Billions of people are now shopping a range of household, food and fashion items online. One of the key deciding factors for their purchases? The product photography on the e-commerce website.
How do you convert a potential buyer into a customer when you have no salesperson next to them? A detailed product description is not enough, you have to provide them with top-quality product photography.
Let’s elaborate on why and how!
What is e-commerce product photography?
Running an e-commerce website has pros and cons. You can reach a broader customer base without geographical limitations, but you also have to convince people to buy your products without physical interactions.
That’s where product photography comes into place. Applied to e-commerce, it consists of pictures created as a visual standpoint for your product listings on your online storefront (your e-commerce website).
These pictures are meant to “speak for themselves” showcasing the product’s features, colors, and textures – and therefore, its value.
The goal of product photography in e-commerce is to visually provide enough information and context about the product in question, answer potential buyer concerns, and convert them into customers without further consultations.
Some statistics to reflect upon
Indeed, properly investing in your brand’s product photography addresses the needs of your customers and guarantees a long term benefit in sales:
According to Justuno, 93% of consumers consider visual appearance to be the key deciding factor in a purchasing decision.
A survey done by BigCommerce on American consumers highlighted that “78% of online shoppers want products to be brought to life with images.”
Or take Etsy – the largest online market for handmade items, vintage goods, and craft supplies. Their customer research showcased that product photos are critical as they represent the most important factor in their shopper’s purchasing decision – even more than the shipping cost, customer reviews, or even the price of the item itself.
They say a photo speaks 1,000 words… is your product photography saying what you want? If your numbers show that your images do not make visitors click “add to cart”, keep on reading!
The importance of product photography in e-commerce
An ever-growing percentage of the population is buying everything they need online. However, a huge amount of potential buyers also means a competitive market – and at the end of the day, potential buyers are just a number unless you have a high conversion rate.
The virtual shopping component is what makes product photography for e-commerce such a definitive factor for customers. They cannot feel the product, turn it around, see it from all angles, or picture exactly how it would look in real life. The more accurately your photography depicts your product and the more variety you provide to the eye, the more convinced customers you will have.
Certainly, improving product photography can help you increase your sales – let alone, set you apart from your competitors. Check out these 11 Tips for creating product photography that sells!
Furthermore, beyond showcasing your items, product images provide the first impression about the brand. Let’s put it like this: small, grainy, and low-resolution pictures are out if you want a reputable brand image and increase sales.
You can use it for advertising too!
The beauty of great product photography is that the same picture can be used in multiple ways: in your newsletter, as content on social media, on your website, as an ad, etc.
In the visual world we live in, including product photography in your advertisements is a must. The more eye-catching or attractive your image is to the eye, the more reach you’ll have. Therefore, more people will be redirected to your website.
Are you ready to get started?
If you are an emerging brand, make sure to have a budget that covers high-quality, professional product images, they are a long-term investment that will actually sell your product. Likewise, if you have an established e-commerce website, on-brand product photography remains important and crucial to your success.
However, if you have a small brand and hiring a professional is not possible for you, we have an article on how to DIY your brand’s photoshoot like a boss.
Depending on the items you are selling and your branding, your pictures may belong to a particular type of product photography. Whether that is conceptual, lifestyle, still life, or minimal product photography, you have to discover what works for your brand and products.
Therefore, once you have figured out that part of the formula, your product photography will bring you a higher ROI. One thing is clear: product photography drives sales when it’s done right. If you want to get images that drive conversion, hiring a professional is the way to go.
Professional product photography has never been more accessible!
Let’s talk about Branded Stock!
Create visual content with Cherrydeck Branded Stock. without having to plan a whole photoshoot or commit to a high budget from the start.
Cherrydeck has introduced an innovative service that provides consumer brands in all fields (beauty, food, electronics, and more) with a library of custom product photography featuring their own products in a matter of weeks!
As a brand, you can obtain product photography in a stress-free and cost-effective way following your brand guidelines, and use it for your marketing purposes – at scale!
Let’s recap:
- What is Product Photography?
- The importance of Product Photography in E-commerce
- Get Started!
- Cherrydeck Branded Stock
Check out more insights on product photography for e-commerce websites for Clothing, Jewelry, Cosmetics, and Skincare.
We have also covered the trends transforming product photography in 2022 that you do not want to miss out on! Or click here for all you need to know on product photography for ecommerce.
Do you want more tips and insights on product photography and brands?
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