Once you have your inventory in hand, your next step is to prepare for a photoshoot for your online boutique. But how do you make sure you stay organized and efficient if you’ve never done it before? In this blog post, we’ll share our best tips so that your online boutique photoshoot goes off without a hitch. And you can do it without breaking the bank either.
So keep reading to learn more about why your images are so important, and what you can start planning now to have a photoshoot that makes customers want to buy your stuff.
Why Good Photos Are So Important for Online Boutiques
Customers are shopping online. That means they can’t see the clothes, feel the clothes or try them on. Having great product photos is the best way to bring your products to life. You want to make sure that you accurately capture the color, details and fit of what you’ll be selling. That’s why you don’t just want a bunch of flat lays. You should have a few photos of the product on a person so that shoppers can get a sense of the fit (or relative size when it comes to accessories).
An easy way to do that is to shoot at least 3 angles of the product: straight on, to the side, and a three-quarter turn. Then you can add in shots zoomed in on key details or fabric. Or zoomed out to show a full outfit. Your photos should help a customer make a decision to buy, not send them running away from your site.
Taking Product Photos With Your SmartPhone
Depending on your budget, you may not be able to afford a professional photographer or model. But don’t worry! Most smartphones have really advance camera settings that can make really great images. And there are online editing programs that can help you do things like replace backgrounds, adjust color or improve the lighting.
So here are some tips to help you shoot and prepare stunning product photos for your online store.
Before you begin shooting, make sure to prepare in advance!
Cleaning the lens on your smartphone camera is essential. Most of the cloudy images you have can come from fingerprints directly on the lens, which dulls the sharpness and quality of your photos. Turn off the flash as it can be distracting and produce harsh shadows. Experiment with different camera modes as smartphones offer several settings and modes that can enhance your photos.
When it comes to lighting, it’s crucial to get it right. Adequate lighting can make all the difference in the quality of your photos. The best lighting is natural sunlight, so try shooting close to a window or outdoors on a sunny day. If this is not feasible, invest in a softbox or professional lighting equipment.
Be sure to capture multiple shots from different angles. And make sure to use a tripod for stability so that your photos aren’t askew.
Editing After Your Photoshoot
To minimize post-production work and save time, prepare your products before the shoot. Steam or iron out any wrinkles, remove or tuck tags. Choose neutral backgrounds to make your products stand out and avoid cluttered backgrounds.
Photo editing can help enhance your photos by adjusting lighting, color saturation, and removing any unwanted glare. Several digital editing tools are available for editing your photos online or even on your phone like Lightroom from Photoshop.
When uploading product photos to your online store, ensure they are all of the same size to improve the user experience and make your store look more professional. Resizing and cropping your images can be done using standard image editing programs.
The goal of your product photos is to build trust with potential customers and increase the opportunity for them to purchase from you. Product photography is critical in making your online store. Remember, you photos should be comparable to those of your competitors for you to have a chance at getting the same customer to shop with you. With an online boutique, people will only judge what they see since they can’t experience the products in person. So it’s your job to create the most accurate and attract representation of what your store has to offer.