You might have heard the statement, “Humans process visuals 60,000 times faster than text.”
Of course, there are arguments both for and against this statement, but most researchers agree that we certainly process images faster than text; whether it is at this rate or not is debatable.
In the world of eCommerce, the product photography is crucial. Many new sellers believe that they can work just fine with average photographs, but trust us, they are wrong! In a cut-throat market like Amazon, you can never survive by doing the bare minimum.
So now that you know visuals are much easier to grasp than text, Amazon sellers must give adequate attention to product photography if they wish to convert their listings.
Today, we will discuss the most important aspect of an Amazon listing, which is photography. So, without further ado, let’s dive right into it!
Product Photography vs. Regular Photography
It’s no secret that product photography requires an entirely different set of skills than traditional photography. Therefore, choosing a regular photographer to shoot your product photos can be disastrous if they don’t have the proper knowledge.
Even though you should prefer outsourcing the photography task as a beginner, you still should be aware of the basics.
A good Amazon product photographer will work their way through lighting and angles exceptionally. They will also explore the close-up shots that are used in infographics.
Why Make the Effort?
A professional shoot is more expensive as a higher budget is required for planning and art directing to get the best result. But the final output is totally worth it. Moreover, it creates value for the business as:
- Photographs are silent communicators. They not only convey the value of your product but also help you create a brand identity and story.
- Good pictures boost conversion. Images heavily influence a customer’s decision-making process.
- Images make the first impression. And believe it or not, some people believe the initial impression is the most important and lasting.
Go Through Amazon Product Image Guidelines
You must be aware of Amazon’s product image guidelines before starting the Amazon product photography process. If you don’t follow the guidelines, your listing may be removed. That is, Amazon will hide your listing since your images did not meet their listing image criteria.
The comprehensive guideline is available on the company’s website, but we have shortlisted some significant points for your convenience.
The official product photograph requirements state:
- Acceptable formats are TIFF (.tif/.tiff), JPEG (.jpeg/.jpg), GIF (.gif) and PNG (.png)
- Pictures below 1000 pixels are unacceptable.
- The picture should be on white background, RGB 255,255,255 to be specific.
- Watermarks are prohibited.
- The full product must be visible in the images.
- The main image – the product should cover 85% of the picture size. Text and demonstrative graphics are not allowed. Additional items that are not part of the product should not be in the image.
- Texts and demonstrations are acceptable in additional images other than the main image.
Amazon suppresses thousands of listings, and a lot of them are related to image issues. All these rules must be followed to make sure your listing is not suppressed. The main image has slightly different rules, and it is the most important one out of all. The decision to open the listing or not rests on it. Make sure it is exceptional and up to the mark.
Additional images can have texts, infographics, and lifestyle pictures. It is best to include each in one shot at least. The picture that shows product packaging is also helpful as several people on Amazon are looking for gifts. All these picture styles are discussed ahead in detail.
Main Images Should Never Be Neglected
When a potential customer looks up a product by searching it with relevant keywords, they get to see hundreds of listings with more or less the same item with similar images and similar titles. The first thing they will lay their eyes on will be the primary image you have included.
The main image and title are what will distinguish your product from all others. With this said, bringing a good number of clicks even with PPC campaigns would be highly challenging if the primary picture was not up to the mark.
Make sure you capture a high-resolution and top-notch picture that is correctly processed to meet the image requirements of the eCommerce platform.
Include Lifestyle Images
People want to see fantastic quality photographs that inspire them, thanks to the advent of social media, bloggers, and influencers. They want to know how the things you’re selling can be used. Customers can identify with and relate to lifestyle photographs since they depict real-life scenarios with ordinary people.
These images allow customers to see themselves using the product, making them feel more personally linked to the company. Lifestyle photography adds a genuine, human touch to your project.
Incorporate Infographic Photos
Infographics are visually appealing and entertaining to look at, but they are also a highly successful marketing tool.
No amount of text in bullet points and product descriptions can ever bring as much of a positive impact as a few infographic images. Infographics combine factual data with creative visuals, which brings life to dry and dull information.
Use Closeup Shots
As a seller, you must try to communicate all the necessary information so customers don’t face the need to ask about it separately. For example, show close-ups of features you know your audience constantly questions you about.
Multiple photographs are sufficient confirmation of a product’s worth. Each close-up increases a browser’s confidence that the product will meet their expectations. If you can build enough trust in your product, it will almost certainly result in a sale.
Final Thoughts
Amazon product photography is crucial for bringing traffic and sales. However, as a beginner, you may be worried about what things you must take care of before starting the process. This article goes over all the fundamental factors you must keep in mind even if you plan to outsource this task.
View the accompanying images that we have added to have a clearer idea of the pictures. They are from some incredibly successful listings, and nothing can be a better learning experience than analyzing those who are popular on Amazon already.