When you want to take your product sales to the next level, it is time to look at the way you approach eCommerce photography.
Increasing your product sales is not only about getting good reviews. Thinking outside of the box is really what is going to increase your sales. Investing in eCommerce photography is a popular way to add value to your products.
Once you have developed a high-quality product, you need to start adding value to your product. The best way to increase sales revenue is to invest in product photography. Instead of taking your own photos, it is better to work together with a professional eCommerce photographer.
How do you add value to your product?
The first thing that you need to realize is that your potential customers may find it hard to interact with your product. To make your product feel more “hands-on”, it is a good idea to add the human touch to your product photographs.
That means using models or mannequins as part of your eCommerce photography.
Take a look at all of the major large advertising campaigns run by influential commercial organizations, and you will find that they use models or mannequins. Good examples include perfume brands and clothing companies. But, they are not the only products that can benefit from being showcased by a human model. You will also find that drinks companies use models when it comes to promoting their products and increasing product sales.
When Should You Use a Model?
It is not always easy to figure out when you need a model. The best thing that you can do is to get advice from an eCommerce photographer.
If you are promoting products that you can wear, it is a good idea to use a professional model. Products such as watches and clothes benefit from what can only be called a “personal touch.”
When Chinese factories first started selling clothes to the Western markets, they never used to use models. Now, they have caught onto the fact that models help to sell clothes. Chinese direct sales clothing retailers even make sure that they use Western models.
In other words, you need to achieve what the industry calls a good product fit.
Branding and eCommerce Photography
Branding is an essential part of eCommerce and product photography. Your brand may indeed need some help to get started. In that case, engaging a model can make a huge difference.
It all depends on your budget, but if you can engage a well-known person, you will more or less immediately have a connection between your brand and that individual. Models are not always famous movie stars or singers. These days, reality TV stars and celebrity bloggers are often used to promote and sell brands.
What Do You Do When You Don’t Have the Budget To Employ a Model?
If you are selling clothes, you could always consider using a mannequin instead. Does it have the same effect? Once again, it depends very much on your product. It could work well if you are selling a watch or perhaps a lower-end clothing line.
While there are no clear principles, it would be fair to say that a live model will add more value to your product. If you can afford a model, it is the best way to go. Also, it is not always easy to say which one produces the most sales. The right thing to do is to trust your eCommerce photographer.
Getting To Know Your Target Market
What is the best approach?
Even at the product development stage, it is important to consider your target market. When you are new to selling products online, it is all too easy to neglect to research your target market. You think that you have come up with a great product, but you are not sure about your customer base.
Before you start thinking about eCommerce photography, you need to identify your target market. Who is going to buy your product? What influence can this have on product sales? Knowing your target market has a huge influence on product sales.
For instance, when you are selling a product aimed at a more senior generation, you shouldn’t use a young model. You do need to do your research. Most product developers like to divide their customers into different categories.
Generations See Products in Different Ways
An older generation is more likely to accept a mannequin. But, at the same time, you should never underestimate the human approach. Facial expressions are very important when it comes to selling a product to someone. Having a human model is a great way to make your product photographs come alive.
Getting the model’s age right is imperative. A younger model is better for when you are selling a product such as make-up or trendy clothing. But, if you are selling vitamins or supplements aimed at seniors, you want to make sure you use a more mature model.
What About Lifestyle Photography?
It is not always necessary to have models when you use lifestyle photography as a sales tool. However, it may just help to increase product sales.
A good example would be a company selling a kitchen tool or kitchen equipment. Lifestyle photographs showing a model using the equipment will help a great deal. Yes, having a kitchen setting is important, but it is even more important showing the product being used by a person.
It will make the product easier to relate to and more user-friendly. You should never lose sight of the fact that the more user-friendly you make a lifestyle photograph, the more products you will sell.
Paying for a model is certainly worth it when you have a high-end product that you want to sell. Lifestyle photography does not always work well when you sell clothes, but it will certainly do the job when you have home furnishings or gadgets to sell.
Who Pays For The Model?
When you contract a product photographer or eCommerce photographer, you need to check on what you are paying for before you sign on the dotted line.
If your photographer has recommended that you use a model, you must find out who is going to be footing the bill. Most of the time, the estimate provided by the photographer will include everything. But, on some occasions, it may not be the case.
You can try to save money by providing your own model. Maybe you have a friend who would like to help you out. In general, it has to be said that modelling services are expensive even when you are not using a top model. You need to pay the photographer and he may just add on an extra cost.
Whether the model comes from an agency or not, she does need to pick up a paycheck.
Do All of My Product Photographs Need To Feature A Model?
No, not all of your product photographs need to feature a model. It would simply work out too expensive.
When you are selling a lifestyle product, it is always good to have a few photographs featuring models. However, when you want to show the more intricate features of a product, there is no need for you to use a model. On those occasions, a model may even get in the way of the product that you are selling.
Once again, the best thing that you can do, is to listen to the advice from your photographer.
Should You Try Taking Your Own Photographs?
Unless you have previous experience of working with models and products, taking your own photographs is not such a good idea.
There are many things that you need to get right to achieve the best results. On the surface, working with models and photographing products may seem easy. In reality, it is far from the truth.
Not only do you have to have experience of lighting and product placement. Believe it or not, photographing people is not as easy as it seems. Ask any photographer and he will tell you that human photography is an enormous challenge.
Working With Young Models
When you are selling products for babies or young toddlers, there is no reason why you should consider having models. Not only is it a great way of promoting the product itself, but it is also a fantastic way of demonstrating the product.
The concept applies to clothes, toys, and practical children’s gear such as baby equipment. A cute toddler will help you to sell safety gates or safety latches.
Photographing children is a real art form and it is always best to use a professional photographer. Not only that, but you will find that you often will have to sign release and consent forms when you work with children.
What About Four-Legged Models?
Yes, by all means, when you are selling a canine or feline lifestyle product, it is a great idea to have your products photographed with a pet.
Using cute dogs and cats to sell your pet-based products will increase sales. It becomes a product photograph and a lifestyle photograph at the same time.
You can find your own model, or you can try one of the many specialist agencies that have sprung up. Pets have in recent years very much become part of product photography. You should never underestimate what the right kind of pet photograph can do for your product.
Models for eCommerce photography come in all shapes and sizes. Mannequins are slowly becoming a thing of the past. However, when you are serious about increasing your product sales, using professional models is one of the best things that you can do.
if you’re looking to increase your online conversion but still feel you are not sure where to start – check out these resources below:
