How to Create Attractive Product Images for E-commerce Websites

Customers can’t touch the products in online shopping. They can only check product specs and quality with images. Hence, sellers need to prioritize top-notch photos to make their products stand out. Great photos not only attract buyers but also make purchasing easier.

However, some sellers can’t afford to hire a professional photographer to click product photos.

They shouldn’t be worried as they can make high-end photos themselves with some tips and tools.

This article shares how to craft perfect e-commerce photos with a limited budget. In the end, they will also learn some AI tools for creating e-commerce product photos.

E-commerce product photography process and tips



1. Make a guideline for brand photos

Before clicking photos, create a photography style guide. It contains examples and detailed instructions for photo shoots and post-photoshoots. It helps to maintain a consistent brand style across all images.

A style guide includes:

• Product presentation: Clear guidelines for angles, lighting, and backgrounds.
• Image specifications: Standards for size, format, and resolution.
• Consistent branding: Maintaining a unified visual style.
• Background and props: Instructions on backgrounds and use of props.
• Product Variation display: Consistent display of different options.
• Image Editing Standards: Guidelines for professional editing.
• Compliance and legal requirements: Meeting legal and copyright standards.
• Accessibility: Ensuring images are accessible to all users.
• File organization: Standards for naming and organizing files.
• Training and examples: Providing examples and training materials.

2. Set up background



Using a background makes photos look consistent and professional across the whole collection. Having a set background saves time, avoiding the need to find a new one for every photo, making the photography process smoother.

For product photos, a white or light-colored background works best. Here's why:

• Online marketplaces like Google Shopping and Amazon often require white backgrounds.
• Products stand out better against a white background.
• Editing white background photos is quicker, as removing unwanted objects and retouching images is easier.

Making a cheap white background is easy:

• For small items like jewelry or electronics, get a white poster board from an art store and hang it on a wall.
• For larger items like clothes or kitchenware, a paper white backdrop is affordable. Remember, white paper can get dirty but is easy to replace.

Shooting against a wall might create shadows. To fix this, hang a white poster freely and gently pull the lower corner out from the wall for a softer background.

3. Select a device for shooting

The choice of shooting device depends on the seller's budget. Professional photographers often use DSLR cameras for product photoshoots.



For product photography, full-frame cameras are fantastic. They have larger sensors that capture details more accurately compared to other cameras.

An ideal lens for e-commerce photos is a 100mm lens. It provides the right balance between depth of field and bokeh, ensuring both the product and background are in focus.

If the seller is on a tight budget, mobile cameras work fine. Phones like the iPhone or Google Pixel have advanced cameras that take high-quality images.



Remember, the quality of pictures depends more on lighting, editing, and shooting setup than just the device. Here's a checklist for shooting with a phone:

• Clean the camera lens
• Set up the white balance
• Check exposure
• Keep everything in focus

Using a good tripod with a camera or phone is a great idea. Human hands can shake, resulting in blurry or inconsistent photos. A tripod adds stability and ensures clear and consistent photos.

4. Set a space

Setting up a stable space is important for product photoshoots. For larger products, an open floor is enough. Small to medium-sized objects, like bottles or jewelry, are best positioned on a table, desk, or chair.

Tables are commonly used due to their smooth and sturdy surface, accommodating various product sizes.



Positioning the table

Place the table to get light from the side. Side lighting highlights the shape and texture of the product.

Consider using a white sheet as a backdrop to maintain a clean, distraction-free background.

5. Select the lighting

Choosing the best light is half the work.

There are two options to use the light for product shoots.

• Artificial light

Artificial light can be a great choice for businesses handling multiple photo shoots, offering complete control over light direction, intensity, and color.

Don't confuse artificial lights with room lights. It's a special studio setup. Light tents or softboxes are used as artificial light.



While artificial light might lack the natural feel, certain techniques can help enhance photos. Direct flashes, diffusers, and filters can soften harsh light and create desired effects.

Shadows are a nightmare in photography. Strategic product positioning can help manage shadows effectively. Product positioning also helps in controlling shadows.

The product looks best when shot with soft and even light. Diffusion plates achieve this soft look and avoid shadows.

• Natural light



Natural light is the most budget-friendly option, offering a natural look to photos. However, it has limitations, particularly on cloudy days or varying times of the day when achieving consistent results might be challenging.

Many prefer natural light for various reasons, especially outdoor or lifestyle shoots involving models. Studios often have windows that allow natural light, creating shadows that bring depth and texture to products, enhancing the overall appeal of the photos.

Position a table with a white sheet against a wall to optimize natural light. This setup balances the light and creates soft shadows. However, direct sunlight should be avoided as it can cast harsh and unappealing shadows, impacting the quality of the photos.

6. Set the products



Arranging the products for a photo shoot requires attention to detail. After gathering all the necessary items, the next step is to prepare the table and products.

Start by cleaning both the table and products thoroughly to prevent any unwanted stains from showing up in the photos. Less stained products will need less editing later on.

Use a gas duster for items like leather bags, and wear gloves while handling delicate objects like jewelry or bottles.

Arranging products on the table might seem straightforward, but it's quite meticulous. Continuously adjust the products to capture the right lighting and focused angle before taking the photos.

Some products may require additional accessories for display, such as glue, tape, and busts for jewelry or mannequins and hangers for clothing items. These elements help showcase the products more effectively in the photoshoot.

7. Start clicking photos



Finally, start clicking photos.

In e-commerce, there are three main types of photoshoots.

• Individual shoots
• Group photos
• Zoomed products

It's up to choice to click all types of photos or anyone.

Click photos in such a way that customers are looking at them in stores. Customers need full details of the product, so click photos from multiple angles to display all product features.

Therefore, click photos from the following angles:

Front angle: This is the most used and the first angle viewers see on the website. It gives a whole view of the product.

Back angle: Show the back side of the product.

45 degrees: Display two sides of the object which are front and side angles.

Profile angle: Show the side view of the product.

Top angle: It's a bird's view of the product.

Click multiple photos and select the best one for editing.

8. Edit photos



After taking photos, transfer them to a computer. Editing photos on a computer is easier than on a small phone screen.

Editing is important for online store photos. It helps make a website look professional. But don't edit too much!

Editing involves:

• Color correction: The purpose of color correction is to enhance product colors and adjust shadows, intensity, exposure, and detailing.
• Retouching: Removing defects, stains, dust, wrinkles, and scratches.
• Resizing: Crop unnecessary background and resize it according to website requirements.

Some easy-to-use editing tools include:

• Canva
• Snapseed
• Designify

For more advanced editing:

• Adobe Photoshop
• Lightroom

These tools are user-friendly. If you're unsure, you can find tutorials online to help. But if editing seems tedious, check editing tutorials on the internet.

AI tools for e-commerce product photography

No one can ignore AI's presence in this era, and AI greatly influences the e-commerce industry. Below are some AI tools transforming the e-commerce arena.

1. Wondershare VirtuLook

Known for its advanced features, VirtuLook allows users to upload images, select designs, and generate multiple product image options.

Over time, it adapts to users' preferences, ensuring professional output aligned with their brand.

2. Adobe Sensei

Adobe's AI and machine learning platform offer various editing options for seamless image and video creation.

It's beneficial for both refining existing photos and helping newcomers in photography.

3. Pixelcut.AI

Offering simplicity, Pixelcut.AI upscales images, removes backgrounds, and simplifies quick edits.

It’s a user-friendly tool, enabling team collaboration for better image suggestions.

4. Pebblely

Pebblely, an AI product photography tool, crafts stunning product photos instantly.

Create captivating visuals for marketing across various platforms—up to 40 free photos monthly.

Comes with 17 default themes, perfect for social media, websites, and emails.

5. Zeg.AI

It’s an amazing tool for 3D photography. It converts 2D images into 3D models and provides different consumer goods and AR/VR applications.

It creates high-resolution images that are specifically useful for lifestyle contexts.

6. Edit At Scale

Assists in modifying multiple pictures simultaneously.

Effortlessly add unique backgrounds without requiring an account.

Batch editor capabilities maximize image production efficiency.

7. CapCut Online

CapCut's Online AI tool makes editing product photos easier by automatically fixing things like background removal and colors, making your product pictures look better without needing lots of editing skills.

How to use the CapCut AI feature to edit product photos

Step
1. Log in to CapCut Online. Click on Magic tools at the left side menu of the workplace. Move to the top of the menu and Create with AI. Scroll down the page and click on Product Photo.
2. 

   

Step
3. As you click on the product photo, a pan will appear. Upload a photo according to your need and tap on select.
4. 

   

Step
5. After uploading the photo, select the aspect ratio and background. Choose a background and hit generate. Select a photo from multiple generated images.
Step
6. Tap on Export and download the generated photo. That's it. CapCut AI edited a perfect product photo.

Conclusion

Perfecting product photography, like any skill, comes with practice. It might seem tough at first, but it gets more fun with practice.

By following these processes and tips, consistent, stunning photos for an e-commerce business are guaranteed, attracting clients and driving sales.

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