Hey everyone, it’s Jessica with Oberlo, and today I’m going to share 12 killer product
photography tips to help you grow your dropshipping business.
And stick around, because I’m also going to tell you about 4 awesome online services
that you can use to massively improve your images.
Let’s get started!
Product Photography Tip 1: Choose The Right Camera
Do you need an expensive DSLR to take great quality pictures?
Simply?
No.
But it helps.
Today, you can get away with using a high-quality smartphone camera.
If you’re just starting out, or you’re only selling a few products, this might be
a good option for now.
But if you’re willing to put the time and effort into learning product photography,
it might be worth investing in a DSLR camera.
Yes, quality cameras are expensive, and the learning curve is steep.
But, you can change the settings and lenses depending on your needs.
Even at factory settings, the high resolution of a DSLR camera will allow you to show the
details of your products.
Product Photography Tip 2: Take Two Types of Product Photos
The first type of product photo you’ll need is a lifestyle photo.
These photos show your product being used in its intended environment.
If you can use models that look like your target audience, even better.
For example, here’s a photo of a jacket from Ball and Buck in a lifestyle shot.
The second type of product photo you need is one with a white background.
Here’s the same product from Ball and Buck, but with a white background:
This image is great because it’s simple, so it lets customers see the product’s details.
You can never have too many photos like this, as long as they all showcase your product
from different angles.
Product Photography Tip 3: Create an Infinity Curve
So how do you create that perfect white background at home?
You’ll need what’s called an infinity curve background.
To create an infinity curve background, take a large piece of white paper or card, and
bend it to create a curve, like in this photo from Sky Garden.
If you have larger products, you can use a white bed sheet to create the same effect.
Product Photography Tip 4: Choose a Great Background for Your Lifestyle Photos
A well-chosen background can do wonders to enhance the appearance of your products.
When shooting lifestyle photos, make sure to choose a background that’s consistent
with your brand.
In this image, rugged menswear company Taylor Stitch showcases their leather jacket in a
suitably industrial-looking setting.
If you sell smaller products, you might want to include photos of your products on different
surfaces, like a wooden table or marble countertops.
Watch Outfitters has done that here.
Feel free to experiment, to find out what works best for your brand.
Product Photography Tip 5: Take Photos of Every Color and Variable.
Don’t just tell visitors that your product is available in other colors — show them!
Remember, customers want to see the product before they buy it.
Bump does a great job of this on their site.
Bottom-line?
Make sure every unique product has its own set of images.
Product Photography Tip 6: Use Natural Lighting Unless you can afford professional lighting
equipment, and you’re willing to learn how to use it effectively, it’s best to start
by using natural light.
Why?
Because natural light is soft, providing you keep your product out of direct sunlight.
Unlike hard light, soft lighting is diffused, and doesn’t create harsh shadows.
This is nearly always better for product photography.
Also, avoid using more than one type of light in an image.
For example, you don’t want to mix natural light with artificial light from a lamp.
Product Photography Tip 7: Use a Tripod You need to keep your camera steady when taking
photos, because even the slightest movement can cause a blur.
That blur might not be obvious at first, but the closer you get to an object, the more
obvious the blur will become.
Not good--You need your images to be as sharp and clear as possible.
Fortunately, even an inexpensive tripod can make a huge difference in the quality of your
photos.
If that’s not an option, however, try leaning your camera against a sturdy object to minimize
movement.
Product Photography Tip 8: Be Consistent When taking many photographs of different
products, it can be hard to keep variables like background and lighting consistent.
But consistency is the key to creating a striking brand.
Notice how in this example from Triangl, all product photos have been taken the same way.
The positioning, lighting, and backgrounds are all consistent.
The result is powerful, and looks extremely professional.
Product Photography Tip 9: Provide a Sense of Scale
This tip is important if you sell particularly large or small products, like kayaks or jewelry.
Why?
Because customers want to be able to visualize the actual size of something before they buy.
And, if they misunderstand the product dimensions, they might end up returning the product.
So, include common objects in your images to provide a sense of scale.
Hem does that with their sofa here--the floor lamp and side table help customers get a sense
for how big the sofa actually is.
Product Photography Tip 10: Don’t Delete Photos as You Take Them
Images can look very different on your camera display and your computer screen.
So, if you make quick judgements and delete photos on your phone or camera, you might
end up losing the one perfect image of your product.
It’s best to be patient.
Wait until you download your photos onto your computer, get a coffee, and take your time
deciding on the best shots.
Product Photography Tip 11: Avoid using product filters.
Image filters are everywhere these days.
But, it’s best to avoid using them on your product photos.
Why?
Because customers want to see an accurate depiction of your product, so they can make
an informed decision to buy it.
Sure, your product images might look awesome with a stylized filter.
But it might make your customers think twice before buying.
So, stick to taking natural photos of your products.
Product Photography Tip 12: Don’t Neglect Editing
Taking a fantastic product photo is only half the job.
The other half?
Photo editing.
Simple editing techniques like cropping and color correction can make a world of difference.
You also need to make sure that white backgrounds are perfectly white, and that your images
are the same size.
To do this, use an editing program like Photoshop, or a free online alternative like BeFunky.com.
Ok, that brings us to the end of our product photography tips!
But don’t go anywhere just yet.
Because here are…
4 Awesome Product Photography Services You Can Use to Improve Your Images
First up?
Photo Resize This nifty Shopify App resizes your product
photos to make them into the standard ecommerce square shape.
This gives your store a consistent, professional look.
It’s particularly great for new store owners, as your first 400 images are totally free.
Number 2 is Retail Ready Photos This awesome service removes the background
on your product images, so you can create crisp, clean, professional-looking photos.
Simply upload photos to the app within your Shopify store, and you’ll receive professional
edits within 24 hours.
Your first five images are free, and then pricing starts at $1.60 per image.
Third on Our List is Loox This app allows customers to add their own
photos to their product reviews.
This is a great way to include social proof on your product pages.
As well, shoppers can see your products in a natural setting.
Here’s how Cole and Cuddle are using Loox to boost their sales.
And, you never know, a customer might upload an incredible looking photo that you can ask
to use in future promotions.
Loox is free for 14 days, and then starts at $9.99 a month.
And, last on our list is Arqspin.
This is a 360 spin product photography tool.
With it, customers will be able to see your product from all angles.
Customers can even move products around to see the details they’re most interested
in.
Arqspin starts at $19.95 a month, so I’d only recommend it for established dropshipping
stores.
OK, that’s all for today!
But before you go, do you have any questions about product photography?
Let me know in the comments below, and I’ll reply with my thoughts!
Thanks for watching, and if you liked this video, be sure to hit the subscribe button
and turn on the notification bell for more help and advice on growing your ecommerce
business.
And until next time, learn often, market better and sell more.