How To Take Killer Product Photos

Product photos play a key role in sales. Whether they are published online or in a physical catalog (or both), you should go the extra mile to ensure they present the product in the most appealing manner possible. The right photos will encourage shoppers to pull out their wallet and buy the item, but the wrong photos will have the opposite effect by sending shoppers in the other direction.

The Camera

Don't underestimate the importance of using a high-quality camera when taking product photos for your store. While smartphone cameras are great for on-the-spot moments, they fall short when compared to a high-end DSLR. So if you haven't done so already, invest in a high-megapixel DSLR.

Did you know? Since you'll be using your camera for business purposes, you should be able to write it off on your taxes. Of course, we recommend consulting with your accountant or tax adviser beforehand

The Software

You can't expect to take quality product photos without the right software. Regardless of how well the photos initially look, chances are they'll need a little touching up. Adobe Photoshop is arguably the most popular and widely used photo editing software. If you're not willing to shell out the money for it, however, you can always opt for the free Gimp instead. The bottom line is that you'll need some type of photo editing software to optimize your product photos before publishing them.

The Background

You have one of two different options available when choosing a background for your product photos: you can use a backdrop, or you can use a solid color background. In most cases, a color background color will deliver the most visually appealing product photos possible. 

So, what color should you use in your photo backgrounds? It really depends on where the photos are being used. If they are being published to your website, you may want to use the same background color as your website. Doing so allows the product images to blend in.

Ghost Mannequin

We've talked about this before on our blog, but it's worth mentioning again that ghost mannequins can be used to optimize your product photos. Unlike most standard mannequins, ghost mannequins have detachable arms, heads and other appendages, making shirts and other garments appear to float in midair.

To learn more about ghost mannequins, check out our previous blog post at https://mannequinmall.com/blog/boost-your-sales-with-a-ghost-mannequin/.