As humans, we are always visualizing something.
Especially when we want to buy.
Whether that’s how it will look on us. Or how it will look in our home, in our car, in our garden.
Except when we go shopping for clothes. You try on the garments to see how it fits, to see how the material flows when your body moves.
When you go to DIY stores, and looking to buy wallpaper, carpet or even tiles.
They put the wallpaper on the wall.
They put the paint on the walls.
They do all this, so you can get a visual idea of how it will look in your home before you buy. To help you make that buying decision a lot quicker.
Make your product belong
As the business owner you need to share your products in a more visually appealing way. Meaning in their natural setting, so your potential customer doesn’t have to guess. It’s all well & good to take a picture of a cushion you created & place it in the garden leaned against a tree (see image A).
But that doesn’t help the viewer, who’s looking at it wanting it for their home. However place the cushion in a settee, armchair (see image B below) or on a bed will make it easier for the person to picture it in their home. Sometimes by seeing a product in its natural setting helps us impulse buy because we can quickly visualize it in our own surroundings and decide we just have to have it.
Presenting Jewerally with skin tones in mind
Another example, if you’re creating jewellery, many people have different skin tones. So an idea would be when you create your products to get friends and family to model your jewellery. And if you can get two or three people with different skin tones. Then you are showing the customer how your jewellery will look on certain skin tones.
By going that one step further, a customer who probably wouldn’t purchase jewellery online may change their mind. Due to the fact that you have offered more ways to help them visualize your creation on them or whoever they are thinking of buying for.
Any way you can help your potential customer make a positive buying decision is an advantage to you.
Helping with the buying decision is part of business
Brick & mortar clothing shops offer changing rooms facilities, to help in making the buying decisions happen quicker & be more accurate for the customer. If changing rooms were not available people would take longer to purchase, the return of items would be considerably higher and cost the business a lot more money.
Shops also use manikins for clothing, foam heads for wigs, hats, head accessories. Shoe shops provide seating so you can try on the shoes. Catalogues use models to show off their clothes etc..
It can be difficult online when presenting your products in its natural setting. As you may not always have models, manikins, ideal staging props available. However, if do that little bit more to help you gain a sale then it’s worth it don’t you think?
Remember its all about helping the customers make their buying decision easier.
Pay close attention when it comes to taking pictures of your products. This is where the selling begins
Get creative when it comes to making your products visually appealing for your potential customers.
When it comes to product presentation in its natural setting, look at these places for inspiration:
Department stores
Catalogues
Interior design magazines
Window displays
Adverts
The above list has to promote their products in a very visual, powerful way for customers to read their magazines, come into their stores to buy their products. You have to put your mindset and your products at the same level. Just because you have a small business online does not mean, you cannot push your product, visuals up there with big boys, who have mega budgets to work with.
Bonus tips for helping you get the best when taking images of your products. These links help share advice and help in different ways.
How to take product shots on your phone – On Folksy, photographer Lucy Ridges shares her step-by-step guide to using your phone. alongside a simple light set up using some white card.
6 Product Photography Tips Every Crafter Needs to Know – At Creativelive.com look at using your phone, layout, lighting and using inexpensive props.
Professional Quality Pics by Just Another Mompreneur – Business owner shares her insight when it comes to product images
