Last Updated on January 7, 2022 by
Small businesses can benefit from professional product photography but they are hesitant to invest in it. Many establishments use a good-quality phone or point-to-shoot cameras to take product pictures. While these cameras are suitable for everyday images, they don’t product professional-grade photographs that businesses need. If you want to stand out among the competition and gain converting customers, hire an expert in the field. Professional photographers don’t just produce good-quality images, but also offer valuable advice. Here’s a look at some ways in which small businesses can benefit from product photography:
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1. Strong First Impression
Professional images are polished, edited, and visually appealing. They grab attention immediately if the composition is impactful. Beautiful product pictures can leave a strong impression on prospective customers and make them curious about the item. A strong first impression comes in handy on competitive platforms like social media networks or e-commerce marketplaces like Amazon.
Small businesses must market and establish a strong presence on social media and sites like Amazon. A large portion of their sales come from these platforms, which is why professional product photography is so beneficial. These images stand out on crowded platforms and increase the chances of making a sale.
2. Unique Brand Presence
Modern customers are picky because they have access to a large, competitive market. It’s not easy to attract and retain their attention, especially if you have no brand presence. Professional product photography is always purposeful and goal-oriented. An experienced photographer takes the time to understand your brand, products, industry, target audience, and competitors before coming up with a concept.
A unique brand presence can help boost sales significantly and create brand loyalty. When customers are loyal to a brand, they shop more consistently and even promote the brand to their friends or family. Polished and professional images help establish a strong image that customers are happy to associate with.
3. Earning Customer’s Trust
Sloppy or blurry images don’t encourage trust and trust is very important in the modern competitive world. If your images don’t look professional, customers will wonder whether you are willing to put in an effort into your business. They will hesitate to buy any product from you and will be suspicious of the item’s quality or reliability.
Polished and edited images give in an image of professionalism. It shows you’re willing to invest in your business and care about its reputation. Customers are more inclined to trust establishments that put in some level of effort into their product and marketing. That makes investing in professional product photography worth the effort and money.
4. Suitable for Multiple Channels
Small businesses usually market their products on multiple platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Amazon, Etsy, eBay, etc. These platforms have different rules and requirements. Experienced photographers are well-versed in these platforms and know how to create images tailored to a platform.
If you want images for an Amazon listing, they will make sure the photographs fit the e-commerce platform’s requirements. Clients get complete ownership of the image so you can use them as much or as little as you like. These images are usually in RAW format and can be cropped or edited according to your requirements. The high-quality images don’t lose their integrity when you manipulate them.
5. Looks Great on All Displays
Modern customers view content on different platforms. Some shop on their mobile phones while others prefer their laptop or computers. Many consumers have even started to shop on smart TVs. A product image taken on a smartphone camera will look good on phone screens but not on large displays, which is why you need professional images.
Photographers know how to take images that look great on all kinds of screens. You will impress clients no matter where they come from, which is important in today’s competitive business environment. Make sure your images are optimized for your most popular platform as it can influence sales significantly. For example, if most of your audiences come from the mobile platform, optimize your images to load quickly and look great on smaller screens. An expert in product photography will explain how to optimize images or will edit them for you.
6. Long Term Value
Product photography is a long-term investment. A well-shot image can last for several years, especially if the photographer chooses a minimalist background and sound techniques. Most people consider it a one-time expense as most modern images look great for years at a time. Pictures take from phones or point-to-shoot personal cameras aren’t as long-lasting and look outdated quickly.
If you want to save money on product photography, hire a professional with a good track record. They will make sure your images are relatively future proof and can be used in a wide range of campaigns. You’ll only need to change the images if you want to rebrand or need a fresh aesthetic.
7. Strong Against Competition
Small businesses struggle to compete against large establishments because they lack the resources to invest in marketing endeavors or promotion. Professional product photography can help level the playing field because the resultant images are impressive. It is difficult for most customers to determine whether a company is small or big just based on the quality of its images.
You can make a small investment to get great product images and look just as polished as large corporations. A professional photographer will study your competition to ensure your images can live up to the industry standards. That makes expert services a worthwhile investment, especially in crowded markets.
Professional product photography costs can vary from one location to another. Speak with a local studio and get quotes from multiple vendors to understand the expenses involved. You can find an affordable and reliable service online after some research. Look at past client reviews, portfolios, case studies, and testimonials before hiring a studio for the job. You should also consult with the photographer and establish a good rapport with them. A consultation ensures you and the expert are on the same page when it comes to project goals.
