How Important are Product Photography and Image Editing in eCommerce?

Specialist product photography is crucial for any eCommerce business. It not only accentuates interaction with your website but also builds confidence in your brand. Keep in mind that because your customers aren’t able to physically handle or evaluate the quality of your items, your photos are tasked with effectively promoting them.

Returns are more common than you might think, with 30% of customers returning items they purchase online. This number is even higher just after the holidays. According to several experts in conversion rate optimization, 22% of those returns are due to the product not matching the images originally seen online.

Professional photographs can help to ensure that the colors on your website or new product range are accurate. While there is some variation in how color is displayed on different monitors and devices, product photography experts generally understand what displays best on most devices.

An experienced product photographer will know how to take advantage of this and produce photos that show your products in the best possible light.

If you have a physical product that you are selling online, it is essential to have high-quality product photography. Poor-quality images will not only reflect badly on your brand but can also lead to higher return rates. Customers are disappointed when they receive products that look different from the images they saw online.

Product photography doesn’t have to be expensive, but it is worth investing in a professional photographer who can help you show your products in their best light.

Image editing is also an important part of creating great product photos. Even if you have excellent photographs, they may still need to be edited to create a consistent look across your product photos.

In this guide, we’ll cover the importance of product photography and image editing and give you some tips on how to get started.

In this guide:

• Types Of Ecommerce Product Photos
• Why is Product Photography so Important?
• What is eCommerce Image Editing?
• What are the Advantages of Image Editing and Enhancement?

Types Of Ecommerce Product Photos

The convenience of eCommerce means that users can purchase items without ever needing to see them in person. That’s why high-quality product photos are essential for any online store – they’re often the only way potential customers will get an idea of what you’re selling and how it can be used.

There are a few different types of product photos that you might need, depending on the kind of products you sell:

• Product Shots: These are the most common type of product photo and are simply close-up shots of the item itself. They’re usually taken from multiple angles to give customers a good idea of what the product looks like and how it works. This is perfect for items like clothes, shoes, and makeup.
• Model Shots: If you’re selling clothing or other items meant to be worn, you’ll need model shots to show customers how the item looks when it’s being used. These photos usually show the product worn by models in a lifestyle setting. This type of shoot is ideal for showing off how an item looks in real life and can be styled.
• Lifestyle Shots: Lifestyle shots are similar to model shots but don’t necessarily feature people. Instead, they show the product used in a real-world setting, like in someone’s home or office. They’re often used to give customers ideas about how they could use the product themselves. This shot is ideal for products that can be used in many ways, like home decor items, furniture, and kitchen appliances.
• Hero: Oftentimes, companies will use large, powerful images mixed with text for social media posts or website headers to reel customers in. By fusing the captivating visuals of your product with quick and enthralling content, you can pique individuals’ curiosity and prompt them to learn more. The hero image is generally used for a brand’s website or blog and should be high-resolution and aesthetically pleasing, as it will be one of the first images customers see when they visit your site.
• 360-Degree: 360-degree images give the customer a complete view of the product from all angles, creating a more immersive experience. This relatively new product display style is created using a fusion of software and a sequence of panoramic photos lined up to make a sustained circle around the shooting point. These photographs are popular for displaying furniture, household appliances, and shoes.
• GIFs and videos: GIFs and videos are an excellent way to show a product in action, providing users with greater visual clarity. They also create a more immersive experience that encourages engagement with the product. In addition, GIFs and videos have been shown to increase sales significantly. Approximately one minute of video is worth 1.8 million words, while 84% of consumers are more likely to convert after watching a product video. GIFs and videos are great for products like electronics, beauty products, and clothing.

The key to understanding what type of eCommerce product image you need is understanding your customer and what they want to see. Once you understand that, you can start planning your photo shoots and get started on showing off your products in the best light possible!

Why is Product Photography so Important?

Images are vital for online advertising since people will always gravitate toward pictures before reading the text on a page. This means that you should ensure your product images look great and have high quality, so more consumers are interested in what you’re selling.

Product photography is not only a long-term investment for your business, but it can also be used to communicate creative and innovative ideas to customers. If handled professionally, this type of photography will make potential clients see your company as valued and professional. This promotes consumer trust in your company, and it encourages them to become loyal customers who purchase your goods regularly. Professional product photography not only demonstrates the quality of your goods but also conveys confidence in your brand’s reputation.

eCommerce product photography also impacts social sharing. Your audience is 40% more likely to share visual content on social media accounts. If people see an image of a product they like on social media, they’re more likely to share it with their followers. This helps promote your brand and reach new potential customers who might not have heard of you before.

Professional product photos are important for a few reasons: they help maintain a modern and high-end appeal on your website, build a community around your brand and share aspirational content that users will enjoy. This way, you can increase web traffic, as well as conversions and sales.

A good product photo is one that’s catered to the item being sold and the company’s target audience. For example, a company that sells skincare products would want to use close-up shots of the product being used on a model’s face. This type of image would be more likely to resonate with the company’s target audience and help sell the product.

In contrast, a company that sells outdoor gear would want to use lifestyle shots that show the product being used in its natural environment. This would help the company’s target audience visualize using the product and make them more likely to purchase it.

What is eCommerce Image Editing?

eCommerce image editing is a specialized photo editing service that focuses on improving the quality of images for online businesses—whether you have your own website or a store on Amazon.

The most common image editing technique used for eCommerce products is background removal, which is used to create a clean, white backdrop for product photos. This helps the product stand out and makes it look more professional. Other common eCommerce image editing services include color correction, image retouching, and adding shadows or reflections.

Color correction ensures your product photos look accurate and consistent across all platforms. This includes adjusting the color temperature, white balance, and exposure levels. Image retouching can be used to fix any imperfections in the photos, such as scratches or blemishes. Adding shadows or reflections can make products look more three-dimensional and help them stand out from the background.

For example, let’s say you sell jewelry. In this case, you would want to use image editing services to make sure the photos of your products are high quality and consistent. This way, potential customers will be able to see the details of your products clearly, and they’ll be more likely to purchase them.

Another common technique used is ghost mannequin photo editing which is used to create the illusion that a mannequin is wearing a product. This is done by cutting out the neck and shoulders of the model in the photo and then adding a mannequin head in its place. This technique is often used for clothing, as it allows potential customers to see how the garment would look on a person without having to model it themselves.

eCommerce image editing is a vital part of online product photography since it can impact the overall quality and professional appearance of your photos. It’s important to choose a reputable image editing service that has experience working with eCommerce businesses and knows how to improve product photos for optimal results.

There are many factors to consider when choosing an eCommerce image editing service, such as turnaround time, price, and the quality of the finished product. Make sure to research and choose a service that will meet your needs and budget. At Pixel by Hand, we take pride in our quality work and high standards, and we’re always happy to help our clients achieve the best results for their product photos.

What are the Advantages of Image Editing and Enhancement?

Image editing is an important part of running a successful online business. It helps improve the quality of product photos and makes them look more professional. It can also be used to correct any imperfections in the photos, such as exposure levels or color balance. Photo editing can also be used to add shadows or reflections, which can make products look more three-dimensional and help them stand out from the background.

Investing in quality photo editing services can make a big difference in the overall appearance of your product photos. It’s important to choose a reputable image editing service that has experience working with businesses and knows how to improve product photos for optimal results.

There are many advantages of image editing, such as:

• Improved quality of product photos: Image editing can help improve the quality of product photos, making them look more professional.
• Fixed imperfections: Image editing can be used to fix any imperfections in the photos, such as exposure levels or color balance.
• Added shadows or reflections: Adding shadows or reflections can make products look more three-dimensional and help them stand out from the background.
• More three-dimensional product photos: Shadows and reflections can make product photos look more three-dimensional, which can be helpful for online businesses.
• Improved quality of product photos: Image editing can help improve the quality of product photos, making them look more professional.
• Helps products stand out from the background: Image editing can help make product photos look more three-dimensional and help them stand out from the background.
• Helps meet requirements of different platforms: Each online platform has different photo requirements. Image editing is required to ensure you’re meeting these requirements and that your photos look their best.

Images are also a key element of your branding. A written description of your product is great, but a photo communicates so much more. When you edit photos for your website, it will make potential customers take your products more seriously.

Pixel by Hand eCommerce Image Editing Services

At Pixel by Hand, we offer eCommerce image editing services to help businesses improve the quality of their product photos. We have a team of experienced editors who are familiar with all the different aspects of photo editing, from color correction to retouching. We know how to make your product photos look their best and meet the requirements of all the different online platforms.

If you’re interested in our eCommerce image editing services, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d be happy to discuss your needs and give you a free quote. Chat with us below!