Humans are extremely visual creatures who tend to buy with their eyes. Studies reveal 75% of online shoppers rely on product photos when deciding on a potential purchase, which means high-quality images should be an essential part of your e-commerce strategy. Attractive photos go a long way in boosting sales conversions on your website, while bad photography can turn off potential customers and hurt your brand.If you wonder how to take product photos that will inspire shoppers to buy, here are six tips to help you capture beautiful and compelling images for your e-commerce website.

1. Lighting is key

Lighting is one of the most important elements of photography and can truly make or break your product shots. Experiment with various sources of light (natural and artificial) at different times of day to determine what type of light works best for your subject. If you’re having difficulty with harsh shadows, try using a light diffuser to create a softer, more even look. Alternatively, you can use a reflector to bounce light strategically around the frame to fill in dark areas.

2. Use a tripod

Whether you’re taking photos with your smartphone or a top-of-the-line professional camera, unstable hands can result in blurry images. Use a tripod to hold your camera steady – this minimizes the risk of unwanted movement and will ensure your shots are in focus. Tripods also allow you to go hands-free during the shoot, so you can concentrate on setting up and styling great photos.

3. Invest in backdrops

Consistency is key when it comes to e-commerce photos, especially for merchants that have a large online catalogue. If you don’t have access to a professional photography studio, invest in a signature backdrop to give all your photos a uniform look. Subtle neutrals like white, beige and cream work best for photo backdrops since bright colours are distracting and can distort the buyer’s perception of the product. If you want to create a crisp, all-white backdrop, try building your own lightbox using craft supplies.

4. Take photos from multiple angles

Unlike in-store shopping experiences, online customers don’t have the opportunity to pick up a product and examine it from all angles. Retailers can recreate a hands-on product evaluation by shooting their wares from multiple different viewpoints, including front-facing, side profile, rear view, aerial, and detailed close-ups. Take photos from at least three different perspectives to give customers a 360-degree understanding of how the product looks in real life.

5. Let your photos tell a story

Add excitement to your photo gallery by using props and models to show off your products in action. Providing shoppers with additional context and an interesting narrative will inspire them to buy. For example, simple dishware comes to life when styled with ingredients and complementary table linens. If you’re selling watches and jewellery, showcase pieces on a model so that shoppers can envision wearing the accessories themselves.

6. Keep photo edits to a minimum

After photographing your product inventory, use editing software like Photoshop, Lightroom and Canva to improve your images by eliminating mistakes, correcting bad lighting, and enhancing focal points. But remember, e-commerce photos should be an accurate and honest reflection of what the products look like in person, so resist the urge to apply heavy edits and retouching that will mislead buyers. For example, smoothing out wrinkles on clothing would be acceptable, but altering the colour of the fabric to make it more vibrant is deceptive.Great product photos belong on a website that sells. Contact a Yellow Pages expert today to learn more about turnkey e-commerce solutions. Our Media Account Consultants are ready to take your call at 1-877-553-6883.