Everything You Should Know about Amazon Product Photography

Amazon has more than 12 million items. The United States is the largest customer-based country in this giant marketplace. Customers from the USA spent around $356 billion to purchase Amazon products in 2022. Selling any items in this highly competitive marketplace is tougher than in regular ones. You have to create a sophisticated plan, prepare the product, and capture images perfectly. Knowing how Amazon product photography works can help you present your items better. This article covers taking Amazon product shots to help you grow your business. Let’s dive in without further ado!

Why Is Amazon Product Photography Crucial for Online Success?

High-quality images are the key to e-commerce success. You can’t boost your sales without showing customers what you are selling. Let’s learn why professional Amazon product photography is important.

01. Initial Impressions

The first impression decides how customers perceive an item and sets the tone for prospective buyers’ views of it. High-quality product images can grab shoppers’ attention quickly so they can explore the item further.

02. Better Details

High-resolution photos contain clearer product details. Customers can zoom in on the item to see its key features and textures. This helps buyers to visualize the benefits of using the item.

03. Informed Decision Making

Customers can make informed decisions by exploring the features, specifications, and benefits of the item. S/he can evaluate how much value s/he will get from using the item. It minimizes the chance of making the wrong purchase decision.

04. Trust and Credibility

High-quality product images showcase professionalism. They can impress potential customers by presenting the item accurately. Shoppers feel assured of the goods’ authenticity and quality. This builds trust and credibility.

05. Competitive Differentiation

Unique presentation sets you apart from your potential competitors. Customers can compare your product photos with others to evaluate the context and scale. They give your item more priority than similar options due to superior presentation.

06. Lower Return

One of the primary causes of product return is a huge mismatch between the captured image and the actual item. High-quality photos represent the item accurately. Customers can visualize what they are getting. This improves the shopping experience and reduces item return rates.

07. Better Conversion Rates

Crisp, clear photos can attract customers to explore the item further. Customers feel more engaged. This increases the overall conversion rate and entices shoppers to purchase the item.

Best Practices for Amazon Product Photography

Mastering good product photography practices strengthens your abilities, builds self-assurance, and refines your unique style. Below are some top examples of professional Amazon product photography practices.

01. Understanding Amazon’s Image Requirements

Before capturing Amazon product photos, learning the criteria to upload images on this e-commerce platform is highly important. Let’s learn Amazon product picture guidelines.

Image Dimension: The best dimension for Amazon product photos is 2000px by 2000px. It provides better zoom functionality and detailed views. Make sure to keep it at least 1000px by 1000px. But the longest side can’t exceed 10,000 pixels.
Aspect Ratio: The aspect ratio for Amazon product photos is 1:1 (Square). It fits well within the platform layout. But you can keep the widest aspect ratio to 5:1.
File Size: An Amazon product image must be under 10 MB for faster loading. It prevents website slowdowns.
File Type: An Amazon product photo file must be in JPEG, PNG, TIFF, or Non-animated GIF format. However, Amazon recommends JPEG format the most.
Number of Images in a Listing: You can upload up to 9 images on the Amazon platform for an item listing. One will be the main photo, and the others will be supportive photographs. Upload at least three photos.
Additional Guidelines: Make sure the item fills 85% of the image frame. Keep the background pure white. Don’t use any text, logos, borders, watermarks, or other graphics over the item. Plus, nudity or sexually suggestive visuals are not permitted to be uploaded.

02. Creating an Amazon Shot List

Develop a sophisticated plan based on what type of images you will upload on this giant e-commerce platform. Items like clothing, jewelry, or small electronics are the best choices for close-up shots. They can highlight the details and textures of the goods.
In contrast, lifestyle shots are perfect for fashion or home-décor items by presenting items in real-life scenarios.
Also, decide whether you want to take single shots or group shots. Planning what physical elements to use and what to avoid is also important.

03. Preparing Your Products

Proper preparation is a must for a tip-top presentation. Clean your item appropriately to remove dust, fingerprints, or any other imperfections.
The item should look neat and undamaged. Otherwise, even minor flaws may influence prospective buyers not to purchase the item. They will look for alternative options.

04. Arranging Essential Photography Equipment

Create a list of what kind of photography equipment you need to capture Amazon items. Keep these essential pieces of equipment ready before the photoshoot.
Cameras, lenses, lighting, tripod, modifier, backdrops, table, background stand, etc., are some basic items. Plus, you need additional supportive equipment such as a battery, memory card, lens cleaning kit, clamps, etc.

05. Choosing the Right Background

A pure white background is a must for the main Amazon product photos. It keeps the main item distraction-free and helps maintain consistency across the images.
But you can use a pure black background for supportive images. It is perfect for jewelry, cosmetics, high-end electronics, etc.
Solid-colored, plain backdrops are also not bad. But make sure it harmonizes well with your brand to maintain consistency. Avoid using any too-bright or too-overpowering background.

06. Lighting Techniques

Appropriate lighting enables an Amazon product photographer to showcase an item’s color, texture, and details.
But the angle & direction, dispersal, intensity, and lighting quality play a pivotal role. They affect the final output.
Choosing the right lighting is important, too. For instance, soft lights are the best choice for clothing, jewelry, cosmetics, etc. In contrast, hard lights are good for electronics, high-contrast items, etc.

6 Must-Follow Amazon Product Photography Tips

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced photographer, the techniques mentioned below can help you take your photography to a whole new level.

01. Optimize Your Amazon Product Angles and Perspectives

Showcase items from different angles to create visually striking and desirable visuals. It emphasizes the unique features and designs of the item.
Unique angles add fresh perspectives, depth, and emotion to the image subject and portray the exact story you want to highlight. It transforms a typical shot into a work of art.

02. Use Lifestyle Images

Are you selling clothing, home décor, beauty products, or fitness gear? If so, use lifestyle photography techniques to showcase real-life context.
Customers can visualize how they can use the item in real-life situations. They feel more emotionally connected and engaged.
This special goods’ image can personify your brand and position you better over competitors. It ultimately enhances the overall shopping experience.

03. Keep Your Product Visuals Aligned with A Professional Brand Identity

Discover unified and harmonious elements that align well with your brand identity. It can be color, texture, pattern, lighting, composition, props, styling, etc.
Use these elements across all online store goods’ images to maintain a cohesive look. This recognizable, unified visual identity enables you to differentiate from competitors and portray a professional appearance to customers.

04. Add Multiple Product Images in Different Angles and Styles

An Amazon seller can add up to 9 pictures for an item. Take photos from different angles and styles to highlight its features and benefits.
For instance, you can utilize lifestyle shots, close-up shots, and macro shots to showcase different perspectives of the product.
Likewise, eye level, low-angle, side angle, top-down, etc., are the most popular angles for capturing items. It helps you create a comprehensive view.

05. Try to Click on Natural Lighting

Don’t fully rely on artificial lights. Take advantage of natural lighting, too. Set up the indoor studio in an area where sunlight will enter through windows.
Add a functional table or countertop near the window to place the item on top. You can take photos steadily.
Let natural light reveal the true essence and details of your items. It can significantly improve the quality of your photos.

06. Use Macro Mode for Tiny Products

Do you sell small items like watches, jewelry, cosmetics, or electronics? Macro mode is the best choice to highlight fine details such as textures, patterns, and craftsmanship.
Photographers can get sharp-focus, detail-rich quality images using this powerful photographic style. It can provide fascinating results that might be nearly invisible to the naked eye.

Why is Post-production Crucial for Amazon Product Photography Success?

Product images need corrections, touch-ups, and enhancements to make the overall presentation attractive. Editing and retouching create a consistent and cohesive look that perfectly aligns with the brand. Let’s learn what type of editing Amazon product photos need.

Color Correction

Color correction of Amazon product images improves the entire visual quality. It creates vibrant and true-to-life visuals. The overall presentation looks appealing and consistent. Your items’ photos may need color grading, contrast adjustment, light correction, or color change services.

Shadow Creation

Product images without shadows appear flat and unrealistic. Appropriate shadows in items can add depth and intricacy to photos. It helps customers perceive the depth and shape of the goods. Your online store goods’ images may need drop shadow, reflection shadow, natural shadow, or soft shadow based on their type.

Background Removal

A product with a white background looks professional and clean. Removing cluttering elements from the backdrop helps customers to focus on the main item. Nothing to distract them! Depending on the item type and background elements, you will need a basic, medium, or complex photo background removal service.

Photo Retouching

Analyze the visual carefully to ensure there are no wrinkles or dust particles. Retouch your items’ images to add a professional, polished, and appealing look. It attracts prospective buyers and boosts engagement. Fashion items, gadgets, or household items mainly need photo retouching services. Photo retouching involves changing the brightness, shadow, whites, blacks, and sharpness of the image.

The 4 Costly Mistakes to Avoid in Amazon Product Photography

Photographers learn from their mistakes. But learning from people’s mistakes keeps you ahead of others in your photography journey. The following are some common mistakes to avoid in Amazon product photography.

01. Cheesy Graphics or Fonts

Every small detail counts. Avoid using any awkward fonts, poor graphics, or flashy colors. It may otherwise translate into a fake and untrustworthy brand image. This will make your listing look unappealing. Your items will have a worse turnout. Aim at sticking to earthy air or neutral tones for colors. Use classy fonts from apps like CANVA. They offer a lot of pre-built templates. You can take inspiration from these fonts.

02. Bad Picture Quality

Believe it or not, pictures are the first thing a customer looks at on Amazon. People tend to associate poor images with poor-quality goods. Bad photos will turn people away. Some common mistakes are blurry, grainy, over-exposed, or under-exposed photographs. They may also have an unappealing glare. Use a good camera, proper lighting, and a tripod to avoid these mistakes. It helps you achieve crisp and clear images. If you are not an expert, hire a professional photographer.

03. Not Conveying Brand Story

Conveying your story through photographs will be your first impression on prospective shoppers. You want to utilize this approach to portray your brand’s story. Focus on emotions because it creates loyalty and trust in customers, especially when competing against so many sellers selling the same items. It can help you create an emotional connection with customers.

For instance, The Burberry check has become a recognizable and iconic feature of the brand. It is a marker of their history and craftsmanship, which mainly symbolizes British heritage, luxury, and timeless style.

04. Lighting the Surface

You might be using a desk or glass table to capture goods. Avoid lighting the surface, especially for glossy or reflective surfaces. It can create unwanted reflections and distractions. This approach looks weird and takes focus away from the product. It puts details underneath the product, which makes it too busy. The light bouncing off the surface can interfere with the overall composition, causing hotspots or uneven lighting.

FAQs

What type of background is ideal for Amazon product photography?

Amazon recommends using pure white backgrounds for product photography to keep the item well-focused.

Is editing allowed in Amazon product photography?

You can do basic editing, like adjusting brightness and contrast. But don’t change the product’s true appearance.

Can you use props in Amazon product photography?

Yes, you can use props. But don’t overshadow the props. These physical elements must complement the main item without any distractions.

Should I include lifestyle images in Amazon product listings?

Yes, Amazon encourages adding 1-2 lifestyle photos in the listing to show prospective buyers how the item can benefit them in their actual lives.

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Final Words

Being exceptional is important when you are competing with tough competitors. The same goes for product images. Capturing high-quality photos keeps you standing out from those who don’t. We have discussed the top creative ways to take your Amazon Product Photography game to the next level. Also, avoid the mistakes mentioned above and value your time and efforts.