There was a time when customers and retailers alike believed that products had to be seen, felt and even sat on before a purchase could be made.

This thought has been challenged more than ever before over the past couple of years and, today, a compelling website is now a necessity for any brand, maker or retailer. But what does it take to create and curate an engaging online experience that also delivers results?

At Furniture Show earlier this year, we were joined by Luther Spicer - Creative Director, Cake Agency and Claire McCullough - Co-founder, York Street Studio, who gave us insight into exactly what it takes for a brand to create and curate an unmissable digital space. 

Clear and captivating product photography came up again and again as something that should be prioritised by every brand looking to make its mark in the e-commerce space. 

Ensuring that you are following a few simple principles can make all the difference when it comes to great product imagery:

Resolution

A low res image will be of very little use to your brand; especially if your hope is to have it featured by a third party i.e. press, blogs, advertising, or hero images on marketplaces. Ensure your images are a minimum of 300dpi. 

Variety of Formats

There are three main types of product imagery - cutouts, flat lays, and lifestyle. It’s important to have versions in each of these formats for as many products as possible. For more information on what each format looks like and how to use them, take a look at our guide The Three Types of Product Images Every Brand Needs. 

Fresh and Frequent

When the ultimate goal is to keep customers coming back or grabbing the attention of new ones, you will want to ensure that your images look current and exciting. Photoshoots take a lot of resources but not updating your photography frequently could be a costly mistake. Pay attention to the types of imagery that customers are engaging with most as well as recent trends so that you can brief your photographer or plan your styling in the most efficient or cost-effective way. 

Timely 

Following on from frequent updating, don’t forget to plan for seasonality so that you have your images ready for key retail times. During your photoshoots, remember to have props for Christmas, Easter, Spring etc so you can rotate them into your styling without having to plan subsequent costly photoshoots. 

For more expert insight, be sure to see what Luther and Claire had to say about e-commerce excellence at Furniture Show, exclusively on REVEAL.