Master the Art of Product Photography for Your Online Store

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Product Photography Tip 1: Choose The Right Camera
3. Product Photography Tip 2: Take Two Types of Product Photos
4. Product Photography Tip 3: Create an Infinity Curve
5. Product Photography Tip 4: Choose a Great Background for Your Lifestyle Photos
6. Product Photography Tip 5: Take Photos of Every Color and Variable
7. Product Photography Tip 6: Use Natural Lighting
8. Product Photography Tip 7: Use a Tripod
9. Product Photography Tip 8: Be Consistent
10. Product Photography Tip 9: Provide a Sense of Scale
11. Product Photography Tip 10: Don’t Delete Photos as You Take Them
12. Product Photography Tip 11: Avoid using product filters
13. Product Photography Tip 12: Don’t Neglect Editing
14. 4 Awesome Product Photography Services You Can Use to Improve Your Images
    • Photo Resize
    • Retail Ready Photos
    • Loox
    • Arqspin
15. Conclusion

Product Photography Tips to Help Grow Your Dropshipping Business

Product photography is a crucial aspect of running a successful dropshipping business. High-quality and visually appealing product images can significantly impact your sales and conversion rates. In this article, we will share 12 killer product photography tips to help you grow your dropshipping business. We will discuss the importance of choosing the right camera, taking different types of product photos, creating an infinity curve, selecting suitable backgrounds, capturing different color options, utilizing natural lighting, using a tripod for steady shots, maintaining consistency, providing a sense of scale, not deleting photos hastily, avoiding product filters, and the significance of editing. Additionally, we will introduce four awesome online services that can help improve your product images: Photo Resize, Retail Ready Photos, Loox, and Arqspin. So, let's dive into the world of product photography and learn how to capture stunning images that will elevate your dropshipping business to new heights.

Product Photography Tip 1: Choose The Right Camera

To take great quality product photos, you don't necessarily need an expensive DSLR camera. In today's digital age, smartphone cameras have significantly improved in quality, making them a viable option for beginners or sellers with a relatively small product range. However, if you are willing to invest time and effort into learning product photography, it might be worth considering a DSLR camera. DSLR cameras offer more control over settings and interchangeable lenses, allowing you to capture the intricate details of your products effectively.

Pros:

• DSLR cameras offer greater flexibility and control over settings and lenses.
• DSLR cameras capture high-resolution images, showcasing product details.

Cons:

• DSLR cameras can be expensive.
• There is a steep learning curve associated with using DSLR cameras effectively.

Product Photography Tip 2: Take Two Types of Product Photos

When photographing your products, it's essential to capture two types of images: lifestyle photos and white background photos. Lifestyle photos depict your product being used in its intended environment, showcasing its benefits and appeal to potential customers. These photos can be further enhanced by using models that resemble your target audience. On the other hand, white background photos are simple and focus solely on the product. They allow customers to see the product's details clearly and should be captured from different angles to provide a comprehensive view.

Pros:

• Lifestyle photos create a connection between the product and the target audience.
• White background photos highlight the product's details.

Cons:

• Capturing appealing lifestyle photos may require additional resources, such as models and suitable environments.
• Taking a variety of white background photos can be time-consuming.

Product Photography Tip 3: Create an Infinity Curve

To achieve that clean and professional white background for your product photos, you can create an infinity curve background. This involves bending a large piece of white paper or using a white bedsheet to create a curved backdrop. The curve eliminates visible corners and creates a seamless, infinite white background for your product images.

Pros:

• An infinity curve background creates a clean and consistent look for your product photos.
• It is a cost-effective solution for achieving a professional-quality background.

Cons:

• Creating an infinity curve background requires some manual effort and experimentation to achieve the desired effect.
• The size limitations of the curve may pose challenges when photographing larger products.

Product Photography Tip 4: Choose a Great Background for Your Lifestyle Photos

Selecting the right background for your lifestyle photos can significantly enhance the overall appearance of your products. The chosen background should align with your brand and product theme. For example, rugged menswear might look great in an industrial-looking setting, while smaller products may benefit from being showcased on different surfaces such as a wooden table or marble countertops.

Pros:

• A well-chosen background adds visual appeal and complements the product being showcased.
• Matching the background with your brand's aesthetic creates a consistent and professional look.

Cons:

• Choosing appropriate backgrounds for lifestyle photos requires careful consideration and experimentation.
• Maintaining a variety of background options can be time-consuming.

Product Photography Tip 5: Take Photos of Every Color and Variable

Showcasing your product in different colors and variations is essential for providing customers with a comprehensive understanding of what they can expect to receive. Instead of merely stating that the product is available in various colors, capture high-quality images of each color option. This helps customers make an informed decision and reduces the chance of product returns due to mismatched expectations.

Pros:

• Displaying product variations visually improves customer understanding and decreases ambiguity.
• High-quality images of each color option contribute to a professional and detailed product presentation.

Cons:

• Capturing photos of every color and variable might require additional effort and resources.
• Managing a large number of product images can be challenging, especially when introducing new variations.

Product Photography Tip 6: Use Natural Lighting

When it comes to lighting for product photography, natural light is your best friend. Soft and diffused natural light, when used correctly, minimizes harsh shadows and creates a pleasing overall effect. It is advisable to keep your products out of direct sunlight to prevent overexposure and maintain consistent lighting conditions. Additionally, try to avoid mixing natural light with artificial light sources to ensure a cohesive and natural-looking result.

Pros:

• Natural light provides a soft and diffused illumination, resulting in appealing product photos.
• It is cost-effective and readily available.

Cons:

• Achieving consistent lighting conditions with natural light requires careful planning and timing.
• Shooting in low-light conditions may result in reduced image quality.

Product Photography Tip 7: Use a Tripod

To capture sharp and clear product images, using a tripod is highly recommended. Even slight movements can cause blurriness in close-up shots, affecting the overall quality of your photos. Investing in an inexpensive tripod can make a significant difference in the sharpness and clarity of your images. If a tripod is not available, try leaning your camera against a sturdy object to minimize camera shake and movement.

Pros:

• Using a tripod ensures stability and minimizes the risk of blurry photos.
• Tripods are affordable and widely accessible.

Cons:

• Setting up a tripod and adjusting its position may consume additional time during your product photography sessions.
• Transporting and using a tripod in outdoor or on-location shoots can be cumbersome.

Product Photography Tip 8: Be Consistent

Consistency is the key to creating a visually striking brand image. When capturing product photos, it can be challenging to maintain consistency in variables such as backgrounds, lighting, and positioning. However, consistency is crucial for establishing a cohesive and professional visual identity. Take inspiration from brands like Triangl, who showcase product photos taken in the same manner, with consistent lighting, backgrounds, and positioning.

Pros:

• Consistency in product photography creates a cohesive brand image.
• It helps customers recognize your brand and builds trust and loyalty.

Cons:

• Achieving consistency may require planning and attention to detail.
• Maintaining consistency while introducing new products or variations can be challenging.

Product Photography Tip 9: Provide a Sense of Scale

When selling products of varying sizes, it is important to convey their actual dimensions accurately to potential customers. Providing a sense of scale helps customers visualize the size and proportions of the product. Including common objects or furniture in your images can serve as reference points and offer a better understanding of the product's dimensions.

Pros:

• Showing a sense of scale improves customer understanding and reduces the likelihood of returns due to mismatched expectations.
• Including common objects enhances the visual appeal of your product images.

Cons:

• Incorporating objects for scale can be challenging, especially when dealing with products that are either too small or too large.
• Maintaining a consistent scale across product images may require additional planning and resources.

Product Photography Tip 10: Don't Delete Photos as You Take Them

It is crucial not to make quick judgments and delete photos on your camera or smartphone display. Photos may appear different on smaller screens or under specific lighting conditions, and you may end up discarding the perfect image unintentionally. Transfer your photos to your computer or other devices, take your time to review them, and make informed decisions about the best shots to use.

Pros:

• Reviewing photos on larger screens allows for better evaluation and selection.
• Avoiding hasty deletions ensures you have a range of options to choose from during the editing process.

Cons:

• Transferring and reviewing photos on a different device may require additional time.
• Managing large numbers of images and organizing them effectively can be challenging.

Product Photography Tip 11: Avoid Using Product Filters

While filters can be enticing for adding a stylized or trendy look to your product photos, it is generally best to avoid using them. Customers rely on accurate depictions of your products to make informed purchase decisions. Applying filters can distort colors, alter the perception of product details, and potentially lead to customer hesitations or dissatisfaction. Stick to capturing natural and true-to-life images of your products.

Pros:

• Natural product images provide an accurate representation of your products, enhancing customer trust.
• Avoiding filters ensures clarity and prevents any misrepresentation of product features.

Cons:

• Filters may seem appealing for aesthetic purposes, but they can mislead customers or alter the product's appearance.
• Opting for natural images requires more attention to lighting, composition, and overall image quality.

Product Photography Tip 12: Don't Neglect Editing

Capturing a fantastic product photo is only the first step. In addition to capturing high-quality images, it is essential to invest time in photo editing to refine your product photos further. Simple editing techniques like cropping, color correction, and adjustments can make a significant difference in the final presentation. Ensuring that white backgrounds appear consistent and perfectly white is crucial, as well as standardizing the image sizes across your product catalog. Adobe Photoshop and online alternatives like BeFunky.com can be useful editing tools.

Pros:

• Editing enhances image quality, corrects imperfections, and improves overall visual appeal.
• Standardizing backgrounds and image sizes creates a cohesive and professional product catalog.

Cons:

• Learning and mastering photo editing techniques may require additional time and resources.
• Over-editing can result in unrealistic or misleading product images.

4 Awesome Product Photography Services You Can Use to Improve Your Images

In addition to implementing the tips mentioned above, there are several online services available that can provide professional assistance in enhancing your product images. These services offer features like resizing images, removing backgrounds, incorporating customer photos into reviews, and creating interactive 360-degree product views. Here are four notable product photography services worth considering:

1. Photo Resize:

   • This Shopify app enables you to resize your product photos to fit the standard ecommerce square shape. It ensures a consistent and professional look for your entire store. The app offers your first 400 images for free and is particularly beneficial for new store owners.

2. Retail Ready Photos:

   • Retail Ready Photos is a service that removes the background from your product images, resulting in crisp and clean visuals. By eliminating distractions, these professionaly edited photos give off a highly polished and visually appealing impression. Simply upload your photos to the app within your Shopify store, and you will receive the edited images within 24 hours. The service offers the first five images for free, with pricing starting at $1.60 per image.

3. Loox:

   • Loox is an app that allows customers to add their own photos to their product reviews. This social proof feature creates an opportunity for customers to showcase how they use your products in a natural setting. The visual validation provided by previous customers can significantly increase trust and conversion rates. Loox offers a free trial for 14 days, with pricing starting at $9.99 per month.

4. Arqspin:

   • Arqspin is a 360 spin product photography tool that enables customers to view your products from multiple angles. By providing interactive and dynamic views, you can enhance customer engagement and allow them to explore the details they are most interested in. Arqspin is recommended for established dropshipping stores and starts at $19.95 per month.

Conclusion

As an integral part of your dropshipping business, product photography plays a significant role in attracting and converting customers. By implementing the 12 killer product photography tips discussed in this article and utilizing the four awesome product photography services recommended, you can take your dropshipping business to new heights. Remember to choose the right camera, capture different types of product photos, create a clean background, select suitable backgrounds for lifestyle shots, take photos of every color and variable, utilize natural lighting, use a tripod for stability, maintain consistency, provide a sense of scale, carefully review and edit your photos, avoid using filters, and pay attention to photo editing. With a combination of proper techniques and professional assistance, your product images will stand out and drive increased sales and customer satisfaction.