Why High-Quality Product Images Are Essential for Sales Success
Photographers often must create commercial compositions and come up with product images to help their clients sell items or their employers find success. Humans are visual creatures. The pictures they see significantly impact on their first impression of a brand.
Product images can run the gamut from portraits a photographer shows as examples of their work to shots of a beauty item a company wants to sell. Since online shoppers can’t physically touch an item, the angles, clarity and look of the finished photo play a significant role. What are the various ways high-quality pictures benefit your e-commerce store? Cover photo via Bilal Mansuri.
1. Grab Attention
Beautiful photos grab user attention. Imagine scrolling through dozens of pages to find the perfect product when suddenly a gorgeous one pops and matches just what you’re looking for.
Taking product photos is a bit different from other forms of photography. While the rule of thirds always applies, the subject tends to be more centered than in other pictures. A close-up view provides detail.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/SerendipityMadison
The Serendipity Boutique creates some cute compositions to highlight its unique clothes. Models stand in front of a window display. Some photos have a closer-up view than others, depending on the item. It’s essential to make each shot unique and determine what the person browsing most wants to see.
2. Make an Emotional Connection
Companies making an emotional connection create loyal return customers who order more items. Some of your favorite stores have likely tapped into an emotion.
Emotional connections happen through family images, colors and holiday shots. Consider what drives someone to look for the item and how you can best tap into the feelings sending them to the website.
3. Show Fine Detail
Taking shots from various angles highlights the fine details of a product. People can’t be there to see and hold the item in person. Showing views from the top, side, bottom and top helps simulate the experience of touching the object.
Source: https://arranmorelighting.com/collections/lighting
Arranmore Lighting Company sells lighting and fans. Note how the images are taken from a side view to fully capture the appearance of a light fixture. If the photographer took the photo from the bottom, the side angle most people see when entering a room would be negated. Instead, the person taking the shot likely stood on a ladder to get just the right view.
Another thing to consider is the distance from which the photos were taken. For example, one shows a wide angle of the room. Take many different shots and choose the ones that highlight the product best.
4. Explain a Product
Product images help explain the uses and benefits of an item. Show it being used so potential customers can see its various advantages. Think about your target audience’s questions and answer them with visuals.
Get close-ups of the on/off and feature buttons. Take a photo of the item on and off. Another good example is the before/after approach to showing how your product can transform something.
5. Build Trust With the User
Most people want to know they can trust the online store they’re buying from. Taking enough images shows you are consistent and you care that the user has all the information they need to make an educated decision.
Source: https://tompetersart.com/product-page/50s-scene-jefferson-water-st
Tom Peters Custom Art features images of each print available from the artist’s paintings. Photographing each one and sharing it brings the scene to life. Shoppers can see the colors, vibrancy and details of the work of art.
6. Create Sharing Opportunities
Another use of product images is sharing them on social media. Some platforms are better suited to image sharing, such as Pinterest and Instagram. For example, you can create a compilation of product photos and share them as a reel on Instagram. Studies show you may get 22% higher engagement through Instagram reels.
You can also utilize excellent visuals to dress up your blog posts. Creating content draws people to an e-commerce website. The words might inform them, but the photographs often close the deal.
7. Differentiate From Competitors
The style and quality of product photos help differentiate you from competitors. Determine a niche, such as always having a natural element in the image, taking pictures from set angles or adding close-ups when others don’t.
The more detail you provide via your product images, the better. Look for ways to stand out. Try to do a series where all the pictures are similar and share them on Instagram so they stack up under one another for those visiting the brand page.
Source: https://shopwithellie.com
McWhiggins Wonder Emporium highlights kids playing with toys and shots from different distances to showcase its products. One thing they do is tap into manufacturers’ photos — with permission, of course. Using images provided by your source can save you time and money. You can then add personalized images to better showcase each item and set yourself apart from other companies selling the same things.
Experiment With Product Images to Find Your Fit
The best way to determine what consumers want regarding product images is to try different things and ask for feedback. Which images convert best? Run split tests on social media advertising and your website to see which photos people respond to by making a purchase. A little attention to detail and lots of practice will lead to successful visuals that enhance your descriptions and calls to action.
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