When shopping online, people strongly rely on pictures. 22% of online shoppers return products because the items looked different in the picture. That’s why product photography is so important.
From our experience at Ecwid, we’ve noticed that many beginner businesses make the same photography mistakes. Luckily, they are very easy to fix — and we’re here to help.
This post is not about pro photo editing tips: on the contrary, you’ll learn how to make a simple but quality picture that will actually sell your stuff. So, before you announce your grand opening, be sure to avoid the following faux pas.
Product Photography Mistake #1: Poor Background
A poor background distracts the attention away from the product and makes the picture look amateurish.
Make sure your background doesn’t draw attention away like here
When in doubt about what background to choose, stick to plain white. For small products, use a sheet of paper and a couple of clips; for bigger products, use thick cloth or a white wall.
Product Photography Mistake #2: Blurry Pictures
It may sound obvious, but lots of merchants still make this mistake.
Blurry or unfocused images won’t make sales
Keep an eye out for blur at every step of your photo session:
- Make sure the lense is clean
- Focus your camera on the product before shooting
- Hold it tight and use a stabilizer
- Don’t shoot too close to the product
- If you resize or crop your pics to optimize them for the web,
double-check the quality of the final images.
Product Photography Mistake #3: Extra Stuff in the Picture
Multiple products in a picture can look good if:
- They are of the same type so it’s clear what you sell exactly on this product page
- You arrange them in a flattering way.
However, if you’re just starting out, composing your images can be tough. When playing with angles, keep an eye out for accidental distractions from the item you’re trying to present.
The other cup obviously shouldn’t be in the picture
It’s best to have some air around your product too: even if something gets in your shot (pet owners will get this), you’ll be able to crop the image later.
Product Photography Mistake #4: Poor Lighting
Сheck out the examples below: in the first case, the image is too dark; in the second case, it’s too bright. Both pictures are unflattering to the product.
One of the basic photography tips for beginners is to shoot in daylight. Artificial lighting can be aggressive, cause hard shadows, or make your images look too warm. Natural light in the morning or at sunset is soft and bright enough to flatter your products.
Product Photography Mistake #5: Bad Angle
In the example below, you can’t see the picture on a product and whether it has a handle — you don’t know what the item actually looks like.
The actual shape and size of this cup are not clear
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t play with angles. On the contrary, a creative and unexpected composition in your product images can bring fun to the shopping process. Just make sure you display the most important features of your product in the main picture, and add more pictures in the gallery.
Product Photography Mistake #6: Different Ratios
The first picture in the example below is rectangular, and the second is square:
Just like with angles, there’s nothing wrong with combining different ratios, but that’s more of a pro play. If you’re a newcomer to
If you use Ecwid
Square ratio
Portrait ratio
Landscape ratio
Learn more about design options in Ecwid: New Ecwid Design Settings: Dozens of Customization Options, No Coding
A Checklist for a Solid Product Picture
Okay, it’s time to review your product images. Look for:
- A neutral white background;
- High resolution and proper focus;
- No other items in the picture;
- Soft natural light;
- The picture represent the product realistically;
- More images of different angles in the gallery;
- Consistent ratio.
Product photos can be as simple or sophisticated as you want. But to make product pictures sell, it can be enough to indicate your product’s best features in your shots and stick to a quality image. The rest comes with time and experience.
- Product Photography Mistakes That May Cost You Sales
- Simple Product Photography Tips
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- Cool Product Photography Ideas
- Product Photography Background Ideas
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