How to photograph things beautifully. How to properly photograph an item for sale

From time to time I hear the question from my subscribers: “How to properly photograph a product for your online store.” Typically, this is something that stores that have to deal with have a fairly rare product in their assortment, and it is not possible to find normal photos on the Internet. And not everyone understands how to do this correctly so that the photographs are at least of acceptable quality, without a large number of shadows or unnecessary “noise.” Today we will talk about how to do good photo product for your online store, which you are not ashamed to post on the site.

Product photos can influence sales, both up and down. Therefore, you should not neglect high-quality photographs. After all, extra highlights or shadows, as well as poor detailing of the product, can scare off your potential buyer. Or, the product may seem unattractive and even scary to the client.

The basis of any high-quality product photography for an online store catalog is light. A lot depends on the correct placement of light. Professional photographers know how to correctly play with light and shadows, as well as the surroundings of the subject, so that the result is stunning. But because We are not professionals, we will approach this issue much more simply.

For product photography we will need:

Camera. It doesn't have to be anything professional. In a hopeless situation, you can do it on camera mobile phone take off. Ideally, of course, have it on hand reflex camera, even if it’s a budget one. But if you don’t have one, don’t be discouraged, use any available digital camera.

Tripod. So that when you shoot a product, when you press the shutter button, your camera remains firmly locked in place and the picture is as clear as possible. The presence of a stabilizer in the camera, both electronic and optical, in no way replaces a tripod. Fortunately, the initial cost of tripods is not high today. Some craftsmen try to use a stack of books instead of a tripod, but this option will not work if you shoot the product at an angle. For example, when the camera is higher than the subject and tilted 45 degrees down.

Light. As you already understand, light is an integral part of any good photograph. Literally from Greek, “photography” is translated as “to paint with light.” Typically, 2 or 3 light sources are used for subject photography. Ordinary table lamps can act as sources.

Background. It is logical that for any subject photography we will need some uniform background against which we will photograph the subject. For example, a white background, like most products posted in an online store. To do this, you can use whatman paper, which will lie partially on the table and partially cover the wall. But this method is complicated by the fact that you need to be able to set the light correctly in order to remove unnecessary shadows. To simplify product photography, so-called photo boxes or light cubes are used today.

Use a photobox (lightcube)

A photobox or lightcube is a box frame covered with some material (fabric) that transmits and diffuses light. They can be either purchased or homemade. You can use any of these options that suits you best.

Their essence is the same, the subject of photography (your product) is placed inside the cube, and light sources are placed on the sides of the photo box so that the light penetrates inside and scatters, removing shadows and making the illumination of the subject uniform. Sometimes a third light source is placed at the top.

Today, the most common photo boxes are those with easily folding frames. They are easy to store, and their cost is quite affordable. Sizes also vary, starting from about 30cm 3 . The kit, as a rule, already includes 4 interchangeable backgrounds in white, black, blue and red.

You should choose the size of your photo box based on the size of the objects you will be photographing. You should not choose a size that fits. For example, if the dimensions of your goods do not exceed 50 cm, you should pay attention to the size of the “cube” of 80-90 cm 3 . Those. so that there is free space inside.

A small photo box measuring 60 cm 3 will cost you 2000-3000 rubles, depending on the manufacturer. Sizes 80-90cm 3 will cost 3000-5000 rubles. These are prices for the photobox itself, without lighting. You need to purchase additional light or use improvised lighting. There are photo boxes with lamps already included, or even “boxes” with built-in light, but their cost is 2-3 times higher.

As one proverb says, “It’s better to see once than to hear a hundred times,” and in our case, read... so I’ll give you one short video with an overview of the photobox to make it more clear:

By the way, this is another example of how online stores use videos with reviews of their products, which I recently wrote about in the article “”.

But I will say right away that a photo box is not always suitable for photographing some products that strongly reflect light. For example, cutlery or stainless steel dishes, polished to a mirror finish, etc. Here you will have to work hard with light, without using a photobox. In all other options, a lightcube or photobox is an excellent solution for beginners and amateurs.

I'm not a professional photographer and won't bog you down with the technical aspects of getting a great photo. However, understanding the basics will be very useful so that your product photographs are of good quality, and subsequent processing in graphic editors is minimal. In order not to write a lot of letters, I have selected a couple of videos for you that, without unnecessary technical terminology, cover such important topics as working with exposures and white balance.

Video lesson - working with exposure:

Video lesson - color and white balance:

As for other tips when photographing a product, they are as follows:

1. Change your perspective. Shoot your product from different angles so that people have a better idea of ​​your product. If the product is not very simple and has many elements, or looks different in different configurations and conditions, then be sure to demonstrate this in a photograph.
2. More shots. Don’t be lazy to take more shots (takes) from one angle. Because It happens that the camera may focus incorrectly, or the image will blur when shooting without a tripod, or something else. You won't see this on the camera's small screen, but it will be an unpleasant surprise when you view the footage on your computer.
3. Reflections. Do not forget that any reflective surfaces can reflect not only environment, but also the photographer himself. It won’t be very cool if your clients observe the entire photographer or parts of his body in the reflection. Photobox, of course, helps to minimize this in many ways, but nevertheless, do not forget to keep an eye on it.
4. Wipe down the product. Don't forget to wipe down the item before taking photos. This is especially important on glossy and reflective surfaces. Because All kinds of dust particles and fingerprints can be clearly visible and ruin the entire impression of the product. The photo can then be edited in Photoshop and all the imperfections can be hidden, but, in my opinion, it’s much easier to clean it up than to painstakingly edit the photo in a graphics editor.
5. Product dimensions. Show the client the dimensions of the product compared to something if it is not obvious. For example, with a ruler lying nearby or an object whose size is familiar and understandable to everyone. It could be a five-ruble coin, a lighter, or even the person himself or his hand.
6. Options and packaging. If your product has a set, then it would be very useful to take a photo of what is included. Wiring, instructions, attachments, etc. Also, if the product packaging looks beautiful, take a photo of it too. Because Such packaging can serve as a decisive factor when choosing a product by a client. After all, he can choose a product not only for himself, but also as a gift for someone else.
7. FormatRAW. If your camera supports the RAW format, then do not neglect it, this format stores more information about the frame than any other format, and you will have more opportunities to edit your photos.

Photo editing

Even if you understand the light and camera settings, the photo may not turn out perfect. For example, color white background Although it is as close to white as possible, it nevertheless has a grayish tint compared to the pure white background of the site.

If you don’t have before your eyes a comparison of two photographs, processed and unprocessed, then you may not notice the gray background until you upload the photos to the site.

Because White backgrounds for online stores are the most popular, I’ll tell you how I do it. By the way, this is as simple as possible. You just need to apply an adjustment layer. To do this, in Photoshop, go to “Layers – New Adjustment Layer – Levels”.

A similar operation can be done by clicking on the icon pointed to by the arrow in the screenshot and selecting “levels” in the menu that opens. Next, you will have access to a window where you will see a histogram, as well as three “droppers” - black, gray and white.

These are needed to set the image pattern for white, gray and black. Usually just white and black are enough. Click on the white “dropper” and select the lightest area in the photo (in our case, the whitest). Photoshop will adjust the photo so that our grayish background becomes white. A similar operation can be done with the darkest area in the photograph, using a black “dropper”. Then the dark colors in the photo will undergo adjustments.

That's all! Don't forget to reduce the image size and optimize it for uploading to the site. So that the file weight is small and does not slow down the operation of the online store website.

Unfortunately, not all sellers know that the product needs to be photographed correctly. Even if you are selling your grandmother’s old sewing machine, which in your opinion no one needs, one right photo and the buyer will dial your number.

It was not the text that sold the typewriter, but the photograph. Let's learn how to properly photograph things for sale.

Put things in order

Cleaning, polishing, removing rust and fingerprints will not take much time. But potential buyers will think of you as a neat person who takes care of his property.

Take photos near the window

Soft natural light will smooth out surface imperfections. Avoid direct sunlight: it creates unnecessary glare and harsh shadows. Turn off artificial lighting.

If it is not possible to photograph the subject in diffused natural light, use diffuser lamps.

Use a reflector

If the light comes from only one side, part of the item may be too dark, and then the buyer will not see it in all its glory.

If there is no reflector, and you are photographing something small (smartphone, figurine, watch), a sheet of white paper placed with dark side subject.

Take several photos from different angles

The buyer must have a complete understanding of what he is about to purchase. The pictures should show not only the best front, but also the back, each side, and even the inside of the item if it opens.

Increase the zoom

Show attractive details of the item you are selling - elegant decor, texture, interesting little things. This is where your knowledge of macro photography will come in handy.

Remove foreign objects from the frame

Nothing should distract attention from the main object. At the same time, some small details can add a special note: for example, a bright kitchen towel next to a set of dishes for sale or beads thrown as if by chance by the mirror will add atmosphere to the photograph.

The main thing is not to overdo it with little things. If you are not sure whether to leave such details in the frame, it is better to get rid of them.

Take a photo of the item in use

A bracelet is on your hand, a car is on a city street, a plant is in the interior. If you are selling a painting or embroidery, take care of the frame. Let the buyer imagine how this thing would look in his environment.

Give an idea of ​​the size of the item

If you are photographing something whose size is difficult to determine from the photograph (a toy, a vase, a decoration), give the buyer some hints - place them nearby Matchbox, lipstick or something that has very specific dimensions.

Think about the composition

A badminton set will look better in the gym, musical instrument- in the hands of the player, the tea set is on the table surrounded by other utensils. Show a little imagination and you will be able to capture the life of simple objects.

Be honest

There's nothing worse than having to take an item back home after meeting a buyer. Do not try to disguise scratches using photo editors, and do not keep silent about damage in the ad.

Remember that the buyer will still know about them when he sees the item with his own eyes. Beautiful photographs do not have to be perfect; their task is to show the thing in such a way that its actual condition does not cause disappointment.

In this article, I want to talk about what mistakes you should not make when subject photography goods for an online store or any other similar resource. There is not a lot of such information on the Internet, and I hope that my article will help organize obvious, but not obvious problems for photographers, retouchers, designers and people associated with e-commerce. Also, compliance with all these simple rules, can increase the conversion of an online store, because visual content is the main one for perception and one of the main factors in making a purchase decision.

1. Overly processed photos

When processing photos, remember Golden Rule: less is better. To get a good image of a product, it is enough to photograph it with a correctly configured camera and the correct light. Should not be abused Photoshop capabilities. Too much photo processing will make your product images look unnatural. And this, in turn, will lead to your product being returned more often.

Thus, one of the common annoying mistakes is over-processed skin of models, especially in photographs of products from the “Beauty and Health” category. Working with appearance skin, it is necessary to preserve its texture, color and shade.

2. Defocused/blurry photos

The customer wants to look at the texture, material and every detail of your product. Out-of-focus, blurry or unclear photos will disappoint him. High-quality shots of the “subject” are clean, illuminated and fully in focus. Check your depth of field, use the fastest shutter speed possible, and steady your camera while shooting with a tripod. The aperture should be f/11 or higher, while the ISO should be as low as possible. ISO 100 is ideal.

3. Black or colored background

By using a black or colored background, you complicate future collaborations with trading platforms. Giant platforms like Amazon and EBay recommend and even require the use of a white or light gray background to focus the buyer's attention on the product.

4. Insufficiently white or gradient background

The white background for the “item” must be truly, 100% white, without any admixture of gradient and gray- that is, the shade #FFFFFF. If you want to use a light gray background, it should be a 100% gray shade (for example, #F5F5F5). Avoid gradients when photographing the subject.

Photographing jewelry, watches, and in general any shiny goods that can cast a glare is not easy - there are a number of important nuances. We'll go into detail about how to avoid distracting reflections in the next guide.

6. Too pronounced shadow

Avoid voluminous and dark shadows that distract attention from the product. Too pronounced shadows make photos look heavy and unnatural.

7. Color mismatch

Make sure the photo accurately depicts the color of the product. A 2015 US study by Voxware found that 54% of all returns were due to color or quality issues. In other words, every second return in your online store is due to the fact that the product in the photo does not correspond to the product in real life.

8. Bad retouching

Poorly retouched images - when dust, scratches or obvious defects are visible on the product - do not in any way contribute to consumer trust, both in the product and in the company as a whole. It’s better to hire a professional right away or use the services of a photo editing agency.

9. Wrong perspective

When shooting at a wide angle and close to the subject, the product in the photo will appear shortened or distorted. If you are unable to shift the optical axis of the lens, use the appropriate perspective correction tool. Lenses with a focal length of 85-135 mm are considered ideal for photographing the “subject”.

10. Different indents in the frame

It is extremely unprofessional when in a catalog one product appears larger or smaller than another. Always use consistent margins in your photos and remember to give the products in the photo more “air.” Margins along the edges should be 5-15% of overall size photos.

11. One image per product

Even the most wonderful photo alone is not enough for high sales. The product must be shown from different angles. EBay analyzed 6.8 million products on its platform and found that a product illustrated with two images sold 7% better than a product with one image. A product with eight photos sells 25% better than a product with one photo. Conclusion: more photos - more sales.

Observe an important rule: additional pictures must be borne by buyers new information. No one needs photographs that do not contain additional information.

12. Inconsistent shooting

Another sign of an unprofessionally made catalog is different angles of similar products. Different lighting, different backgrounds, and even different product sizes all distract and irritate customers. Uniformity or in other words Standardization
– one of the most important components of successful product photography. Create guidelines for camera settings, lighting, backgrounds, and equipment placement for each product category in your online store and follow them strictly.

13. Wrong white balance

Even if your photo is technically flawless, if the white balance is incorrect, you will end up with inaccurate colors or strange skin tones on your subjects. Most modern digital cameras allow you to manually set a custom white balance. For this, it is best to use professional equipment such as X-Rite Photo's ColorChecker Passport Photo or ExpoDisc.

14. Overexposed photos

Overexposure is when images are too bright and all the detail in the lightest areas is lost. This means that too much light has reached the sensor. Overexposure is a common problem when photographing white or colored products. You can control the amount of light entering your camera's sensor by changing the ISO, aperture, and shutter speed settings.

15. Underlit photos

Underexposure is the opposite of overexposure. An underlit photo is too dark, and seams, texture, buttons, pockets - in short, all important details - are lost in the shadows. Dark photo usually the result of too little light reaching the sensor during shooting. You can try opening the aperture to increase the amount of light, or change the ISO and shutter speed settings.

16. Models with incorrect pose or facial expression

Forget the bearded myth that a model should always smile. A forced smile looks fake. The human face can convey more than forty expressions, so choose one that accurately conveys your idea. Poses should be natural and comfortable.

Avoid crossed arms - they may cover the product and the buyer will not see it.

17. Shooting above the model's eye level

If your camera is higher than the model's eye level, the model will appear shorter and the proportions will be skewed, which is not good for presenting your product. Always photograph products at the model's eye level.

18. Extra/unusual angles

Only take photos from additional angles if those angles help the buyer learn something new about your product. For example, it makes sense to take off the back of a regular black T-shirt only if there is a print or other element that needs to be shown. Don't use unusual angles just to make your product look special.

Experiments are good, but not in choosing angles when photographing an “object”. Here are the most common angles for photographing products: 1) frontal; 2) full face at a large and small angle; 3) from above; 4) from below; 5) behind; 6) right quarter at a large and small angle; 7) left quarter at a large and small angle; 8) right / left profile; 9) close-up(seams, logo, fittings, other details; 10) box/packaging/complete set.

19. Unnecessary props

Props are a great way to demonstrate the essence of the product, as well as in various ways its use. But don't let the props play main role. Remember: too a large number of props in the frame distract attention from your product and, accordingly, reduce sales. When shooting an “object” with a prop, don’t forget the golden rule: the smaller the better.

20. Skewed pictures

Always use a level to make sure the shooting table and camera are 100% level. Many professional tripods use a bubble level. We also recommend using the viewfinder grid display on the camera and matching one of the grid lines to a line in the photo. After shooting, you can check the horizontality of the lines using guidelines in Photoshop. It is especially difficult to determine the horizon for products such as rings and bracelets.

21. Grainy Images

Shooting at slow shutter speeds or high ISOs can result in a grainy photo. At high ISO settings, the camera sensor groups pixels together to capture more light. As a result of this grouping, the image appears grainy. This is a problem because the buyer may not like the texture of the product due to noise in the photo.

Shooting at lower ISOs can reduce noise in your photos. And grainy photos that have already been taken can be corrected. Specialists will eliminate this deficiency using Photoshop.

22. Abundance of watermarks

A watermark is not a useful thing. If someone wants to copy and use your image, the watermark will protect your copyright and everyone will know that you are the owner of the photo. At the same time, it will still not be possible to completely protect your photos from being copied from a website, and large watermarks distract the customer’s attention from your product.

If you do decide to use a watermark, make sure it does not affect the presentation of the image. It should be simple and easy to read.

23. No shadow

To avoid the effect of the product floating in the air, always use shadows and reflections. They give the product a more realistic look and add a sense of space.

24. Contrast is too low or too high

When contrast is low, the product appears flat. Contrast adds dimension and makes the image noticeably livelier, but too much contrast makes it look unnatural.

It is better to adjust the contrast level when processing photographs, and not during the shooting itself. If you already have photos with too low or too high contrast, entrust them to experienced professionals who will solve the problem using photo processing programs.

25. Low resolution

Large, professional product images increase conversions by up to 300%. Take great photos with high resolution. I recommend using a minimum resolution of 1200x1200 pixels.

26. Unprepared goods

Many sellers do not attach importance to preparing the goods before shooting, as a result the goods often end up dirty or not ironed. The product looks bad, the resulting photos look unprofessional, and consumer trust in your company is damaged.

If you need to photograph clothing, gently iron it and clean it of dust before filming begins. Always wipe down jewelry, watches and any other shiny or reflective items after touching them, and use gloves.

27. Poor lighting

Lighting is one of the most important components of successful product photography. Studio lighting can make or break your photo. There are several types of studio lighting - Fill (general light), Key light, Modeling light, Contour (backlight), Background light. To take the perfect photo, combine several types of lighting.

28. Overestimating your capabilities

This is one of the biggest mistakes of new online stores, boutiques and retailers. You don’t have an experienced, creative team, a huge studio, or expensive photography and lighting equipment at your disposal. You need to focus on product quality and sales, especially if you are just starting out. But don't forget - people can

| 16.02.2015

Today, all over the world there are a huge number of online stores, among which there are excellent examples to follow. When viewing a site with high-quality photos and competent content, the visitor’s interest in the store increases and the desire to purchase something increases. A site where product photographs are presented in good quality and from different angles is more trustworthy than one where one photo of the product is shown, in addition, without the ability to enlarge.

This article is intended for those who have not yet thought about the above. After all, despite the wide variety of beautifully designed websites, there are still no less number of online stores whose pages you want to quickly escape from. Perhaps our recommendations on how to photograph clothes and design a product page will help online stores become better and increase conversions.

What clothes photos should look like

To begin with, here is a small list of recommendations on how clothing for sale should look in the photo and what must be taken into account in the photographs. Take a look at any major online clothing store and you will see that all of the conditions listed below are met. This greatly helps the buyer in making his choice:

• Clothes must be clean and ironed.
• Clothes should not lie out of shape.
• Distortion of shades in the photo is unacceptable - the color of clothing should be as close to reality as possible.
• If a product comes in multiple colors, photographs are required for each color.
• It is advisable to demonstrate the texture of the fabric and the details of the product.

Post pictures of clothes from different angles

There is nothing worse than a lonely photo of clothing in the product card. When you come in retail store and you see something you like, you certainly look at it from all sides, right? A visitor to an online store has the same desires, only he is in a worse position, since he does not have the opportunity to personally hold the item in his hands and examine everything that interests him.

You need to do a review for it. Place photos of the product on the page from different angles: front and back (minimum required). You can (and should) also photograph the model half-turned and sitting. Show in pictures the most best qualities things and remember that in this case it is impossible to overdo it with photographs. On the contrary, the more pictures, the better.

In addition, give the buyer the opportunity to evaluate the size of the item. If it's a bag, you can fill it with common items before photographing the inside: notepad, phone, magazine, pen, bottle of perfume, etc.

Shooting clothes on a model from several sides

Show small details

Be sure to take a few photos where you can see the texture of the fabric, important details, and accessories. Do not hide from the visitor's eyes and inner part clothes, show the lining, pockets. The user should be able to enlarge the image and see all the details. Many popular online stores have a convenient feature that allows you to view an enlarged portion of an image when you hover over the photo.

A video is a great addition to a photo.

If you have the opportunity to shoot short videos demonstrating clothes on a model, this will be another big plus in the treasury of advantages. Often, a single video helps to better understand what a thing actually looks like than a dozen of the best photos.

If you decide to take photographs yourself...

In the event that you do not want to entrust the photography of your product to a photographer and plan to take photographs yourself, you will find some recommendations regarding photographic equipment, shooting locations and models useful. If you already have some experience in photography, you can skip the next paragraph.

What to photograph

Firstly, if you want to take quality photos, you will need a good camera. Of course, it’s no secret that a professional, a person with talent can take a great photo, regardless of whether he is holding a Canon SLR camera in his hands latest model or a phone with a 2 MP camera. But now we are no longer talking about talent, but about the quality of the pictures themselves and the capabilities of the camera.

Besides a good camera, you also need the right lens. Avoid wide-angle lenses, which can cause objects in photos to appear distorted. Such lenses are great for shooting panoramas and rooms, but are not suitable for shooting clothes.

It would also be a good idea to get a tripod - taking photographs is much easier with it. When shooting handheld, the risk of blur in the photo increases. Pay attention to the weight of the tripod - heavy tripods are more stable.

What to photograph with

On a mannequin

The most common way to display clothing beautifully is to use a mannequin. Quite often you also come across photographs of clothes worn as if by an invisible mannequin (you’ve probably seen this many times in online stores). It is characteristic that with this type of shooting, the inside of the clothing is also visible.

Photographers achieve this effect different ways: either they buy an ordinary mannequin and modify it with scissors, or they shoot a thing on an ordinary mannequin or model, separately photograph the inside of the product, after which fragments of several photographs are carefully glued together in a graphics editor. What comes out of this can be seen in the photographs below.

On the model

The most effective option is to shoot clothes on a model. Once the item is worn by a person, it is easier for the buyer to imagine how it will look on him. It is worth noting that the clothes must fit well on the model, and the model herself must have a pleasant figure and appearance. Immediately get ready to call a makeup artist and, ideally, a stylist for her.

The desire to buy a thing largely depends on the model, so if you decide to demonstrate the product on a person, we recommend that you seek help from professional models who know how to pose correctly, smile and present any thing in a favorable light. If you don’t have this option, it’s better to just photograph the clothes on a mannequin or on a hanger - it will be more effective.

The cut of the product and its length are clearly visible on the model. There is also a great chance to “kill two birds with one stone”: create an entire look for the model from the clothes you sell, and complement it with suitable accessories from the store’s assortment. Often girls buy “those stylish trousers” to go with this cool blouse, which the model wears along with the chosen blouse. If the image really resonates with her, the buyer can also add shoes and jewelry to the order, seeing all this in one photo. In such cases, it is extremely important to take care of links to related products.

On the floor

If you do not want to photograph the clothes either on the mannequin or on the models, you can try the third method - laying the clothes on the floor. The photographs shown below show that this option can be a very convenient solution to the problem. The main thing is to learn how to beautifully arrange clothes and decorate the surrounding space. Make sure that the type of clothing and its color are not distorted.

On a hanger

Another way to present clothes in an interesting way without losing money is to shoot on a hanger. You will need suitable lighting for photos, a wall with a neutral plain background and a nail covered with a round cap 5-6 cm in diameter, on which hangers with clothes are hung.

Choose the hangers correctly: do not use the first ones you come across, those made of cheap plastic or ones your grandfather once made himself from metal wire. The hangers must clearly correspond to the size of the product and fit its type (after all, there are different types hangers - for outerwear, suits, blouses, trousers). The item should hang on the trempel neatly and evenly so that its shape is not distorted. Only by following these rules will you achieve beautiful view clothes.

Where to take photos

You can either create suitable conditions for shooting indoors (studio lighting, plain neutral background), or solve the problem easier - arrange photography outdoors. All you need is suitable terrain.

Choose a location based on the category of clothing: if it’s swimwear, it would be appropriate to shoot on the beach or near the pool. If you are photographing, for example, evening dresses, it is unlikely that an abandoned construction site or a forgotten building will suit you - such an area is more suitable for displaying clothing in a military or grunge style.

Here are some successful examples of outdoor photography:

What should be on the product page

1. In addition to photographs, the product page should contain useful information about it. This includes a description of the composition of the fabric, brand, country of origin, size of the item (it wouldn’t hurt to immediately add a link to the size table), product features (zipper on the shoulder, cutout on the back, print, etc.). The more detailed you describe the product, the more likely it is to be purchased.
2. Check what is included and what is not. For example, if a model is wearing a dress with a belt that simply emphasizes the look, but is not sold (or sold separately), it is advisable to mention this in the product card. This will help insure against unpleasant reviews from customers who expected more.
3. You can add a block of recommended products to the page. If the product photo contains other items from your store (for example, on the trousers page there is a photo where these trousers are worn by a model along with a well-chosen blouse, shoes and accessories from your store's assortment), you can add them to the recommended products block. An example is in the screenshot below.
4. Take care of the size and weight of your photos. If you upload 5-6 large product images, each of which weighs several megabytes, the page may take a very long time to load. You can either immediately reduce the weight of photos using online editors or configure the site so that only previews are pre-loaded, and the user has the opportunity to open great option photo. You can read more about photo optimization and image file formats on this page.

Conclusion

By creating well-filled product pages, you will certainly improve the quality of your online store and also inspire trust among visitors. When demonstrating a product (and it doesn’t have to be clothing), show it from several angles, photograph small details, and ensure correct color rendition. An additional video review of a product can greatly increase buyer interest. detailed information information about fabric composition, size, manufacturer will be very useful for the visitor and will increase the chances of conversion.

When photographing a product yourself, we recommend using good photographic equipment, familiarizing yourself with the principles of photography and learning how to work with light. If you put in the effort, you can take equally attractive pictures of things on the model, on a mannequin, or on the floor.

Creating an online store requires a competent approach, patience and attention to detail. We hope these recommendations will help you improve your e-store. We wish you successful sales and satisfied customers!

A product picture can be worth a thousand words, but it can also be worth thousands in revenue. The most successful online stores nowadays they try to use unique, high-quality photographs of your products so in this article I will tell you how you can photograph products for an online store yourself and inexpensively.

To turn your site visitors into your customers, you need to show your product in its best light, including how to use or wear it. This will help the potential buyer imagine the product in his Everyday life and understand whether he needs it. But before you grab your phone and start taking photos of your products while you are having breakfast or against the backdrop of a stylishly painted wall across the road, know - 67% of consumers consider image quality "very important" when making an online purchase. This makes sense, because after all, only by looking at the image of the product does the buyer visually imagine what exactly he is buying. In brick-and-mortar stores, customers can touch, try, and get a general idea of ​​the products. On the Internet, everything is completely different, so the image of the product should be something more than just a picture, so that you can clearly make it clear what exactly you are selling and, at the same time, so that the buyer has the clearest possible picture of the product.

Using high-quality images should be a key parameter for any online store, especially one that is looking to expand its business. But, some people with limited flow Money It's difficult to hire a freelance photographer to get the quality photos you need to increase your sales. If this sounds like you, here are some tips on how to how to get nice pictures your goods, with a budget of several thousand rubles.

Find the right camera equipment

Professional cameras are becoming more affordable every year, so if you plan on taking a lot of product photos, it may be wise to invest in a good one digital camera. However, if in this moment you do not have a sufficient budget and you do not have friends who can lend you the necessary equipment, that is good news– your smartphone can help you, as well as free apps(such as VSCOCam) for photo editing.

The article uses some photographs taken on an Iphone 5 to support this.

If you're using a DSLR camera, here are a few simple things to stick to:

Do not use a wide angle lens. You will misrepresent your product.

Use the right aperture for the right shot. A wide aperture such as f2.8 or f4.5 will narrow your depth of field, leaving parts of your product out of focus.

A small aperture like f8 or f11 will give you a wider depth of field while keeping your entire product sharp and in focus.

Use the correct white balance. When shooting, you should set it to a Kelvin temperature that matches your light.

In addition to the camera, you will need to use a tripod to stabilize the camera and easily duplicate the same shot for each of your products. I also suggest using a timer or remote control trigger shutter so you can take your photos without camera shake.

After preparing the camera, we move on to the next important attribute of shooting - lighting. Whether you're using a DSLR camera or your smartphone, you need to achieve perfect lighting with the right equipment. Next, I'll talk about a lighting setup that works for almost any product.

Create soft lighting or make a softbox

When shooting product, there's nothing better than soft, diffused light. It spreads evenly across the product and creates little shadow, highlighting details and giving the best look.

Luckily, creating soft light is easy if you know where to look. If you are shooting at home or in an office, you should shoot near a window on a bright, cloudy day and avoid direct light. You should also use white paper or poster board to reflect the light to direct it onto the product and eliminate shadows.

Another great solution would be to build your own softbox. This does not require large expenditures and will allow you to shoot in any light and at any time. This irreplaceable item is easy to create with your own hands. To build a softbox, you will need: cardboard, aluminum foil, glue, masking tape, screws, nuts, black paint, plus just a little free time. Detailed instructions or master classes can be found on the Internet.

Another solution would be to use a light cube. A light cube is a structure made of plastic or metal frames in the form of a cube, on each side of which a translucent fabric is stretched to scatter light. It is recommended to place 2 or 3 light sources outside. Inside such a light box you should place, for example, plastic or whatman paper in A3 format (it is not recommended to use fabric - its texture is clearly visible in the photograph).

Sometimes a solid white or black background doesn't work well for your product, especially one that needs to be shown in action. For example, a wallet can easily be photographed against a clean white background, or an image of a woman holding a wallet can be shown to give it proper context.

Take watch images both on your wrist and as a plain background. Allow the customer to get a good feel for the product to build trust in you and encourage them to purchase a product they have never seen in person. This will increase sales and reduce chargebacks for misdescribed items.

Eat some situational options how to photograph products for an online store:

1. Side photo - photo of people, clothes (side view, front view, profile)
2. Photo above - photo of boxes, sheets, flat objects
3. Photo obliquely in projection - shoot at an angle if you need to show several sides of the product - jewelry, sculptures, vases, etc.

For additional inspiration, you can check out free stock photography sites like Stocksnap.io, which can help you generate product photo ideas.

When all the pictures are taken, we move on to the next step - Photo processing.

Photo processing for an online store

Photo processing allows you to improve the quality of the image, remove defects and minor imperfections. It is equally important to make all uploaded photos the same size. I recommend choosing 3 image sizes (small, medium, large) and saving each photo in three options. By the way, this is done automatically on our CMS.

You don't need any technical skills - just upload your photos to any online image editor and get started.

Here are some resources to help you: