Do you ever feel like every other photographer out there?
Or struggle with thoughts like, “Why would anyone ever hire me over someone else? There are so many photographers out there! The market is oversaturated with photographers.”
4 Ways To Make Your Photography Business Stand Out In An Oversaturated Market:
1. Invite people fall in love with YOU.
People buy from people and brands they like, connect to, resonate and fall in love with.
If you’re not sure why people would love you, ask your friends, acquaintances, and past clients what it is they absolutely love about interacting with and spending time with you.
Trust me, there are things that they absolutely love about you. The things that make you, you.
How you can do this:
Infuse your personality into your brand. If you want to stop being seen as the same as every other person in your industry, set yourself apart by being YOU. And it’s okay if not everyone likes you; not everyone should. If your goal is to build a photography business that EVERYONE loves, your brand isn’t going to stand out. It’s going to feel diluted.
If you haven’t yet, share your origin story of why you started. Why did you go into photography? Everyone loves a good story, especially when there’s passion and purpose involved. Don’t be afraid to share yours.
2. Create your own mini niche (unique selling point).
Want to stand out in an oversaturated market?
Don’t do what every other photographer in your industry is doing the same exact way they’re doing and definitely do not take on any and every job under the sun (or even if you do, don’t advertise it as such).
Build your portfolio and expertise, and pick a specific direction you want to go.
How you can do this:
Don’t just offer another service.
Provide an EXPERIENCE that people can only get with you. Maybe your specialty is shooting in a studio or at a beautifully designed Airbnb. Maybe you’re really good at shooting headshots for millennials in the start-up industry. Maybe you want to become a beach elopement photographer on the West Coast.
Brand your photography business and be known for your experience. That’s how you set yourself apart as a photographer in a saturated market.
This is specifically why people come to you, and this is what you’re known for. Create a niche within your niche.
3. Provide value with content marketing.
How are you going to make someone’s life better? We all have aspirations, dreams, goals, struggles, etc.
Become their guide – the person who takes them from point A to point B. (book recommendation: read “Building A Story Brand” by Donald Miller).
Value can come in so many forms: inspiration, education, storytelling, etc.
As a photographer, it’s good to be on Instagram, have a blog, and use Pinterest.
Instagram is a great way to connect with your ideal clients and a great place to showcase your amazing work. By regularly posting your best photos, you not only interact with your followers but also increase your chances of showing up on your ideal clients’ IG explore page.
Blogging can help your photography business show up on search engines when potential clients are searching for a wedding or elopement photographer in your city. As a business, you want to make it easier for your ideal clients to find you.
Along with having client galleries on your blog, I suggest having helpful blog posts. For example, you could write about the top wedding venues in your town and include your work in there.
Now, let’s talk about Pinterest.
Pinterest is actually a great platform for photographers to use for their marketing because it’s essentially a visual search engine. You can showcase your work and organize them into boards like engagement sessions, wedding photos, wedding venue inspiration, and so on. This helps with SEO and allow your ideal clients to find you.
4. Create an awesome brand experience / buyer journey.
Your favorite brands create brand experiences all the time, from the way they arrange their store to their social media channels.
Take a moment to think about how you feel when you interact with your favorite brands.
What are they doing to make you feel this way? What are they doing to inspire you to take action? (i.e. buying their products and services) It could be their brand mission, storytelling, design, messaging, aesthetics, overall vibe, etc.
How you can do this:
Think about how you want people to feel when they interact with your brand.
Then, write down a list of all the possible ways people interact with your brand. (Ex. IG posts – stories – highlights, FB, Pinterest; email newsletter; freebies and lead magnets; in-person events; investment guide; website; etc.)
How you can make your brand interactions more cohesive, consistent, and clear? How can you inspire them to take action?
In the world of photography, you’ve got to stand out, especially in a saturated market.
Here’s the scoop: People want to connect with you, the real you. So, let your personality shine through your brand. Next up, find your unique twist, your thing that nobody else does quite like you. It’s your superpower in a crowded world. Share your knowledge, tips, and cool stuff through your content, and you’ll be their go-to photography guru.
And don’t forget to make the entire experience awesome. From the first hello to the final photo delivery, make it unforgettable.
When you do this, your photography business becomes not just a service but an unforgettable experience that clients come back to again and again.
The human brain can process images in only 13 milliseconds — which means you don’t have much time to make a good first impression on your customers. What shoppers see is often a deciding factor in whether they will stay on your site or lose interest, so it’s crucial that you invest in building an online store that catches their eye and keeps them intrigued.
One of the best ways to do this is through great product photography.
If you’re running an ecommerce business, you probably already know how amazing your products are, but until a customer has your product in-hand, all they have to rely on are the pictures on your website. This is why the best ecommerce websites not only have great products, but also great photos of their products. These images testify to the quality and value of your products and establish transparency into your ecommerce business.
Types of Product Photography
Product photography isn’t one size fits all. Just as your ecommerce store likely features a variety of products and services, product photos also come in a variety of styles and purposes. Some are for everyday use, while others are more unique and only used in special cases.
Whether you want to maintain a consistent look across your product photos or tastefully mix and match them, it’s important to understand the difference between each type of product photography and how to best capture them. Below we’ve compiled a list of the six most common types of product shots, when to use them and what they look like in practice:
1. Individual shots.
One of the most common types of product photos, the individual shot contains only one object in the frame. These are often featured in product catalogs, banner images and throughout product pages to showcase individual products independently from the full collection.
2. Group shots.
You guessed it — group shots showcase more than one product together.
Often used for product kits and collections, group photography displays the range and variety of your products and gives the customer a more complete view of your offering. These types of images are perfect for social media posts and advertisements, as they give shoppers a taste of your brand as a whole, rather than just one product.
3. Lifestyle shots.
This type of photography is where you get to show your products in action.
Often taken with a model, lifestyle shots tell the story behind your product and show your customers how they can use them in their daily lives.
While lifestyle photos can complement individual shots on your product page, they’re also perfect for social media, emails, ads and other visual channels, because they catch the eye and make your products feel more personal.
4. Scale shots.
A common issue with shopping online is not being able to gauge the actual size of a product. While product descriptions may list the dimensions of an item, product photos can be deceiving.
But with scale shots, you can help your customers get a better idea of the actual size of a product by comparing it with other everyday items, similar to this example . This will help your customers visualize your products in their everyday lives and increase their confidence when purchasing online.
5. Detailed shots.
For products with small intricacies that require a close-up, including jewelry and other small items, detailed shots help highlight specific product features that a traditional photo might not catch.
This type of photography often requires specific light and camera settings, such as a macro lens, to capture those delicate shots.
6. Packaging shots.
Believe it or not, customers care about packaging.
From browsing your website to making a purchase and receiving their product in the mail, customers seek a shopping experience that is consistent from start to finish. So, even though you may have an amazing product, if your presentation isn’t up to par, your customers might take note.
And if your products come with beautiful, branded packaging, why not feature it on your product page to give your customers a taste of what to expect?
Packaging shots, feature not only the product itself, but also the product packaging, whether it be a box, bag or label.
Scrolling through Etsy, you wonder: how do these other shop take such nice photos that pop out of the screen? Great product photography on Etsy means higher click rate on a search page and higher likeliness that a visitor will buy your product.
Good news is, there are some solid ideas to make your photos better:
To improve your Etsy product photography, first you need a clean background, a well-lit environment and a photo editing program. The next things to work on will be lifestyle, packaging, behind the scene shots, etc that give your products more personality. These will create professional photos that customers love.
Well Lit, Clean Background
One of the most important things for your Etsy product to stand out is to have it on a clear background that is free of distractions. The most popular choice is a white or light colored background. It gives a clean feeling to your product. Other backgrounds can work as well. A wooden background is more warm and a dark background can look expensive if done right.
Lighting is also important. You want strong, diffused light, like sunlight through a thin curtain. You don’t want strong direct sunlight as it will leave a harsh shadow.
Here are some examples of Etsy products shot on a well-lit background that’s free of distraction.
Showcase Different Variations
If you have different versions of the same product, like different flavor, color, size, etc, putting them in one photo can show your customers the options they have. A photo like this can convey extra information to shoppers who may not know the options exist otherwise.
Lifestyle Shot/Usage Shot
This is the photo that shows how the product looks and feels when it’s being used. Customers looking at this photo can envision how they can use the product in their own lives. Coupled with writing a strong product description, this is a powerful way to grab the attention of shoppers and convert them into customers.
Scale Shot
Some products may be smaller or bigger than expected. And you don’t want to surprise your customer by a product that is way smaller than what they have in their mind.
Try putting a common object, like a coin or a ruler, to compare to your product. It’s way easier this way to have a clear idea of the size of your product.
Detail/Closeup Shot
Show off your craftsmanship with a closeup photo. Focus on the impressive details that would have been missed on a wide shot.
Those details are likely to be the points that set yourself apart from your competition.
Sizing/Fit/Variation Shot
On Etsy, it can be hard to convey all the customizations you offer with just words. It can be different finishing, material, color, size, and so on. A well presented information photo is much more effective than a wall of words. Show the options on the photo with a few words explaining. This makes the purchasing process easier and improves the conversion rate drastically.
Behind-The-Scenes Shot
Etsy is a handmade market. People expect the product to be handcrafted. A behind-the-scenes shot can set yourself apart from the big retailers. It reminds shoppers that your product is handmade and handcrafted.
Professional photographers depend on a wide range of gear to perform their magic, including ring lights. Of all the equipment that photographers keep in their studios, lighting is arguably the most vital for an excellent product shoot. Without the proper lighting – positioned, angled, and dimmed correctly – products can look flat, dull, unappealing to online shoppers, and won’t “pop” against a white background.
Using the right light for product photography is a sure-fire way to make sure the shoot is a roaring success, but ring lights can be tricky for beginners or intermediate photographers. These seven tips will help those who need a quick breakdown of how to do ring light photography.
1 – Use the Right Light as the key light source for product photography
Essentially, proper product photography requires a key light source, a fill light source, and maybe backlighting too. Some products will be more tricky to shoot than others, and adjusting the lighting is one way to make it easier overall. A quick rule of thumb is that a ring light works well as key lighting if photographers need to snap a direct shot of an item.
A 10-inch ring light is probably just enough to shoot average-sized products for most photographers. Although a pro-quality studio usually uses all three types of lighting to get the perfect shot, with fill lighting placed further away and at a different angle than the key lighting.
2 – Choose a Ring Light with a high CRI
Ring light with a high color rendering index (CRI) specification works best for product photography, and here’s why: it mimics full, natural sunlight. A professional product photographer knows how important it is for objects to look similar in-person and online. Otherwise, consumers may not be happy with their experience and feel duped into buying an inferior item.
Kodak Ring Light 10″
Perfect addition to your photography accessories, the Kodak Ring Light 10″. Adjustable and versatile light for almost any use. Built with high-quality materials and designed with elegance and ease-of-use in mind.
Compatible with mirrorless cameras
Durable material and Travel case included
Adjustable height, light and power
3 – Be aware of reflective surfaces when using Ring Light
Ring lights can be handy when accounting for reflective surfaces in the product. It’s commonplace to correct reflections in Photoshop, but it’s an unnecessary step if photographers snap the picture properly from the start.
Reflections will cause more shadows and may also reflect light into the camera lens, creating an artifact that software will need to correct. Jewelry photos are a perfect example of what reflective surfaces can do in a digital image file. They can easily cause glare and defeat the entire purpose of the product shoot: make the item look as gorgeous as possible. Be aware of the reflection that a Ring Light will make and position the light so that the reflection won’t be seen in the picture.
4 – Choose the right background color before taking product photos
Ideally, photographers should shoot products against a white background, but it’s not always the case, not always a hard rule. Using a ring light gives more flexibility in the shoot when the background color is white. In fact, digital marketers prefer white backgrounds since it makes it much easier to cut out the product in the image.
That’s basically how photographers create PNG files with transparent backgrounds after shooting items against a white background. But the question is this: what’s the best technique for shooting a white object on a black background? The answer depends on a photographer’s experience and how skilled they are at lighting setup, which often includes a ring light setup.
5 – Adjust the lighting for realistic colors
Digital photography is still a revolutionary technology, and it’s evolving faster than most people think. Without a doubt, ring lights are nothing relatively new, but what is new is that they’re now more affordable and have more features like dimmers.
Professional photographers know that lighting is absolutely critical to take photos with realistic colors. That’s why they often use ring lights for food photography too. What photographers don’t want to do is snap photos with fluorescent, warm light. This type of lighting can cause product photos to give off more green and blue shades than products usually do.
6 – Use bounce cards to fill-in shadows
Product photography is all about angles, which can actually change the “mood” of the picture. All products have odd angles and crevices that can create small shadows in photos. A ring light will distribute light evenly around an object, which is great for identifying where shadows hide. For example, photographers can think of shooting a Barbie doll versus a Transformer toy; each item casts shadows differently.
To compensate, photographers use bounce cards, typically sold in white and black, to take the edge off of shadows and brighten them up. The technique relies on light reflecting off of the bounce card to fill-in light.
7 – If you don’t take product photos in the same place – Invest in a portable ring light
One of the most significant benefits of ring light photography is that it’s a very portable setup. Using a ring light for product photography works well, but natural lighting is still better – but not enough for a pro shoot.
A portable ring light opens up more opportunities for photographers to ply their trade anywhere and at any time of the day. Usually, the ring light equipment itself isn’t too heavy to carry from shoot to shoot, but some models can be a little more awkward to move around than others.
In the end, no matter which ring light photographers choose, the idea is to use it creatively while remembering the basics of lighting, colors, and camera angles.
Like any other art form, photography has a lot of different genres. This handy guide will walk you through the different genres and types of photography and some of the basics of each genre.
Which type of photography should I master? That is probably the most challenging decision to make when you are starting your pursuit of photography as a career. When you think of all of the various subjects there are to capture, and all of the different ways to create the image, the field of photography really is dynamic and varied. It is imperative that you understand the various photography niches before you choose the career of your choice. Remember that there is something for everyone in photography, and the types of photography jobs are just as exciting.
We have compiled the most popular genres of photography. Of course, this list is not all-inclusive, since there are many careers made in various niches within our industry. And there are also many careers that are not directly related to photography that require an understanding of photography technique, creativity, and good compositional skills. Such jobs require one to pay great attention to detail while taking photographs. Professionals worldwide are connecting on social media and creating photographs to document their style and repertoire of work.
Here is the list of photography genres you can pursue:
Wedding Photography
Event Photography
Portrait Photography
Fine Art Photography
Fashion Photography
Architectural Photography
Travel Photography
Lifestyle Photography and more
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Types of photography genres you can pursue:
1 – Wedding Photography
The first type of photography job involves weddings and events. Many people go their entire lives and only pay for professional photography once, but nearly everyone hires a photographer for their wedding.
The great wedding photographers are the ones who love their jobs. Many beginner photographers, who are trying to establish themselves, start shooting weddings because, as they say, “that’s where the money is.” But this mindset will ultimately lead to a disappointing business model if the photographer’s heart isn’t in their work.
2 – Event Photography
In the same vein, event photography is a dynamic and fast-paced way to make a buck with your camera. Whether your beat is corporate events or wild and crazy rock concerts, event photographers work in a variety of settings. Event photography styles often involve a mixture of photojournalistic documentary work and portraiture. Some organizations use their event photos for publicity purposes, while other use party photos as souvenirs or keepsakes.
#3 – Portrait Photography
Portraiture is one of the most common types of photographer that we think of when we consider career options. The kinds of photography that can be included in portraits is astounding. Retail customers seek out portrait photographers for every phase of life: maternity and newborns, school photos, senior photos, and general family photos. Corporate portraits are also commonly needed as employees update their headshots for websites and publicity materials. Furthermore, aspiring and professional models are in constant need of updated portfolios with a catalog of current shots to market themselves for agencies and jobs.
Portrait photography is a great place to start out as a photographer. Building a great portfolio of quality shots can lead to more business. It can often lead to more work for families and weddings as word of mouth marketing does its magic. It can also lead to fashion and product photography gigs.
4 – Product Photography
More specific than working in advertising, product photography is a great specialization. Think about all of the products you have recently shopped for: everything needs to be photographed. The photos are used for online and print catalogs, as well as for labels and packaging. Most product photography is studio based, with careful control of backgrounds, shadows, and lighting. Studio rentals can be fairly expensive so consider building a home photography studio on a budget.
Product photography covers a lot of ground. Food photography is a specialized niche, and restaurants need to advertise their meals and create their menus. Jewelry is another favorite type of product photography since this requires the perfect balance of light and preparation. While some product shoots might involve models, many times you will be working solo in a studio doing still life photographs of small objects.
5 – Fine Art Photography
Of all of the types of photography, this is the one with no rules. Fine art photographers create art. They display their work in galleries and at art shows, and generally, they sell a finished, framed print product to their customers. Fine art photography can be of any subject at all, but landscape and portrait artists are probably the most common. Fine art images are about capturing emotional responses and communicating with the audience.
6 – Fashion Photography
Fashion photography is one of the more glamorous and more difficult to enter photography jobs. From cover shots of the top fashion magazines to documenting the latest styles and trends on the runway, fashion photographers work in the design districts of New York, Paris, and Milan. Runway shoots require an element of documentary photography, while posed shoots on location demand one-on-one work with the model.
Catalog and magazine shoots might also occur on location, from tropical beaches to subway. In this style of glamour photography, the look of the photographs is everything. Lighting must be perfect. This is a job that is also focused on the model, so a majority of the photographers time is spent posing and directing models and scenes to get the look desired from the publication.
Fashion shoots are all about teamwork, and they are done by a group of people. The photographer is just one cog in the wheel. Stylists, wardrobe specialists, makeup artists, art directors, and others make up a team that keeps the shoot on track and make the magic happen.
7 – Architectural Photography
While many find taking pictures of buildings to be a fun hobby, many specialized photographers make careers out of it. Employed by architectural agencies or working as freelancers, these photographers capture the essence of buildings from inception to completion. Details captured include the exteriors and interiors, and subtle details that make the building’s design unique. Architectural photography requires some special techniques and equipment to minimize distortion and perspective problems that become apparent on a building’s many right angles.
A subdivision is real estate photography. Realtors always need excellent photographs, especially in today’s market where many customers view many properties online before deciding to go see them. High-quality architectural pictures are difficult to get right, and realtors will pay for professional photos especially in the high-end market.
8 – Travel Photography
Do you love to travel? Would you like to get paid for it? Who doesn’t? Travel photography allows you to do just that while having fun with your camera in dynamic settings. Travel photography blends many different types of photography into one. On one trip you might want to focus on the people and the lifestyles present in a place, while also capturing the landscapes and the natural world in which it’s located.
9 – Advertising or Lifestyle Photography
Everywhere we go we are surrounded by photography. Photography is on billboards, street signs, magazine ads, even in our pockets on our smartphones. Captivating photography makes the advertising world tick, and photography has never been more in demand than it is right now.
Advertising photography can include a range of subjects, like street photography, lifestyle photography, fashion photography, or product photography. Advertising photographers can work as freelancers, selling images on a project-by-project basis, or they might work directly for major ad agencies. Either way, this is a dynamic field where you may be shooting for a print ads campaign one day and shooting internet ads the next, always with a new subject.
10 – Photojournalism
Whether it be in war zones, political rallies, natural disasters, or community celebrations, photojournalists cover breaking news. Newspapers, magazines, and online publications are all in need of still photographs to help tell their stories. Photojournalism is one of the documentary types of photography, and the goal of a photojournalist is to document the events as they unfold. While there may be some portraiture, the majority of work is done candidly and as unobtrusively as possible. The photos tell a story of events that are happening all over the world.
11 – Pet Photography
If your perfect subject is a furry friend, then pet photography might be for you. This is a growing sector and is very similar in working conditions and type of styles to portraiture; only your subjects may require treats when they are good. If you love animals, then there is no better job as a photographer. Pet photography involves a fun mix of studio sessions and outdoor, on-location shoots. With connections to your local pet daycare facilities and dog show circuits, you can build your business fairly quickly. A great way to start out is to volunteer your time to your local pound, taking pictures of the animals and helping them find their forever homes.
12 – Sports Photography
If you love sports, then being a sports photographer is a great gig. From the sidelines, sports photographers use quick cameras and long lenses to zoom in on the action and capture the winning shots. Photos wind up in publicity materials for teams, in advertising and marketing, and in the news media online and in print.
13 – Aerial Photography
A burgeoning field of photography born from modern technology is an aerial photographer. Sure, aerial images have been around as long as manned flight and cameras have been. But today, unmanned aerial vehicles, also called drones, are being used for aerial views and different perspective shots by photographers. In the US and most countries, commercial drone pilots must be licensed. The process is relatively simple and usually requires only a written exam. Aerial photography is now used for everything from architectural and real estate photography to weddings and events. The unique perspective given by drones can’t be beaten for uniqueness and beauty.
14 – Scientific or Specialty Photography
Many fields rely on great photography for publications, training materials, and record keeping. Many scientific and medical research companies employ photographers to document new findings and discoveries.
Many other industries rely on photos to conduct surveys and studies. For example, in Florida, aerial wildlife studies are routinely performed to study the numbers of manatees and birds living in remote areas. Many insurance companies rely on photographers to inspect homes and buildings, sending their photographic findings to the company to document damage or condition.
These are just a few examples of the specialized fields that use photography regularly. With open eyes and ears, working photographers can find remarkable jobs working with governments and private companies all over the world.
15 – Stock Photography
If all of these types of photography jobs sounded good to you, you might make a great stock photographer. Stock photographers sell the rights to use their images through catalogs. They can work as a freelancer, but more often than not photographers allow agencies to handle their sales. Stock sales usually don’t pay very much per use, but the goal of a successful stock photographer is to have an extensive catalog of images that sell often. As a result, once the photos are uploaded and being sold, they provide a source of on-going passive income.
The advantage of selling stock photos is that you can sell any type of image you want. These images are used by major ad agencies and small websites. Whether you like to shoot sunsets, people, kids, pets, or wildlife, you can probably sell your images as stock. Once the photos are captured, a lot of time is spent cataloging and keywording images to ensure that customers can find them.
Conclusion
It’s almost impossible to compile a list of all of the different types of photography that you can earn money from. For your photography career, it can be difficult choosing which path to take. Many photographers try out many paths in their career until they find the one that suits them best. The most successful photographers work in a niche, something that they specialize in that few others do. The possibilities are endless, and finding your niche is half the fun. So, which kinds of photography would you like to master?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular type of photography?
Portrait photography is one of the most popular types of photography. Portraiture comes up in several different genres of photography, including wedding and engagement photography, family photography, fashion photography etc. This results in a relatively high demand for portrait photographers.
Which type of photography makes the most money?
Wedding photography can be one of the most profitable genres of photography. Weddings are an expensive, once in a lifetime affair and most couples are willing to pay a premium to the right photographer.
What are the 6 elements of photography?
The 6 elements of photography are color, line, pattern, texture, viewpoint and the rule of thirds.
Undeniably, high-quality images play a crucial role in the eCommerce world.Talking about professional Amazon product photography, it is all about alluring the customers and making them make a purchase. A few researchers claim that the human brain can process pictures 60,000 times quicker than text.
So, the proverb – “A picture speaks a thousand words” – is true.
Therefore, a product’s image is the first big opportunity to generate a sale, simply because it’s the first impression of your entire product listing.
On that note, let’s comprehend the idea behind professional Amazon product photography guidelines and how to optimize so that it also accomplished higher organic rankings on the Amazon SERPs.
Quick Guide:
What Is Product Photography?
How Does Photography Increases Conversion Rates?
Amazon Product Photography Tips
How To Take Product Pictures For Amazon?
Amazon Product Image Requirements
How To Add Photos To Amazon Product Listing?
Amazon Image Aspect Ratio
Amazon Product Image Optimization
So, let’s get started.
What Is Product Photography?
Well, product photography utilizes certain techniques to showcase the products in a striking way to entice potential shoppers to make a purchase. It is an important part of both offline and online advertising – be it catalogs, magazine ads, brochures, online ads, company websites, or billboards, specifically while selling products directly to the consumers.
Now, let’s further understand why pictures are so important while selling online.
How Does Photography Increase Conversion Rates?
We are in the era of visual information, a time where visual data plays a significant role in each stage of life.
When you perceive how much amount of data has been expanded, it is quite alarming. Say, for instance, Google receives over 2 million searches per minute. Now, on a bigger scale, human beings generate about 2.5 quintillion bytes of data each day.From a human’s perspective, visualization works because he or she responds to it and processes the visual data much better than other data types.
You will be fascinated by reading the fact that a human brain can process pictures 60,000 times quicker than text. (Source) About 90% of the information communicated to a brain is through visuals. Every human being is a visual creature. This makes it great for big to implement creative solutions to leverage data visualization and unveil their true perspective to meet the business goals.
Talking about online shoppers, they are first attracted to the visual elements and not the written copy.
Now, the product’s photo quality reflects the brand image, building the first impression. This is a great opportunity for sellers. Every image should be appealing, polished, and professional enough to evoke maximum engagement.
The right photography of a product can call for greater conversions. Wonder how?
Well, here are a few aspects to note.
Images Serve As A Key Element To Branding
When it comes to “branding,” product photography is one of the best ways to strengthen it. It also ties it across a strong web presence. It is vital to your product’s photography consistent in terms of style. This makes sure that your brand has its digital persona.
Quality Images Can Attract People To Buy
Undeniably, many product listings on Amazon have low-quality images and the probability of those listings generating sales is much lower than the ones with better quality pictures. Now, the whole idea of taking pictures perfectly is that you do not have to explain them in words.
Amazon Product Photography Tips
It is true when they say, we purchase with our eyes, meaning only if we like it, we get it. Often this decision-making process – whether to buy a product or not – solely depends on if the product is visually appealing.
No wonder nailing your product images should be your top priority! Product pictures serve a key purpose – to grab a buyer’s attention while searching for your product. Your listing should try to invoke affirmative emotions, and if you manage to get this done, there are higher chances of converting those shoppers into customers.
Your product can speak a lot about your brand, and the kind of buyer you are marketing it to is a sign of the price of your product. When it comes to Amazon product photography, sellers are frequently overwhelmed with that list of priorities. It all starts by spending hours taking multiple shots of the product from different angles just to get that ideal shot.
And that’s not over yet. Further, you have to spend hours picking and editing the best photos, to accomplish a consistent feel in every product photo.
So, how could you cut the lengthiest portion, and then, streamline the entire product photography process?
Sounds interesting?
Well, that’s exactly what the idea of this guide is. It is all about how you come up with fantastic photos of your product and yet keep the process simplified. For sellers who do not have a knack for photography, it is probably wise to hire an amazon product photography service / Product Retouching service or a company to get the job done perfectly for you. On the other hand, for sellers who prefer taking this task into their own hands, there are a few important tips to remember in order to achieve attractive and professional product photography.
1. Begin with a consistent plan
Now, if you are selling just one product on Amazon, it is pretty easy. However, if you have a whole catalog of items that you sell at the Amazon Marketplace, it will take some time. You can start with branding. Plan on how your product pictures should look and how they can relate to your online presence. Be it a logo, settings, or color scheme. Since potential shoppers are navigating to your listing, no photo should appear as if it belongs to some other website. You have to keep them consistent.
2. The magic of white background
Not only Amazon but most eCommerce websites have their items displayed on a plain, white background. Ever wondered why? Well, this is because of three simple reasons:
It minimizes unwanted distractions
It makes the product the center of attraction
It creates a consistent feel
From an aesthetic perspective, plain, white background gives a more professional, and much cleaner finish. It also helps colorful products pop up. Using a photography shooting tent or curved backdrop helps in eliminating the shadows, and cancels the sharp angles that might leave a picture look a little harsh.
There is most definitely a dispute for in-context product photography. While some products look the best in the natural environment, others might not. If you are unsure what option can drive in more sales, it is best to experiment to see what is the effective option.
3. Set the right lighting
If you have been taking selfies, you would know how the right “lighting” can change everything. This also applies while taking products. The right light setting can transform even the dullest-looking product into its best form. This, in turn, also helps in converting sales.
Most items look better when shot in natural light, preferably a soft setting that is distributed evenly across the product. While this may not be an option always, you can try using artificial lighting with the help of umbrellas/reflectors or a DIY light-box. This is to check what option gives the perfect results.
4. Keep the image resolution high
When you click photos of your product, make sure that they are taken using a good camera with a high-resolution lens. Every photo that you upload must be of incredible quality and never be blurry.
Every image must convey product details upon viewing. On the other hand, the lighting at the time of shooting the product should neither be too dull nor too bright. Keep it mediocre, as it enables the buyers in making a proper make a buying decision.
5. Pay attention to the product size
This is something every seller must pay attention to – the product’s size. It shouldn’t be shot in a way that it looks too small or too big. If you click the product in a way that its size appears very small, you will observe plenty of white space surrounding it and chances are that a few important details might be missed out. On the other hand, if you click it in a way that the product’s size appears very big, then a few of its features might be out of focus.
These problems will eventually lead to a poor shopping experience and can affect your ratings as well. Hence, it is important to remember the amazon image aspect ratio guidelines before planning to shoot.
6. Show different angles of the product
It is always good to have a few photos of your product than just one or two. This is because the people whom you are selling it to might not have experienced the product physically yet. They have no idea what your product looks like or feels like. Therefore, it is vital to give them an ample amount of pictures shot from different angles.
Talking about Amazon, the first image, which is shown on the product & search page is known as the “main image.” Keep in mind that this so-called main image always displays the product’s front view. Therefore, showing the product’s back view doesn’t make sense. However, the rest of the photos must cover the product’s every possible angle to help a buyer understand how the product will actually be when they receive it.
7. Use a tripod or a steady surface
You shouldn’t make your potential buyers suddenly think that they need glasses to view your product. Instead, eliminate the chances of camera shakes. This can be best avoided by using a quality tripod or perhaps, anything that has a steady surface – it could be even a box or a book for that matter.
Your product will look crisp and sharp, just the way you want it to be.
8. Avoid placing additional items with the product
When it comes to online selling, maintaining “transparency” with your buyers is one of the key aspects. Photographing additional items along with the product might confuse the shopper and might cause disappointments when they don’t get those accessories they had seen while purchasing.
Hence, it is important to show only what you are selling to the customers and not anything that they will not get at the time of delivery.
9. Do Not Put Immodest Content
As far as amazon’s reputation is considered, it is one of the best when compared to other platforms. It paves the way for selling to different customers across the globe. Hence, the sensibilities of every buyer should be considered prior to upload any product image.
It is important to focus on your product rather than the mannequins or models while shooting, especially intimate apparel. Also, uploading indecent images isn’t allowed. It will only cause rejections from Amazon.
Amazon Product Photography – Useful Tips & Tricks That You Should Know
How To Take Product Pictures For Amazon?
When it comes to eCommerce, every product photo is a deal clincher. Hence, if that look and feel are missing, you will be losing out on sales. The experience that a customer gets when he or she is in a physical store is something that you cannot bring in the virtual world. But you can certainly use high-quality pictures of the product to bring about as real an experience as possible. In fact, this plays an equivalent role.
The only way to accomplish this is by hiring a professional photographer. However, if you are tight on your budget, then renting a studio or hiring professional photography can turn out to be expensive. The best thing is that you can even do this at home. Although you can employ a lightbox for shooting small products, the tips given below focuses on taking photography with natural light. This technique is called the “Window Lighting Technique.”
Now, you will be fascinated at how effortlessly you could turn your spare bedroom, garage, or living room into your photography studio and how you can consistently shoot quality images of your product.
Once you identify a spot to shoot, start equipping it. Even you know that the list of equipment used by professional photographers is long. However, you do not need too many tools.
At home, just make sure that you have the following things:
1. A good camera
These days, a majority of people have a good camera. However, if you don’t, purchase it from a reputed brand that has manual exposure settings besides the auto functions. To create those fantastic pictures, you do not necessarily need a costly camera. Note that a camera is not “the” but “one of the” factors that affect your final outcome. The other factors include product styling, studio setup, the right amount of lighting, and post-production practices.
2. A nice tripod
Tripod is essentially one of the important pieces of equipment you need to invest in because it helps in stabilizing your camera at the time of the shooting. Since you are setting up a studio-like feel at your home, you should take shots at a spot where the lighting isn’t optimal.
This is because low lighting requires longer camera exposure, which in turn, increases the possibility of camera shakes when you breathe. When using a tripod, ensure that your photos aren’t hazy or blurred due to camera shakes.
3. A memory card
So, the next thing that is crucial for product photography is certainly the SD card. Your memory card lets you store all your photos and further, transfer them to a laptop from your camera for post-production works and archiving.
These are inexpensive and hence, it is good to keep a few handy.
4. A white paper roll
Since amazon’s photo requirements call for a “white background,” it is important to invest in a quality white paper roll. This gives a smooth background for all your photos and minimizes the post-production tasks. So, a roll of 10 – 15 feet is necessary because you will need the long, white sheet positioned behind the product. This gives a seamless background. Make sure that the roll’s width is about 50 inches in order to accommodate or cover the majority of the product.
5. White foam boards
A white foam board comes in handy. It helps in reflecting and increasing the available light. Buy a few of them and utilize them in order to reflect light to the product from the window.
Doing this will also help in reducing the product’s shadow and provide that “fill light” aspect for a complete, clean, even look.
6. A folding table
A good folding table helps you in laying the white paper roll as the paper background while prepping for the product shoot. This table can have a normal height to help you adjust the tripod’s height and shoot from the angle and height you want.
7. Clamps & Duct Tape
Besides the above things listed, you will also need a few clamps and duct tape rolls in order to secure the white background roll onto the table and walls where you place your product. This prevents the product from moving at the time of the shoot.
You can even use clamps if possible to make it easy. It becomes convenient to clean after the shoot.
8. Window with enough natural light
Lastly, your window is the best light source. However, you require access to big windows close to the shooting spot. All you need is to clear the area around the windows to have an adequate place to keep your background, table, and move around at the time of the shooting.
Keep in mind, larger windows give a better shot, as they emit higher natural light and help the product to be shot more evenly. On the other hand, light from small windows can be a little directional.
If your product size is small, you can manage it with the help of small windows. However, a big product definitely needs a larger light source.
Are all things ready? So, what to do next?
If you have all the equipment ready, the next step is to start setting them up. Follow the instructions given below:
Step 1: Keep the table close to the window.
Step 2: Spread the plain, white paper roll from the table’s bottom, stretching all the way to the wall, creating a smooth curve.
Step 3: Secure the paper roll with the wall and table using the duct tape or clamps.
Step 4: Keep the foam core board in an angle that the natural light from your windows reflect on the product.
Step 5: Use the tripod and set it to a proper height.
Step 6: Fix the camera on the tripod.
Step 7: Start taking photos and experiment at different angles to see what gives the best results.
Amazon Product Image Requirements
The product image that you submit to Amazon should meet the technical specifications mentioned below:
The image file should be in any of these formats: TIFF (.tiff or .tif), GIF (.gif), PNG (.png), or JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg).
The image dimension of every image should be at least 1000 pixels or larger in either width or height preferred.
The color mode of the image should be either in CMYK or RGB.
Every file name should contain the product’s identifier (13-digit ISBN, Amazon ASIN, JAN, UPC, or EAN) followed by a period and the file extension (e.g. C000163789.jpeg or 455678967845.tif).
Note: Using special characters like dashes, spaces, or any other character in the filename prevents the image from being published online.
For images that are named by the product identifier without any variant code or perhaps, named with the MAIN variant, Amazon has a few image standards, which include:
For Main Image:
Any kind of illustration or drawing for the product is not allowed.
The image should be the product’s professional photo or cover art that is being sold.
The image should not contain confusing or gratuitous additional objects.
Every image should be professionally lit, scanned/photographed, and be shot in proper focus with smooth edges and realistic color.
The images of music, DVD/video, and books must be as the front cover, and should occupy 100% of the image’s frame.
Promotional stickers, cellophane, and jewel cases aren’t permitted.
All the other products must occupy 85+% of the image’s frame.
Note that the entire product should be in the frame.
The background should be completely white (or RGB: 255,255,255).
No image should have additional graphics, inset images, or text.
Offensive or pornographic material is not allowed.
For Additional Images (apart from the main image):
Every image should pertain to or be of, the product that is being sold.
Every image should be professionally lit, scanned/photographed, and be shot in proper focus with smooth edges and realistic color.
Other objects or products are permitted only to help express the way how your product can be used.
Backgrounds and other environments can be used for 1-2 images.
The props and product together must occupy 85+% of the image frame.
Any image that is in close-up or cropped state, will not be allowed.
Demonstrative graphics or text are allowed.
Offensive or pornographic material is not allowed.
Before submitting your product photos, ensure that the following specifications are met:
Note: Every photo submitted to Seller Central will be modified to 500 x 500 pixels regardless of the photo’s dimension and size provided. A photo that doesn’t have a dimension ratio of 1:1 is padded with some white space at the shorter sides.
How To Add Photos To Amazon Product Listing?
There are two ways to add a product to your product listing.
Method 1:
With this option, you can add the products using a “product tool.”
Method 2:
If you want to change or add any images that you have uploaded, use the “Manage Inventory Tool.”
Amazon Image Aspect Ratio
As far as we have researched on the Amazon website, there weren’t any mentions on the technical requirements of the aspect ratio, or how many pixels should the longest side have in order to enable the zoom-in feature. It only said that it can be either height or width, whichever is preferred.
However, when we went through a few forum answers and checked one of the help pages of Amazon Seller Central, we found about the aspect ratio. Here are the details:
Image Requirement Aspect Ratio Preferable
Dimension Ratio (maximum) 5 – 1 1:1 or 2:1 is preferred
Amazon Product Image Optimization
Besides clicking high-quality photos of the product, it is important to keep them optimized as well. Amazon incorporates CTR (Click-Through Rates) as well as CR (Conversion Rates) in their algorithm.
Only if your product is frequently clicked and purchased by the buyers, Amazon’s A9 algorithm lifts the product’s position higher in their organic search results.
Now, this means that both your CR and CTR have a direct impact on the product’s ranking. However, it is vital to understand that just quality images won’t guarantee higher rankings.
This is where “Optimization” comes in.
Keep the following factors in mind in order to have an optimized image:
Use all the images on your product listing
Keep the image quality high
Images must be 1000 x 1000 pixels minimum
1. Use all the image space allotted for your listing
So, this is something everyone is doing and seems obvious. But there are even listings that don’t include many pictures of the product. It is either 2 or 3.This is an opportunity to enhance conversions. The photo gallery shows your product’s value or worth to the shoppers.
Therefore, include as many images as possible in the available slots (amazon gives you 9 slots). Try to include the product pictures shot in various angles, show its details, close-up views, and how it is used.
Amazon ranks the products that have a higher number of images. However, your main image must be with a front view without packaging. Keep the shot clearer and bigger to help the customer get an idea of what he or she is going to receive after making a purchase. On the other hand, with secondary images, it is permissible to display photos that add value or aid the buyers in their buying process. The product’s intended use and action shots make a great addition here.
Infographics are yet another incredible way to utilize that extra image spot. But ensure that they are 100 percent about the product and its quality is outstanding.
2. Keep the image quality high
The reason we are stressing to keep the image quality high, again and again, is because it is vital to increase conversions and is required to let amazon zoom in on your pictures. Ensure that every image is attractive. Your main image must be on a white background and should occupy 85% of the image frame. On the other hand, secondary photos are okay to be with backgrounds and action shots (how to use your product).
3. Images must be 1000 x 1000 pixels minimum
Make sure that your main image is capable of zooming, and you will give people better reasons to learn about your product. As said earlier, the preferred file format is .jpg. However, .gif and .png can also be used. In addition, digital graphics that look like your product – 3D rendering with your label are accepted. Once uploaded, make sure to see how your photos look on your listing page.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, a stunning product picture is worth a thousand website visits. Although I don’t have data to back up that statement (yet), product photography can be extremely valuable to your ecommerce website strategy.
To reach your target audience members who prefer buying online, you also need to give your audience clear, eye-catching photos of your products.
But product photography isn’t as simple as pointing and shooting. Even the most basic products need the correct equipment, lighting, and space to produce beautiful images that sell shoppers right from the purchase page.
6 Product Photography Tips (and Examples) for Taking Pictures That Sell
Here are the tips, examples, and supplies you’ll need to effectively photograph and market your products in a way that makes your visitors and prospects want to convert.
1. Your smartphone’s camera.
This is the part where I’m supposed to convince you to invest in a high-end, 50-megapixel (MP) camera with a 100-millimeter screw-on lens. But I’m not going to do that.
If you already own a camera that fits this description, take advantage of it. But for many types of products, it’s completely acceptable to shoot product photos on a smartphone.
Newer smartphones boast powerful camera lenses and settings that allow you to optimize your shots for the different types of light and environments you might shoot in.
2. Shoot from a tripod for photo consistency.
Before explaining tripods, I’m obligated to start with a cardinal rule: Don’t prop your phone against something sturdy to aim your lens toward the subject.
It’s just too easy for this makeshift setup to slide around during the shoot and cause inconsistencies in your photos’ appearance. If you rest your camera on, say, a stack of books, just be sure this arrangement doesn’t change over the course of the shoot.
There’s no harm in holding your camera yourself when shooting just a few product photos for your ecommerce website. But as your business grows, and you take more photos of more products, it can be difficult to standardize the product’s orientation in each photo when shooting handheld.
To ensure consistency across your products, you’ll need a tripod. And luckily, buying one isn’t always the big, industrial-sized investment it used to be.
Here are two types of tripods to consider.
Traditional vs. Flexible
This is a tradition tripod — there are traditional tripods available for both cameras and smartphones.
product photography tip: use a traditional or flexible tripod when shooting your products
A flexible tripod can be manipulated in a number of ways. You can bend its legs and place it on different surfaces to get the angle you need.
product photography tip: use a traditional or flexible tripod when shooting your products
Mobile Grip
There’s often a screw on the top of your tripod which attaches to your camera to hold it in place. The underside of most professional-grade cameras has a screw hole just for this purpose, but smartphones can use the following adapter:
Mobile grip to attach smartphone to tripod stand.
The adapter grips the sides of your smartphone and can screw into either type of tripod, allowing you to operate the camera controls with the phone screen facing outward and toward you.
Once you determine which mount you’ll need, set it up in front of your product, and consider putting three pieces of tape on the ground to mark where you’d like to keep each leg of your tripod over the course of the shoot.
3. Choose natural light or artificial light.
Never underestimate how certain types of light can improve (or hinder) your product photography. Remember, buyers get the best look at an item in person, where they can see everything they need to before purchasing. The right lighting arrangement helps you reveal those critical decision-making product features when all website visitors have to go on is a photo.
A single lighting setup might not work for every product — a lighting arrangement that works for some products might weaken the appearance of others.
There are two types of light you can choose as your main light source: natural and artificial light.
Natural Light
Natural light refers to sunlight — simple as that. It’s also known as “soft light” because the sun casts a larger, softer range of light than, say, a lamp shining directly on the product. Ecommerce product shots thrive in natural light if:
The product is shot outside or meant to be used outside.
The product is used by, worn on, or shot with a person (people tend to look better in natural light).
You’re trying to emphasize the product’s surroundings, rather than specific attributes of the product.
Here’s an example of a shot using natural light:
product photography tip: use natural light
Artificial Light
Artificial light includes candles, fire, and more commonly, light bulbs. It’s also referred to as “hard light” because it produces a smaller but more focused light surface. This type of light caters to products with physical details that need to be highlighted to impress an online shopper.
Here’s an example of artificial light being use to shoot:
product photography tip: use artificial light
As a general rule, stick to just one type of light per photo — natural or artificial. Adding natural light to an artificially lit photo can soften a product that’s meant to look sharp, and adding artificial light to a naturally lit photo can sharpen a product that’s meant to look soft. You don’t want to get in your own way.
4. Fill or bounce your light to soften shadows.
Whether you use natural light or artificial light, you’ll need to lessen the shadows that any potential hard light casts on the opposite end of a product.
There are three ways to do this:
Fill Light
Include another, less-intense light source to supplement your main light. This additional light is called your fill light and is used as a counterbalance to soften the natural shadow your main light produces behind an object.
To do this, place your fill light opposite your main light so your product sits between both light sources.
Flashbulb Bounce Card
A bounce card, or reflector card, is a small card that “reflects” or “bounces” the main light back onto the surface beneath your product to reduce shadows.
Some bounce cards attach to the flashbulb of a professional camera lens to diffuse the light from the camera’s flash. This card splashes a softer light onto the subject from above your set — rather than straight at it — so you don’t have long shadows trail behind the object you’re shooting.
See two versions of this item below — both white (left) and foil (right) screens can diffuse the flash.
product photography tip: using a flashbulb bounce card
Standalone Bounce Card
If you’re shooting from a smartphone, a flashbulb bounce card isn’t an option, since you don’t have a physical flash you can attach it to. Instead, make your own standalone bounce card positioned opposite your main light source.
For beginners to product photography, this bounce card can effectively replace your fill light, which counters the hard light from the camera flash or lamp that’s facing toward the front of your product.
product photography tip: use a standalone bounce card
5. Use a sweep or portrait mode to emphasize the product.
There isn’t one right way to position your product, lights, and bounce cards – they can change dramatically depending on your background. But don’t choose a background based on what’s easiest to create. Backgrounds should resemble how you want your buyers to perceive your product when viewing it online.
Consider first whether you’d like a white background or a more dynamic, real-world background. There’s an easy way to achieve each one.
White Background: Sweep
For white backgrounds, it’s not as simple as setting up a table against white drywall. Even smartphone cameras can pick up little blemishes on a white wall that you wouldn’t notice with the naked eye. To capture a perfect white background with no corners or blemishes, use a sweep.
product photography tip: importance of using a sweep in photography
A sweep is a large bendable sheet of paper, whose bottom acts as the surface beneath your product and then curves up into a white wall behind the product.
On camera, the sweep’s curve is invisible, emphasizing key product details and allowing the item to own all of a website visitor’s attention.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison showing why a sweep matters:
product photography tip: importance of using a sweep in photography
Real-World Background: Portrait Mode
Dynamic, real-world backgrounds are very appealing when shooting products that have a specific use or are being modeled by a person — as you saw in the picture of the briefcase earlier in this guide.
But, it’s easy for a real-world background to steal the focus of the photo, making it unclear which item in the photo you’re actually selling.
Give your product depth and emphasis with portrait mode, a picture setting on most professional cameras, and also available on many new smartphones. This setting blurs the background so the context of the product is clear but not competing against the product itself.
product photography tip: use portrait mode when photographing products
6. Shoot a variety of images.
My last ecommerce photography tip to you is to not stop at one photo per product. Just as your customers look, hold, use, and even try on merchandise in a store, your website should shoot a variety of images to simulate this very experience.
If you’re shooting clothing, for instance, capture the garment of clothing alone — that is, spread out on a white surface — as well as on a mannequin whose color contrasts the color of the product.
Then, for additional photos, have the clothing modeled on a person, allowing you to take pictures of the product from the person’s different poses and angles.
Product Photography Set-Up
Next, let’s summarize what we just received — here’s a list of quick product photography set-up tips that you can refer to and share on your team:
Decide on a camera — whether or not that means using your smartphone.
Get a tripod that works for your camera of choice.
Choose natural or artificial lighting — think about which option is best for your product and environment.
Determine whether you’ll fill or bounce light.
Select sweep or portrait mode.
Take several different images to offer your viewers variety.
Autumn 