By Tata Rossi 24 days ago, Product Photography
Recently, a small business owner who sell sneakers online contacted the FixThePhoto team for assistance. They were struggling to achieve their sales goals and believed that improving their product images was the solution.
After reviewing the client's product images on the website and Amazon, we identified several issues that could be hindering online sales. We focused on correcting post-processing errors and overall image optimization for their footwear products.
I’ve conducted a comprehensive analysis of popular footwear marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Etsy, and Poshmark. Besides, I identified several common image-related issues that are likely to impact sellers' revenue negatively.
✔️ By using a high-contrast background, we can draw attention to the shoes and their vibrant colors. A dark product photography backdrop provides a clean and minimalist aesthetic, so that the lighter footwear will stand out.
❌ A busy background can be distracting for online shoppers. Simple backgrounds allow customers to focus on the product itself, its texture, and its unique features.
❌ Unnecessary text. There's no need to label the shoe model in the image itself. This information is redundant and clutters the visual. All details will be provided in the product description.
✔️ Be accurate with the background. A carefully designed background really complements the shoe's style. Use shadows and highlights to create a sense of depth and make the image feel more three-dimensional.
❌ The color editing is overly creative, that’s why the shades look so unrealistic that it's difficult to tell the actual color of the shoes. Because of distorted realism, potential customers can be hesitant to buy the shoes and may return them later.
❌ When taking pictures of shoes and editing them, sellers often go overboard with creative effects. We recommend keeping every photo simple and authentic. Excessive smoothing as on the example above and effects can distort the viewer's perception of a product. A clean, natural image allows customers to form an accurate impression.
✔️ This image from the shoe store provides a detailed view of the product quality. It is evident that a manufacturer used soft, supple leather to create the shoes. Besides, the color representation is very accurate. Thanks to such a clear depiction of the footwear, customers become more confident in the product.
❌ The items in the photo are not well-lit. Such insufficient lighting distorts the colors and makes the product appear less appealing than it actually is.
❌ There are no well-defined shadows in the photo. Therefore, shoes don’t look very professional. Shadows are crucial for creating a sense of depth and dimension, making the product appear more substantial. Without them, the shoes look flat and less expensive.
✔️ Clearly, the primary goal was to show the high-quality materials of the shoes. The photographer perfectly coped with the task. Such lifestyle product photos are common on secondhand shoe marketplaces as they demonstrate the true look of the item without excessive editing.
❌ The product looks messy because of visible dust. Though they haven't damaged the material, they spoil the look of shoes. It is paramount to clean products before photographing them to make them look neat and attractive to potential buyers.
❌ The styling leaves much to be desired. The background is extra bright and multicolored. You should devote more time to composing your shots and performing at least basic image background.
✔️ When learning how to pose shoes for a picture, it is paramount to maintain consistency across all images. Thus, you can create a unified look and reinforce the store's brand identity. A white background is a timeless choice.
❌ Shoes are shown from only one angle. The products look uninteresting and it's unclear what they look like from other sides. Ideally, all models should be displayed from multiple angles, including a top view and a shot of the insole. Thus, potential customers can have a complete picture of each style.
❌ The photo editing seems unfinished. The sneakers are simply cut out and placed on a white background with a big plant shadow. That’s why, they look flat. They don't give the impression of a real product and don’t spike the desire to buy them.
✔️ A seller offers a detailed look of a shoe model with multiple photos from various angles. Besides, there are lifestyle images that provide a clear and accurate representation of the shoes. Thus, you can have a realistic idea of how the shoes look and feel and feel confident about your purchase.
❌ The photos are cropped so poorly that part of the sneakers is missing entirely.
❌ The photo quality is poor. It seems that the person responsible for the task didn’t know how to take a pic of shoes and used a mobile phone's camera with incorrect settings. The image looks dull and unprofessional, which will likely drive away potential customers. They'll probably go to competitors who offer high-resolution product photos with professional editing.
✔️ The quality of the shoe photos is exceptional. Buyers can clearly discern the texture of the material, as well as the fine details and colors. In addition, the composition is well thought out. It is possible to see both the front and side views in one shot. This is very convenient.
❌ The watermark overlaps the shoe photo. It is better to place it to the side in the background or make it more transparent. Currently, it is a distraction.
❌ To maintain a premium look, it is better to create a watermark that is either semi-transparent or in a chromatic color scheme. A bright watermark can make a photo look “cheap” and take a toll on the reputation of a brand.
To take product photos, business owners can either do it themselves or hire a skilled photographer who knows how to photograph shoes. The situation is slightly different with image editing. To get top-quality results, it's best to leave photo editing to professional retouchers.
We have a proven track record in enhancing product imagery, with a particular focus on footwear. Clients reach out to us with different requests, like quality enhancement, style refinement, and tailored product retouching.
FixThePhoto shoe post-processing services start at just $2.50 per item. Our clients sent us their original images along with detailed specifications and requests. We delivered professionally edited product photos within 24 hours.
Furthermore, we conducted a thorough analysis of shoe images on various e-commerce platforms to identify common errors. After that, we applied standard photo editing techniques, including the following changes.
It is worth noting that usually photos of products for e-commerce are edited in batches, instead of working on each individual model. Batch photo editing usually involves using Lightroom presets and clipping or replacing the background with a white one, for example.
We, in turn, perform the most detailed image processing, so our clients can demonstrate all the qualities of the product and boost sales.
By optimizing your product visuals, we can help you achieve a significant boost in online sales. Our clients often experience a 20% or greater increase within six months. Clear, high-quality images on your site always inspire confidence and drive conversions.
I’ve used a random show photo as a sample to show you what steps we took to get it ready for publication on the client's online store website.
STEP 1. Open the original photo
STEP 2. Adjust lighting and exposure
As part of our standard shoe photo editing process, we perform exposure adjustments. By carefully balancing brightness and contrast, we guarantee that the shoes are evenly lit and all their features are clearly defined.
To emphasize the tactile qualities of materials such as leather, suede, and fabric, we paid close attention to shadows and highlights. Thus, we were able to create a sense of depth and dimension that showcased the unique textures of each material. Besides, FixThePhoto provides a range of additional options to create product photos that look natural and attract buyers:
If the lighting wasn’t sufficient during shooting, we corrected this parameter during image editing to create a smooth and consistent look.
STEP 3. Make background removal/replacement - $2-5/image, depending on the object
We replaced the original background with a clean, classical product photo white background to showcase the shoes. This is a standard practice in e-commerce to ensure the product is the main focus.
To attract the target audience, we also suggested solid color backgrounds for the youth footwear collection. These vibrant colors will help the shoes stand out and showcase the collection's individuality.
To maintain a consistent and professional aesthetic, we selected a common background style for all product images. While we used a variety of colors, we preserved a consistent tone and saturation across the pictures. Thus, we were able to create a unified look for the entire footwear collection.
STEP 4. Perform color correction - $0.25/image
One of our main priorities was to make sure the shoes had the right color in the photos. We adjusted the color balance to receive true-to-life hues. Customers are more likely to be satisfied with shoes that look lifelike.
We improved the vibrancy of the shoes to make them more saleable. This is particularly important for footwear with brighter or more dynamic designs, like the sneaker collection. We also ensured that the colors were consistent across all the photos of a product.
STEP 5. Clean and remove blemishes – from $6/image
As part of our photo enhancement services, we can clean up dust, scuffs, and scratches on your shoes. Even brand-new shoes may have small flaws that we can digitally remove, ensuring the product looks its best.
We've refined the details, like the stitching and logos, for a sharper, more polished look. We've added a bit of shine to the leather shoes and reduced any glare on the sneakers for a more realistic representation.
STEP 6. Enhance shaping and symmetry
We carefully corrected any asymmetry in the shoes to make them look perfectly symmetrical. Such a defect may appear when a photographer gets carried away with creative shoe photography ideas and takes shots from angles that might distort their shape. If the shoes appeared bent or creased, we digitally adjusted them to create a flawless look.
By tweaking the angles of our shoe photos, we managed to showcase every detail, from the intricate lacing to the subtle engravings. Such consistency is crucial. It guarantees that every product image highlights the unique features of each shoe design be it the rugged stitching on boots or the delicate engravings on heels.
STEP 7. Do resizing and cropping
The client also asked us to resize the image to fit the exact specifications of their eCommerce platform. They wanted the shoes to be centered and take up as much space in the frame as possible, so customers could zoom in for a closer look. In addition, we optimized the image to look well on a variety of devices, without becoming blurry or pixelated.
By rotating and resizing the images, it is possible to show the products from multiple angles and highlight specific features that may appeal to buyers. Therefore, it will be easier for customers to decide whether they want to spend money on a product or not.
STEP 8. Add watermarks
In addition to image editing, the client asked us to add a watermark to the images to boost their brand identity. Our team can add any desired text or logo to images. This service is very popular among online retailers.
High-quality shoe product photography is essential for online stores. It is worth the effort to take great images because:
In addition, we emphasized to the footwear retailer the vital role of optimized, high-quality images in SEO. Such images not only enhance the visual appeal of products, driving sales and boosting brand awareness, but they also have a great impact on search engine visibility.
What’s more, high-quality shoe photos can positively affect how visitors interact with your website. It usually means longer site visits, fewer people leaving the site immediately, and more clicks on your products. By providing a better user experience, you can improve your website's search engine rankings and attract more customers.
Image optimization is necessary to improve your website's loading speed. This causes a ripple effect on the position of your site in Google search results and attracts more organic traffic. It's also important to optimize your images for Google Image Search by using descriptive file names, alt text, and title tags.
We developed a collaborative plan to create the brand's visual identity. Our team at FixThePhoto and the client's in-house experts worked together for the best outcome.
Primarily, we prepared the shoes. They should look captivating, expensive, and well-made to entice potential customers to buy them. To start:
Some guides on how to pose shoes for a picture disregard the importance of lighting. This is the wrong thing to do, since the quality of lighting is paramount in product photography, particularly when shooting footwear. Since shoe photos are often close-ups, you need to adjust the lighting carefully to provide sufficient illumination without creating any unwanted reflections or hotspots.
Choosing the right angles is crucial when photographing shoes for sale. Experiment with angles to show the shoe's volume without distorting its shape.
To fully showcase the shoe, take photos from multiple angles:
