Have you ever come across a product image that is too dark or too light? Or perhaps a photo that has too many things going on in it? Bad pictures on your website can easily lead to low sales. So if you want to create product photos that can attract customers and drive up your revenue, here are the common mistakes to avoid:
1. Having too many things in the background
Using too many props or an overly complicated background can take the focus away from the main subject: your product. Having details in the background or foreground of your image is okay if it enhances the appearance of your product. But if you want all the attention on your product, using a plain background is the best way to go, even if you plan to send it to an e-commerce photo-editing service.
2. Not shooting from enough angles
When customers browse an item, they want to see what it looks like from different angles. This is especially true for items that have lots of details, such as clothes and furniture. If you only show the front view of the product, the potential customer might move on because they aren’t sure what the product looks like from different angles.
Therefore, take pictures from as many angles as possible. If there are details that customers will be concerned about, such as zippers, control panels, or inner linings, take pictures of those as well.
3. Neglecting proper lighting
Lighting is one of the most critical factors in photography. However, you don’t need to buy professional studio lights to capture great pictures of your product. Instead, you can take advantage of natural light or small and inexpensive studio lights.
The only challenge now is to know how to position your products so that the light enhances your product’s appearance. To get this right, you need a bit of trial and error.
4. Taking blurry photos
If you’re not experienced in using an SLR, then you might have trouble eliminating blurriness from your pictures. Don’t worry; it’s not that hard to learn how to focus your images and eliminate blur.
First, you need to get the hang of adjusting your camera’s aperture according to the image you’re trying to create. The higher you set your aperture (F-stop), the sharper the details will be in both the background and foreground. If you’re trying to blur the background, however, you have to use a lower F-stop to focus on the foreground.
Secondly, if your images are blurry because of camera shake, it’s a good idea to invest in a tripod or set the camera on top of a fixed platform.
5. Being inconsistent
Your product pictures don’t have to be uniform, but they have to correspond with each other. Otherwise, your website is going to look like a mess. For example, if you staged one product with props, your next product can’t be blank. Alternatively, if one product is shot in front of a plain white background, other products can’t be in front of a detailed background.
6. Not capturing the true color of the product
Capturing the accurate colors of the product will help customers manage their expectations. As a result, it is less likely that a buyer will complain of inaccuracies between the actual product and the picture on the website.
To take pictures with colors that are as accurate as possible, ensure that the white balance on your camera is set according to your light source.
7. Overediting
Overediting your product photos is a huge mistake. Not only can this create inaccuracies between your products and their pictures, but it can also make your photos look like you used an Instagram filter. When tweaking your photos on editing programs, keep the original photo open in another tab so that you can make sure you’re not going overboard.
8. Letting models overpower the product
Models should complement the product, not outshine it. Whether you’re using a model’s face, hands, feet, or entire body, they should not dominate the product.
Product photography is a vital component in an online business, and if you want your business to be successful, you’d think twice before underestimating its importance.
To capture beautiful images of your products and establish an attractive catalog for your website, avoid these mistakes at all costs. Keep in mind that product photography is not rocket science, but you do have to put in the hours if you want to get better at it, especially if you’re a one-person business.