Bad quality product photography can have a bad impact on your online sales. This could be something as simple as a blurry picture or a picture that has overexposure. Keep reading to find common photography mistakes that new businesses make.
Mistake Number 1: You're using low lighting
When you use low light your camera will try to counterbalance by lengthening the exposure. When the exposure is lengthened it can cause grainy or blurry looking photos. You don’t want grainy or blurry looking photos because you want your customers to be able to clearly see what they are buying. You can fix this by using either natural lighting or artificial lighting. You can get natural lighting simply by shooting your products by a window or you can purchase a lightbox if natural lighting doesn’t work for you.
Mistake Number 2: You’re using flash
Using a cameras built-in flash is another common mistake. It may seem like a great thing to use because it came with the camera so why not use it. Unfortunately, using the flash can distort colors, cause sharp shadows, and glares. Again, you can fix this by purchasing softbox lights or a lightbox.
Mistake Number 3: You have blurry shots
Blurry shots look unprofessional and can leave the customer confused or annoyed about the quality of the item because they won’t be able to see it well. If your customers don't see a clear image, they won’t buy the product. You can fix this by experimenting with the focus settings on your camera. Digital cameras have a setting where when you hold down the shutter button halfway, the camera will focus on a new point. If you need to take really up close pictures of things, use the macro setting on your camera. Also, keep in mind that a lot of blurry pictures come from an unstabilized camera, try using a tripod if you haven't already.
Mistake Number 4: You have too much clutter in your photos
Do you have too much clutter in your photos? Having some other items in frame can be good because that will let customers imagine your product in their lives in a real-life scenario. If you have too much clutter though, you’ll end up confusing your customer. You can fix this by only using backgrounds and props that accent your product. For example, if you are selling a bracelet, don’t add rings and necklaces in the picture, use clothes, or a mannequin to accent your product.
Mistake Number 5: You don’t have enough information about your products in the photos
It’s important that on your store you have information about your products size, weight, and condition. Customers want to know this information so they know what they’re buying. You want to give customers peace of mind and let them know that they're getting what they paid for.
Bottom Line
These are the most common photography mistakes, so it is okay if you've made them. Now you know how to improve for the future. It’s important you photos be as professional as possible so your customers know what they're buying.
