One of the #1 things you can do for your e-commerce website, alongside a professional website design, is your product photography.
Customers are used to shopping for items in stores where they can touch, feel, smell, and handle products before they buy them. With the online shopping industry booming, customers want to be able to shop from the comfort of their own home, but want to know exactly what they are getting.
The closest thing to resembling the connection between product and customer, I believe, is great product photography. You want you customers to be able to see your product in use, different angles, etc. They want to see the vibrant colors in your products as you see them in person. Give your customers a chance to experience the product before they even purchase it.
Product photography also shows that you care about your products. That you are in it to win it. You are telling your customers that you make quality products and they won’t be disappointed.
I hear a lot, that product photography is expensive. Trust me… I understand! However, know that you will receive a return on your investment once you start making sales.
Some tips to find a great product photographer:
1. Check your local craigslist for photographers in your area. You may find a great photographer just getting started with their photography business that need some items to put in their portfolio, thus possibly providing you a great deal.
2. There are lots of resources online, but I would first exhaust all photographers locally. When you work with someone locally, you cut out the shipping costs, and can be saving money on that portion. You can also possibly provide your own models to the photographer, if you’d like your own children in your images. All around, going locally will save you time and money.
3. Can’t find someone locally? Let me know and I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction.
I usually recommend that your product photography be completed before your website is designed. You want your website design to bring out your products and not take away. So having at least some sample images of your products before the website design, is a great way to getting started with your e-commerce business.
