Importance of Product Photography in Promoting Sales:- www.deekpay.com

Visual content is 40 times more likely to be shared on social media than any other type of content, while 22% of products sold online were returned because they "didn't match the photo" (according to reliable research). These insights make it clear that quality product photography plays a huge role in determining sales performance.

High-quality product images are a key driver in attracting attention, increasing conversions, retaining customer loyalty and improving overall customer lifetime value. In this article, we will explore in detail the benefits and best practices of quality product photography to drive sales.

The Benefits of Quality Product Photography for Sales

There are many factors that can drive sales, starting with the product itself! As the popular Hindi proverb says, "jo dikta hai, voh bikta hai", the quality of the product on display is critical to increasing the speed of sales.

Whether you're hiring a professional to photograph your products or opting for a DIY shoot using your mobile phone, the key benefits of product photography mentioned below are worth paying attention to:

Capture customer emotions

You can't bring potential customers to a campsite and show them how comfortable your backpacking gear is. You can convey that feeling through pictures. Therefore, it makes sense to seed your images with the idea that your product is the ultimate solution to all their problems. This gesture can be especially conveyed through high-quality and trustworthy images.

Perfectly photographed, comfortable and functional product images attract attention within moments, thus increasing the likelihood of a sale.

Building a brand image

A picture is not a short-term plan, but a long-term solution for your company to be seen as a market leader.

Publishing branded product images for months on end communicates that your brand is:

Professional, valuable, high quality, diverse and innovative.

This helps customers believe that your brand genuinely cares about their preferences and is humble enough to cater to their needs.

Promoting silent communication

Pictures speak louder than words! This fact still stands amongst those brands that believe in fewer words and more action.

People have limited time and patience to read all the text or product descriptions while browsing various online platforms. Therefore, in this case: mention all available product sizes, colours and features.

PRO TIP: Make a list of important information about your product and then determine what to show in the image.

Setting the right expectations

As noted earlier, 22%'s online sales were returned as "not as pictured". It is relatively difficult to persuade people to buy products online as opposed to offline.

Therefore, it is always recommended to show real product images instead of adding unnecessary filters, effects, etc. Set the right expectations of your customers about what they will see.

Another factor that sets expectations is the number of days and the number of times you can accept product returns. People who make impulse buying decisions also exist! They know that any product purchased online can be returned if they are not satisfied.

Being a considerate online business is good, but it shouldn't come at the cost of adding extra fees. Setting a limited return policy is healthy.

Leave the competition in the dust.

You may think that your product is 100% unique, but that is not 100% true. There are millions of products around the world that may have the same characteristics as your product.

The trick here is to speak through pictures. Use high-quality product images to show that your products are far superior to your competitors in terms of detail.

Here are the benefits of integrating with product photography best practices:

lighting (for a photograph)

No matter what your product is, light plays an important role in product photography. There are two types of light in photography:

Natural Light: Products photographed in natural sunlight. It is also known as "soft light". Natural light is the most popular and recommended setting by professionals because it better highlights the true features and details of the product. If your product is intended for outdoor use or to be worn by people, you can use natural light.

Artificial light: Candles, flames, light bulbs, etc. are considered artificial light and are also referred to as "hard light". Artificial light produces a small but focused surface of light. Hard light is used by professionals to take focused or close-up product images when shopping online.

at the opportune moment

As a business, you can choose from a wide range of equipment to get the best shots of your products. Broadly speaking, you can hire a professional photographer with a variety of 'best shot' ideas and equipment, or make the most of your smartphone, which is equipped with good camera technology.

If you choose to use a smartphone camera to photograph your product, then originality can be an advantage for you as it makes people believe in the authenticity of the product. It also saves you the extra cost of hiring a professional.

You may also consider investing in a professional camera (DSLR) for high quality product images. However, it is highly recommended that you do thorough research on which model, company, etc. is right for your needs.

If you choose to hire a professional photographer, you can save a lot of time adjusting angles, lighting and settings. They are masters of their art and know how to photograph any product. Professionals can also use their expertise in post-production.

contexts

According to the study, the product image of 76% was taken against a white background. Along with other factors that influence the perfect product image, the background is a key element as it changes the overall look and "need" of the product.

Most online businesses opt for white or light coloured backgrounds as they make the products look grander, more appealing, authentic and classic. Whereas black or darker backgrounds make the products look more luxurious and appealing.

(art) composition

Composition consists of a variety of elements, including the angle of the image, texture, and pattern. It depends on how well your business interacts with your audience.

For example, if you sell nail polish or cosmetics, you are free to choose bevelled, grainy or blurred backgrounds, or choose portrait mode as well as banner mode. This is because your product category is lighter and more stylish.

Whereas if you are a food-centred business, then you should choose a darker or wooden background, place the dish in the middle of the frame and use portrait mode. This setting is usually preferred as it makes the food look colourful (with coloured ingredients) and more enticing because of the central position.

In addition to these best practices, we'd like to share two of the most effective professional tips for product photography:

Simplify pictures and give them room to breathe. Leave negative or blank space in the picture. Take product-centred images. Zoom in on the details of the product. This further highlights the product and thus attracts the audience.

Today, there are many smart apps that help businesses do healthy product photography, saving time, effort and money.Snapseed, Focalmark and VSCO are a few of them.

There are many ways to increase product sales by making the most of a tool called "photography"! Online businesses like yours must take full advantage of this tool to influence your audience to buy your products.

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