5 Simple Tips for Photographing Your Merchandise

Whether you sell online or in a physical store, creating a solid online presence is key to keeping your store top of mind with customers. Your website and social media accounts need to reflect the style and quality of the merchandise you carry and should showcase the items you currently have available.

Here are 5 simple tips to help you produce high-quality images of your merchandise for your website and social media accounts.

1. Know Your Camera

It’s amazing what you’ll learn spending an hour reading your camera’s manual, watching a video tutorial on taking pictures with your smart phone or taking a photography class at your local community college. It’s a small time investment now that will pay off big in the end.

Bonus Resource!

Check out this page here for tutorials on how to take better pictures with your iPhone.

2. Define Your Photo Area

Spend some time taking a look around your store to find a few locations that can be your go-to places for taking pictures of your merchandise. Look for backdrops that showcase the style of your store and aren’t too cluttered. Make sure there’s plenty of natural light so you don’t have to use your camera’s flash.

Pro Tip: Try pulling the items you’re photographing 4-6 feet out from the wall or back drop. This will give your image more depth and can help reduce visual clutter.

3. Turn Off Your Flash

Whenever possible, turn your flash off. Using the flash can wash out your merchandise and cause glares. Natural light always works best. Make sure the sun is to your back. It should be shining on your subject from behind the camera, not shining into your camera’s lens.

 

 

4. Accessorize Your Photos

Little details can go a long way. Pull in other items from your store that compliment the item you’re photographing and will help shoppers imagine how they will use it. If you need to use something to help display an item (like a hanger or a table) make sure it’s clean, interesting and fits the style of your store.

Bonus Resource!

Need some photo staging inspiration? Click here for more, easy ideas!

5. Show Off the Details

Think about what your shoppers will love about an item and make sure you capture those details when you take pictures. Photograph items at different angles and distances to highlight their best features. Use photo collages to showcase those unique details on your web site and social media accounts.

Pro Tip: Your shoppers look to you for advice as an expert on the merchandise you sell. Use the photographs of your merchandise to make recommendations on how to wear or use items. The images you use should help your shoppers imagine incorporating your merchandise into their lives.

Want more digital merchandising resources? Check out the Boutique Window blog here!

Photo Credits: All Photos Courtesy of Boutique Window and provided with permission to use. 

 

Article written by Courtney Rodgers, co-founder of Boutique Window, a company founded in August 2012 with a focus on helping local retailers succeed online. Courtney graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Journalism.