[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/05\/13\/how-to-create-product-images\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/05\/13\/how-to-create-product-images\/","headline":"No studio? No problem: 3 ways to create product images amid COVID-19","name":"No studio? No problem: 3 ways to create product images amid COVID-19","description":"Let's face it - the campaigns we had planned for 2020 are all up in smoke, and everyone is adapting. Learn how to create product images without a studio.","datePublished":"2020-05-13","dateModified":"2021-07-25","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/ben-houston\/#Person","name":"Ben Houston","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/ben-houston\/","identifier":370,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/057560313de617adbede7e90bd54808931450163bebc6358e47be5531ba472f4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/057560313de617adbede7e90bd54808931450163bebc6358e47be5531ba472f4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Future of Commerce","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/logo-foc-schema-app-1.png","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/logo-foc-schema-app-1.png","width":172,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/create-product-images.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/create-product-images.jpg","height":375,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/05\/13\/how-to-create-product-images\/","about":["COVID-19 and Business",{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/commerce\/e-commerce\/","name":"E-Commerce","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/E-commerce","http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q484847"]},{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/marketing\/","name":"Marketing","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marketing","http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q39809"]},{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/marketing\/marketing-general\/","name":"Marketing","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marketing","http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q39809"]},"Retail Trends, Data, News"],"wordCount":926,"articleBody":"What were the marketing campaigns you had scheduled for March and April? Back to school? July Fourth? Graduation season? No matter what industry you\u2019re in, if you\u2019re a marketer, COVID-19 completely disrupted business as usual.\u00a0You probably scrambled to shift all your selling to online channels \u2013 the only way that shoppers can actually buy for the foreseeable future. But that also means you have a problem: no new product images.That photoshoot that was supposed to happen at the end of March? Canceled. And if you can\u2019t show beautiful pictures of your products on your site (or social feeds or display ads or in print) you can\u2019t sell. So what do you do?We put together a few ways brands and retailers can safely create product images – prioritizing safety for models and photographers – and still get the photos they need to sell online.Leverage the power of \u201cat-home-chic\u201dAt-home chic is a growing marketing trend, thanks to risk takers like Zara. In early April, the company began experimenting with sending its products out to models they\u2019d typically hire for photoshoots, and working with them over Zoom calls to recreate the studio experience.\u00a0The models, just as eager to work as Zara was to sell its products, have adapted to become jacks of all trades: they\u2019re the makeup artists, hair stylists, photographers, models, and lighting crew all at once.\u00a0The move paid off for Zara, allowing it to roll out new product lines, tap into an undiscovered aesthetic, and save almost 80 percent on studio costs.Even without a ready rolodex of models to tap into, you can replicate the process with social media influencers (who are also eager to get creative for work) or experiment with user-generated content to engage customers who already love your product, similar to Aerie\u2019s #AerieReal campaign.You can choose to leave the photos as they are for a \u201craw\u201d look or\u00a0 \u201cprofessionalize\u201d the shots by developing a quick photography and brand standards guidebook that you can send to the product models once you agree to work together.DIY: Create product images yourselfAt-home models and influencers are all well and good for products like apparel or makeup, but what if your product isn\u2019t something that makes sense for a person to model? Luckily, it\u2019s possible to capture high-quality photos for your online marketplace with some basic photography equipment that you can set up yourself.\u00a0To get started, you\u2019ll need the following:A camera (or smartphone, many of which have excellent cameras)\u00a0A tripod (or mount, to prevent shaking)\u00a0A white background (white wrapping paper works)A window for natural light (light kits are expensive and hard to use)\u00a0A table or chair (to set your products on)A reflector (a simple white foam board can work)Tape (to hold your background in place)Photo editing software (to add a professional touch)\u00a0All told, you should be able to set up your DIY e-commerce product photography studio for less than $700 (based on some current Amazon listings.) If you use a phone you already have instead of a camera, the total will be closer to $200 \u2013 not bad!Once you have all your materials, you\u2019ll want to focus your efforts on figuring out what works. Don\u2019t expect to capture perfect e-commerce images with your first few clicks. Instead, experiment with light at different times of day, positioning your products at different angles, and using different PhotoShop features.\u00a0Try a virtual photoshootWhat if I told you that you can actually do a photoshoot without doing a photoshoot?It\u2019s what you might call a \u201cvirtual photoshoot.\u201dWhat you call it doesn\u2019t necessarily matter, but how it works to create product images definitely does. The process is \u201cno-camera-(or physical location)-required\u201d because these beautiful images are generated from digital design files.To make it happen, you first need to get your hands on 3D models of your product, along with any other product information associated with them. Most companies don\u2019t have these on hand, but if you partner with a 3D design agency, they can create them using whatever product information you do have.\u00a0Once you have the files ready, shop around for a software that allows you to upload them. Ideally, you\u2019ll want one that can give you the ability to configure your files according to your business requirements. Even better if that software easily integrates with your ERP or PIM.A great example of a company doing this is ASOS. The retailer\u2019s \u201cSee My Fit\u201d tool offers a simulated view of products on six real-life models while accounting for the size, cut, and fit of each garment. In each case, the model never once had to actually take a photo in the outfit the shopper is considering. ASOS says the tool helps \u201cprovide customers with realistic product images in a studio setting while protecting the well-being of our models and staff.\u201dWe\u2019re all adapting, and that\u2019s not necessarily badToday\u2019s uncertainties are forcing every business out of its comfort zone. In some cases, that means abandoning best-laid plans and searching for alternatives. If there is a silver lining, it\u2019s that those willing to try new things may discover tools and processes that will transform their business positively for the long term. At least that\u2019s something to look forward to on the other side.  Modern business, meet revenue:\u2013 End-to-end connected data\u2013 Engage quickly with a great CX\u2013 Sell anytime, anywhereGet going TODAY."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2020","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"05","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/\/05\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"13","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/\/05\/\/13\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"No studio? No problem: 3 ways to create product images amid COVID-19","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2020\/05\/13\/how-to-create-product-images\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]