How product photography can make or break a sale on Amazon

Written by Mark Mendoza on August 14, 2018

Amazon is the perfect name for the e-commerce tech giant that has taken the world’s marketplace by storm. Because much like the actual Amazon, it’s massive. It’s competitive. And in order to survive the thick of it, you have to be strategic and aware of your surroundings. 

As an Amazon seller, it’s important to acknowledge that there are countless online competitors with the exact same products for sale, all just one or two clicks away. And if there aren’t? Just wait a beat. They’re never far behind, lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce into the market with an exact replica of your product. But at a lower price, of course.  

So how can you differentiate your product amongst such a crowd?

Stand out from the pack with the right product shots.

There are many advantages to buying products online. You don’t have to leave the house to get your dog food (like, ever again – thanks subscribe & save.) You can buy a new phone charger in between meetings at work. You can even buy bulk toilet paper in your PJs without having to worry about ending up on a website like People-of-Walmart. 

But the biggest disadvantage to buying products in an online marketplace like Amazon is that you can’t see what you’re buying. There is no way to touch it, to turn it around, to observe it from every angle, to take it for a spin. A potential buyer may be able to price shop online, but there is no way for him or her to know for sure what a product looks like in real life. And there’s definitely no way to know if one seller’s product is of higher quality than another’s. 

So how can you remedy this buyer’s concerns? 

You got it! With the right product photography. 

Showcasing professional shots of your product from several different angles is one of the most effective ways to stand out on Amazon because not enough sellers have them, and yet most buyers want them. 

Use photography to shift a buyer’s perception of your product.

Most products on Amazon are considered commodities. The problem with this is that commodities are driven by price, where the lowest price always wins. But, with the right photos, you can shift the buyer’s perception of your product, which will ultimately snag you more sales. How?

Having lots of well-lit, clear, professional shots of your product does two things for your buyers: 

1. Eases uncertainty about the quality of the product. 

2. Eases uncertainty about what the product will actually look like. 

In other words, you are now providing your potential buyers with something that is never a commodity: peace of mind. 

How to find the right photographer for your product shoot.

I wish this weren’t true, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had an Amazon seller come to me just before our shoot, feeling pretty defeated, and saying something like, “You’re the third photographer I’ve tried. I don’t know, maybe my product is just impossible to shoot.”

The truth is, many products are impossible to shoot well for someone who doesn’t have much experience. But they really aren’t for someone who does. 

My point being, it’s important to hire a photographer who will do the job right the first time. 

So on that note, I will end with this little checklist of things to look out for before hiring a photographer to shoot your Amazon products. My hope is that none of my readers will ever make the timely, costly mistake so many of my clients have made in the past!

Make sure the photographer you hire: 

• Specializes in product photography specifically 

• Has several product shots you like in his or her portfolio 

• Has previous experience shooting Amazon products

• Will allow you to be present at the photoshoot, even if you don’t intend to

So there you have it! 

If you have any questions, would like a few more tips, or want to chat about your next product shoot, feel free to  give me a shout! 

Tags: product photography,  professional photographer, studio photography

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