What is product photography
Product photography is a specific type of photography used in e-commerce to present your items attractively to your potential customers.
This means that product photography is a fundamental element in any online business that, when applied properly, enhances the value and visual perception of the brand, thus awakening consumer interest.
Therefore, in this guide we will share with you the keys to take pictures of this style as a professional and, thus, increase the chances of selling in your ecommerce.
The importance of product photography in an online store
Product photography is the most important part of any online business because, through it, potential customers can see in detail how the item they want to buy, and this can make them realize the purchase faster.
The aim of this type of photography is to focus all the attention of consumers on a single element: the product. To achieve this, the photo shows as much information as possible such as size, color, texture and accessories of the piece from different angles.
The secret is to pay special attention to the creation of these photographs and to discover which style suits your brand best.
In this product photography guide we will tell you everything you need to know to achieve the best photos of your items, and increase your sales!
Professional Photography: Keys to Taking Photos as an Expert
In this section we share 4 tips for you to create your own product pictures like a professional and take your online business to the next level.
Lighting for product photography
Lighting is the most important point to consider when taking a picture because it defines, to a large extent, how attractive the image will be.
To take a product photograph, you can choose between two types of lights:
- Natural light.
- Artificial light (which, in turn, can be warm, cold or neutral).
In the case of the product photo, the ideal is to take it with natural light or with artificial light but in neutral or cold temperature. Keep in mind that the important thing at this point is not to mix the different types of lights or temperatures: choosing only one will obtain better quality images.
If you are just starting out in the world of photography, we recommend that you opt for natural light as it is easier to handle. Anyway, artificial lights have in their favour that allow you to take pictures without changing from product to product, especially if the photo session lasts many hours.
Light box for product photography
To take your product pictures you have the option to build a light box. The light box is an excellent tool that helps to obtain well-lit photos that highlight the article.
In this case, the product photo can be taken using two cold light lamps, one on each side of the box. The important thing is that you diffuse that cold light with tissue paper to achieve a softer lighting effect.
Photo Background
Photography backgrounds are essential when taking a photo since they will allow the product to stand out and harmonize the image.
- White background
The all-white photo background ensures that the product photographed is the protagonist of the image, the centrepiece. Keep in mind that it can be accompanied by elements that complement the aesthetics and functionality of the article, but always without overshadowing it.
On the other hand, photographing with this type of background facilitates image editing as it allows the product to be cut out without difficulty and placed, for example, on a digital white background.
- Coloured background
Another option for product photography is color, as long as they are shades that represent your brand and you consider that they combine or contrast with the item you are going to photograph.
If you want to see examples of the use of different backgrounds for photography, watch the video below.
In the next sections we will see the different types of product photography and, there, you will discover that some photographs do not need these background styles since the article is in context, that is, in a situation of use. Keep reading this guide to learn more!
Camera position for professional photos
As we told you in the first video, besides configuring the quality of the image you are going to take in the camera (we suggest that it be the maximum possible so that the editing stage is easier later), to take your professional product photos we recommend you:
- Place the camera at the same height as the item you are going to photograph.
- Use a tripod to obtain greater stability and avoid any type of movement.
- Try out different photo angles to find out which options are best for the item.
- Check that your photos have “air”, that is, that there is an empty space between the edges of the image and the product, unless you are photographing a detail of it.
- Take product photographs from a zenithal plane (which is when the camera is placed perpendicular to the floor) accompanied by other elements that complement the scene.
Brand identity in product photography
The concept of branding is used to refer to the process of building a brand.
In this process, the aim is to highlight the values that represent it, the ideas linked to it (such as lifestyle, for example) and its differentials with respect to the competition. In other words, the brand identity itself.
It is important to emphasize that all the elements that make up a brand influence its image and the behavior that consumers have (or may have) towards it. And this is where product photography comes in.
If a business does not take care of its photographic identity, it can damage the great efforts it makes to transmit its personality and unique values.
Product photography evokes, without words, the brand’s way of being: who it is, what it does, how it does it, for whom it does it. This means that photography is a graphic resource that has great communication potential and expressive capacity that, if well used, can lead the customer to a purchase more quickly.
