10 Types Of Product Photography That Make Your Products Sell

E-Commerce customers have notoriously low attention spans when it comes to browsing the internet, so it’s important to capture their focus immediately with your product imagery

The quality of your product images can make or break your business. As photos are the only thing a customer can rely on to judge the standard of your product, it’s crucial to make sure these are extremely high quality – cutting corners is a no-no!

There are a number of different types of product photography shots that will serve to both effectively show off your products and entice your customers. In this blog, we at PIC-UP will show you the best types of product photography to help inspire your next brand images.

1. Flat Lay Product Photography

As far as simple product photography ideas go, Flat Lay images are fundamental for small businesses looking to tell a story in how they display their products. Seen regularly used to great success by brands on Instagram, these types of product photography shots are versatile and can be easily adapted to fit your niche.

Most commonly used by (but not limited to) clothing and accessory brands, flat lay product photography requires a lot of strategic planning and then placement to get your desired effect. We pin the products flat against the background on a wall, in order to have more control and can manipulate the shape, giving the exact desired look rather over a mannequin which will just hang on a body.

Lay Flat Clothing Photography Example

2. Ghost Mannequin Product Photography

The ultimate way for fashion brands to display their clothing range, Ghost Mannequin photography offers customers full transparency on what they can expect to receive when they order from you. 

We achieve the  3D effect of this type of product photography by using post-production techniques after taking a minimum of two images of your clothing on a mannequin. The mannequin is then edited out with precision in order to offer the most accurate full front view of your product possible. 

Ghost mannequin photography allows you to showcase the fit of the product without the distraction of a model, giving a highly insightful and professional image.

Despite being a fairly long process to capture the perfect image, ghost mannequin is one of the most powerful types of product photography out there when it comes to making sales. The realism on display in these images builds an unmatched level of trust with your customers and puts you head and shoulders above your competitors.

ghost mannequin t shirt

3. On-Model Product Photography

Similarly, when it comes to product photography for fashion brands, you will always see benefits when shooting with models. Whether your on-model product photography takes place in a studio or on location to provide a bit of context, your customers will be grateful to be able to assess whether the product would work for them.

The biggest perk of using these types of product photography shots is showing your clothing in motion, giving the customer a clear view of the garment’s natural movement when worn by an actual person. Not only will you offer the viewer a clearer image of the fit, length and shape of the product – there will also be an element of comparability when it comes to the person’s dimensions.

4. Packshot Product Photography

If consistency is what your business is looking for when it comes to the style of your product showcase, Packshots are the way to go. These types of product photography shots are ideal for a range of different platforms from eCommerce sites to Amazon and other marketplaces. Whatever your niche may be, this type of product photography can highlight your product’s key features and bring them to life.

As one of the most straightforward yet creative types of product photography available to ecommerce brands, a customer will readily recognise your brand when viewing one of your products in a packshot. In just a single image, your brand can portray a completely professional first impression with shadows and reflections, enabling you to build up a solid brand reputation.

Packshot photography example

5. Homeware Product Photography

Getting your homeware photography nailed can be difficult, however once you create that perfect impression on your customers it will be well worth it. Clarity is essential with these types of product photography as the market is oversaturated and you need to stand out in order to be noticed by prospective buyers.

Ideally, these types of product photography shots should be taken on a well-lit, neutral background to emphasise the key features of your homeware product.  With homeware, it’s important to show various different viewpoints in order to allow the customer to imagine what the product would look like in their own home.

Homeware Photography Example

6. Large Item Product Photography

With large items such as furniture, it’s essential to show your customers the entire picture (pun not intended) to avoid being either misleading or not clear enough on exactly what you’re offering. Shooting larger products can be extremely difficult when it comes to logistics – however, with the right studio or warehouse setting, you’ll be able to highlight every detail necessary in your images. 

Clear, white surfaces and backgrounds and the correct lighting are key to not overpowering your image in these types of photography. In order to accurately portray the object’s size as well, the camera settings need to be completely precise and correct as this will avoid distortion.

7. 360 Product Photography

Achieved using a static camera and a turntable, the intention of this type of product photography shows your customer the product from every single point of view. Due to the interactive nature of the resulting image, a customer will be much more likely to engage with your listing. Each shot taken should display your product in full view and precise post-production techniques will ensure total clarity, which means that no detail will go unmentioned. 

This transparency builds an element of trust with your customer that isn’t as easily achieved using other methods. Conversion rates are often higher and returns much lower as the customer has been able to see everything they are looking for – replicating the in store experience.

8. Amazon Product Photography

For all its benefits it offers ecommerce brands looking to branch out onto more platforms, the Amazon Marketplace is extremely competitive – meaning your products will need to work to stand out. Amazon itself has several different image requirements for brands looking to list on their website, so seeking help from professionals on your Amazon product photography is key.

With PIC-UP, for example, there are several different packages we offer that meet these requirements. Depending on your brand’s niche and budget, these include:

Amazon photography example

9. Comparison Product Photography

Online shopping often falls slightly short due to a customer being unable to truly experience the size and shape of the product prior to purchase. This is why comparison is essential when planning out your product photography – especially if your niche is an uncommon one.

If the dimensions are unclear, images lacking comparison can often feel either distorted or misleading once the customer has received the item. Comparison photography uses either models or commonly used objects to pose next to or with a product in order to allow the customer to accurately estimate the size when they’ll receive it.

on model product photography uk

10. Lifestyle Product Photography

Lifestyle photography places the object into a real life scenario, often with a model to show how the product may be used on purchase. As the customer can see themselves in the image, they will begin to associate their wants and needs with the product, which has been proven time and time again as an effective sales tactic.

These types of product photography shots offer the customer a bit of context when it comes to receiving the product, especially as a source of inspiration. It can be extremely effective when encouraging customers to convert as these types of product photography shots often generate an emotional response by selling a moment or a feeling, rather than just an item.

Lifestyle photography example

Innovative product photography tips with PIC-UP

If you’ve enjoyed our product photography tips and you’re looking to optimise your brand imagery, you’re in the right place! At PIC-UP, our highly skilled team offers all the above services at a high standard and best of all – we’ll pick up and return your products at no extra cost!

For more information, contact us today and a member of our lovely team will be happy to help.

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