In the competitive world of eCommerce, high-quality product photography can be a deciding factor for customers making buying decisions. Good imagery not only showcases your products but also enhance their appeal, building trust and credibility with your audience. We take a look at some essential tips for creating stunning product photos and recommend some of the best apps and online software to help you achieve professional results.

1. Understanding the Basics - Lighting

Lighting is often forgotten but the reality is it’s one of the most critical aspects of product photography, as it significantly impacts the overall look and quality of your images. Here are some detailed tips to master lighting for your product photos:

Natural Light

Natural light is often the best option for beginners due to its soft and even illumination. Here’s how to make the most of it:

• Positioning: Place your product near a large window to capture abundant natural light. South-facing windows usually offer the most consistent light throughout the day.

• Diffusion: Use white curtains or a sheer cloth to diffuse the light. This helps to soften shadows and reduce harsh highlights, creating a more flattering image of your product.

• Timing: The time of day can impact the quality of natural light. Early morning or late afternoon, known as the "golden hours," provide a warm and soft light, ideal for product photography.

Artificial Light

For more control over your lighting environment, artificial lighting can be highly effective. Consider the following options:

• Softboxes: These are excellent for creating a broad and even light source, minimizing shadows and highlighting product details. They are particularly useful for larger items.

• Ring Lights: Ideal for smaller products or close-up shots, ring lights provide even lighting and help eliminate shadows. They are also great for enhancing the finer details of your products.

• Lightbox or Tents: These portable setups come with built-in LED lights and diffusers, perfect for small to medium-sized products. They create a consistent and professional look by evenly lighting the product from all angles.

Background

A clean and uncluttered background ensures that your product remains the focal point of the image. Here are some tips to achieve a professional background:

White or Neutral Backgrounds

White or neutral backgrounds are preferred in product photography for a couple of reasons:

• Highlight the Product: Neutral backgrounds draw attention to the product without distractions.

• Ease of Editing: They are easier to work with during the post-processing stage, especially when removing or altering backgrounds.

Using a Lightbox

A lightbox can be particularly useful for smaller items. Here’s why:

• Consistency: Lightboxes provide a consistent, evenly lit background, reducing the need for extensive editing.

• Portability: They are easy to set up and move around, making them convenient for various shooting locations.

DIY Backgrounds

For those on a budget or seeking creative options, DIY backgrounds can be effective:

• Poster Boards: Use white or coloured poster boards as affordable and versatile background options.

• Fabric: Smooth, wrinkle-free fabrics can also serve as attractive backgrounds, adding texture and interest without overshadowing the product.

Composition

Composition involves arranging your product and any additional elements in a visually pleasing manner, creating interest and showing your product at its best.

Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a fundamental guideline in photography:

• Grid Layout: Imagine your frame divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal and vertical lines.

• Placement: Position your product along these lines or at their intersections to create a balanced and engaging composition.

Symmetry and Balance

Achieving symmetry and balance in your photos can make them more appealing:

• Central Placement: For a symmetrical look, place your product in the centre of the frame. This works well for products with a symmetrical design.

• Balancing Elements: If including props, ensure they balance the composition without drawing attention away from the main product. Props should visually support your product, not take away from it.

Leading Lines

Use leading lines to guide the viewer’s eye towards the product:

• Natural Lines: Look for natural lines in the environment, such as edges of tables, fabric folds, or shadows, that direct attention to the product.

• Intentional Placement: Arrange props or background elements to create lines that lead to the focal point.

Depth of Field

Controlling the depth of field can add dimension and focus to your product images:

• Shallow Depth of Field: Use a wide aperture (low f-stop number) to create a blurred background, making the product stand out sharply.

• Deep Depth of Field: Use a smaller aperture (higher f-stop number) to keep both the product and background in focus, ideal for showing context or multiple items.

By mastering these basics—lighting, background, and composition—you can significantly enhance the quality of your product photography, making your products more appealing and professional-looking to potential customers.

2. Enhancing Product Appeal

Angles and Perspectives

Showcasing your product from multiple angles provides customers with a comprehensive view, helping them make informed purchasing decisions. Include close-ups to highlight details and features, and consider using creative perspectives to make your photos stand out.

Consistency

Consistency in your product images is vital for a cohesive and professional look. Use the same lighting, background, and editing style for all your photos across your website and social media. This not only enhances your brand’s aesthetic but also makes your website more visually appealing.

Props and Styling

Carefully selected props can enhance the appeal of your product by providing context and lifestyle relevance. However, ensure that props do not overshadow the product. Keep them minimal and relevant to the item being showcased. The same props can be used in multiple images and settings across your website.

3. Post-Processing and Editing

Post-processing is where you can fine-tune your images to perfection. Taking a little time to make sure that your products look their very best can be the difference between an abandoned cart and an all-important sale. It enhances the visual appeal and professionalism of your product photos, ensuring they stand out. Here are some of the best apps and online software for editing product photos, along with ratings based on current reviews:

Adobe Lightroom

Rating: 4.8/5

Adobe Lightroom is a powerful tool for adjusting exposure, contrast, and colours. It offers advanced features like selective editing and presets for consistent edits. Lightroom has user-friendly interface and cloud syncing which means it’s the top option for both beginners and professionals.

Features:

• Comprehensive editing tools

• Non-destructive editing

• Advanced colour grading

• Presets for quick edits

• Cloud storage for easy access across devices

Check out Adobe Lightroom

Canva

Rating: 4.6/5

Ideal for beginners (and pros who won’t admit it), Canva provides easy-to-use tools for basic photo edits and design. It offers a huge range templates for creating a suite of consistent marketing materials, making it the perfect design tool for eCommerce businesses. Canva’s drag-and-drop interface is perfect for those with little to no design experience.

Features:

• User-friendly interface

• Extensive library of templates

• Basic photo editing tools

• Design elements and fonts

• Collaboration features for team projects

Check out Canva

Snapseed

Rating: 4.5/5

Snapseed, a mobile app from Google, offers professional-grade editing tools, including filters, brush adjustments, and healing features for retouching. It's particularly useful for on-the-go edits and quick adjustments.

Features:

• Wide range of filters and effects

• Precise control over edits with brush tools

• Healing tool for removing imperfections

• User-friendly interface

• Support for RAW files

Check out Snapseed in Google Play

Check out Snapseed in App Store

Pixc

Rating: 4.4/5

Pixc is an online service specialising in eCommerce product photo editing. It offers background removal, retouching, and colour correction. It’s ideal for businesses that need high-quality edits quickly and efficiently.

Features:

• Professional background removal

• Detailed retouching services

• Colour correction for accurate representation

• Quick turnaround time

• Easy-to-use online platform

Check out Pixc

4. Most Common Photo Edits

Colour Correction

Accurate colour representation is crucial for product photos. Colour correction ensures the colours in your images match the actual product, reducing returns and increasing customer satisfaction. Use editing software to adjust the white balance, tint, and saturation until the product looks true to life.

Tips for Colour Correction:

• White Balance: Adjust the white balance to correct any colour casts from lighting. This ensures the whites in your image are neutral, providing a true colour representation.

• Saturation and Vibrance: Enhance the colours of your product without making them look unnatural. Use saturation and vibrance adjustments sparingly.

• Calibration: Calibrate your monitor to ensure the colours you see on the screen match the printed or displayed product.

Retouching

Retouching involves removing any imperfections such as dust, scratches, or reflections that may have appeared during the shoot. Tools like the healing brush or clone stamp in Photoshop can help achieve a polished look. Here are some retouching tips:

Tools and Techniques:

• Healing Brush Tool: Ideal for removing small imperfections like dust spots or blemishes. It samples surrounding pixels to blend the area seamlessly.

• Clone Stamp Tool: Useful for larger areas that need retouching. This tool allows you to copy pixels from one part of the image to another.

• Dodge and Burn: Lighten or darken specific areas to enhance details and add depth. This can help in highlighting the product’s features and textures.

• Frequency Separation: Advanced technique for retouching skin or surfaces without losing texture. It separates the colour and texture layers for precise editing.

By mastering these post-processing and editing techniques, you can significantly enhance the quality of your product photos, making them more appealing and professional-looking to potential customers. Investing in the right tools and software will ensure your images not only attract attention but also build trust and credibility with your audience.

5. Optimising Images for Web

File Size and Format

Optimise your images to ensure they load quickly on your website. Large files can slow down your site, negatively affecting user experience and SEO. Save your images in JPEG format for a good balance between quality and file size. You can also use online tools like TinyPNG to compress your images without losing quality.

Alt Text

Adding descriptive alt text to your images not only improves accessibility but also enhances SEO. Include relevant keywords that describe the product and its features to help search engines understand the content of your images and give you a little boost in rankings.

High-quality product photography is a powerful tool for eCommerce websites, capable of enhancing product appeal and boosting sales. By understanding the basics of lighting, composition, and editing, and by using the recommended apps and software, you can create stunning product images that captivate your audience. Invest time and effort into your product photography, and watch as your eCommerce business thrives.

For more expert advice and personalised strategies, talk to us at letstalk@usual.ie today and let us help you elevate your eCommerce business.