Good photographs are one of the most import parts of selling online. A potential customer can't see the item in real life so the images used have to give as much information as possible. My photography skills still need A LOT of work but I have definitely improved since the early days. When I'm taking my pictures I try and think of how I feel as customer when buying online. What do I look for when selecting what to buy and what information do I need before I feel happy enough to 'Add to Cart'. Here are 5 key things that I want to see before I get my debit card out.
A Clear FocusFirst of all your photographs should be clear and in focus. This is a basic and most cameras have pretty good auto focus so there isn't really an excuse for fuzzy shots. Sometimes it does go wrong though, especially if you're just starting out. I would advise taking a number of photos of the same composition. This means you should get at least one in focus. Practice makes perfect, so the more experience you get the better. If you're having trouble with the auto focus, play around with the settings and see what works best.
Attention PleaseNot only should the focus of the photo be clear, it should also be on the right thing. Props and styling can look great but you don't want to confuse the buyer. It's no good if someone clicks on your item because they want to buy the lovely patterned dish that your earrings are sitting on. Try and keep the background plain so that your item really pops and is the main focus of attention.
An Idea of ScaleMeasurements in your item description are great but I'm pretty lazy. I want a good idea of the size of an item at a glance. Show it next to other standard sized objects, for example if it's a notebook photograph it next to a pencil. This means I can quickly get an idea about the dimensions. Showing your item being held also helps with this.
Get it onIf your item is meant to be worn then I want to see it on a person. It doesn't have to be a shot of a glamorous model, just show me how it looks on. This will help to give an idea of the size of the item and how it will look like on me if/when I buy it. I may buy an item without seeing an image of it worn but in the past this has lead to me being rather disappointed. No one wants disappointed customers.
VarietyTo capture all of the above you should definitely have more than one image. It is very rare that a single photo can capture all aspects of a product. I try to go for a clear overall picture as my main image and add 3 or 4 additional photos to show different aspects of the product. These will usually include:
- A close up/ detail shot. Great fro showing off the care and attention you've taken to make your product as well as any cute little details that are worth drawing attention to.
- A shot of the back of the item. It may not be the most amazing view of the product but it gives the customer a more complete picture of what they're getting.
- A photo of it being worn. Let the buyer know how amazing the item will make them look.
- Details of the packaging. If your item comes nicely packaged then show this off. If someone is looking to buy a gift this image could really influence their decision.
- A look at different options. If the item comes in a variety of colours then show all of the options. This is especially important if customers have to select the option from a list rather than as a different listing in your shop.
I hope these points are of some use. I know I always try and remember them when I'm taking my Jolly Good product shots. If you have anymore to add please pop them in a comment below.
You can check out all of my Getting Down to Business posts here.
