In today’s e-commerce-driven world, visual content has become a cornerstone for brands and businesses to reach their target audience and drive sales. With more and more online shoppers making purchases based on visuals, product photography has emerged as an essential element in e-commerce. To be successful in the competitive world of e-commerce, brands need to invest in professional product images that showcase their products with the highest possible standard of quality.
Professional photos not only make your products look appealing but also communicate their value convincingly to your consumers. Moreover, they have the potential to increase conversion rates while also positively impacting brand awareness and sales in the long term. If you are planning to start an e-commerce business or simply revamp your existing one with updated product photos, keep reading for details about 4 types of product photography for ecommerce that you should know about:
What is product photography?
Product photography is a visual representation of your product that is designed to be used in various marketing channels, like website imagery and social media posts. Typically, product photography is used to show an item in its entirety, revealing all its features and benefits, similar to advertising shots used in magazines and newspapers. In e-commerce, excellent product photography is crucial for successfully marketing your products.
It’s the only way to show your customers what they will actually receive when they make a purchase – without actually having to ship the products to them! While there are many types of product photography, for online purposes, there are two main categories: 2D imagery and 3D imagery. The main difference between these two types of product photography is that 3D product shots typically involve a setup where the product is placed on a turntable, allowing the camera to rotate around it and see it from any angle. This is especially helpful for products that are difficult to shoot, like jewelry or watches.
2D Photography
Also referred to as flat, 2D photography is a type of product imagery that uses a single camera angle to capture the subject. Generally, this type of photography features the product placed on a table top with a clean, simple background. In e-commerce, this type of photography is typically used for smaller, low-priced items, such as accessories or t-shirts, since setting up turntables and other equipment to shoot larger products tends to be more costly.
For smaller items, it’s best to shoot them against a white or black background. This will help your product pop and stand out against the backdrop while also creating a clean look that won’t distract from your item. You can also experiment with shooting your products in different ways to achieve different looks. If you’re shooting against a backdrop, try angling your product from different directions to create new images that can be used for different marketing purposes.
3D Product Photography
Also referred to as full-product photography, this type of e-commerce photography involves taking shots of your product from multiple angles, revealing as many details as possible to give your customers a true-to-life view of what they will receive. In e-commerce, this type of photography is best used for larger items that are difficult to shoot in 2D, like furniture, appliances, toys, and jewelry. At the same time, 3D product photography can be used to photograph small products that require special attention to details that might not be noticeable in 2D images.
When shooting 3D product images, it’s important to follow a few key rules to ensure optimal results. First, you need to make sure that your product is well-lit, so you may need to adjust your lighting setup if needed. Next, you’ll want to use a tripod to stabilize your camera, allowing you to shoot from multiple angles without getting any camera shake that would distort your images.
360 degree photography
Also referred to as spherical photography, 360 degree photography is the practice of capturing a full 360-degree view of a product, giving customers the ability to spin the product in a full 360-degree view and explore it in detail. This type of product photography is typically used to showcase items like architectural structures, landscapes, and creative designs, but it can also be used to show off more complex products, like furniture or appliances.
In e-commerce, 360-degree photography is typically used in conjunction with 2D images, allowing customers to see a product from different angles. The process of capturing 360-degree images can vary depending on the item or product you’re shooting, but it’s important to keep a few things in mind when doing so. For example, the lighting needs to be consistent throughout the whole image so the view doesn’t look different from one direction to another. On top of that, you want to make sure there are no objects or distractions in the background, as these will show up in the final product.
VR Photography
VR, or virtual reality, photography is the practice of capturing images of your product in 360 degrees, followed by stitching those images together to create a three-dimensional image. This type of product photography is often used in conjunction with 360-degree photography, but it can also be used on its own to display 3D images of products. In e-commerce, VR photography is best used to showcase large products, like architectural structures or furniture.
If you plan to use VR photography for your e-commerce products, keep in mind that it’s a fairly complex process that requires special equipment and expertise. Also, your customers need to use a VR headset or special software in order to see your product images in 3D. Because of these complications, VR photography is best used as an addition to 360-degree images. It can help customers get a better view of your product and see it in 3D, while 360-degree photography is best for showing off more straightforward views of your product.
Basics of e-commerce photography
When it comes to product photography, one of the most important things to remember is that less is more. Generally, you want your images to be bold and eye-catching, but you don’t want them to be so flashy that they distract from your product. Instead, your goal should be to draw your customer’s attention to the product first, then use visual elements in the background or around the product to help create context.
Well-lit images are essential in product photography, so make sure that your products are well-lit when photographing them. If you’re shooting indoors, use window light or natural light coming in through a nearby window to illuminate your product. If you’re shooting outdoors, use the sun to your advantage by positioning your product to receive direct light.
Conclusion
Product photography is an essential part of e-commerce branding and marketing, but it’s often one of the most overlooked aspects of online sales. If your products aren’t being presented as attractively as possible, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to boost your sales and positively impact your brand. To be successful in e-commerce, you need to invest in high-quality product photography to make your products look their best.
Luckily, there are many types of product photography that you can use to showcase your products in the best light. From 2D to 3D, 360-degree VR images, and more, there are plenty of options available to you. Which type of photography is best for your products? It depends on the item you’re selling and how you want it to look in your online store.
Author Bio
Abhishek Kumar is your common digital hooman with marketing as profession, finance as a curious habit, and sports as a survival mechanism.
He has written this article for Flixstudio – AI Powered Photo Studios
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