Make sure to experiment and try different options to see what best represents your product.

You can try indoor shots in a home setting or try outdoor images. For instance, if you sell candles, placing them on a beautifully set dinner table can provide more character to your product photos and provide ideas for your buyers for how they can use them. If you offer an eco-friendly beauty product line, taking product images outdoors, such as in the grass, can emphasize the natural origin or your products.

Make sure not to overdo it, though. Keep in mind the qualities of your products and the values of your customers and make sure that your product images emphasize those rather than contradict with them.