While there are commercial photos and mockups available for eCommerce stores, using your own images can drastically improve your brand and help boost sales.
But the idea of planning a photoshoot from start to finish can feel like a daunting task. How do you find models? Where do you get the best equipment? Most importantly, how much will it cost?
In this how-to guide, we’ll cover everything you need to plan a photoshoot for your eCommerce store.
From how much to pay a model for a photoshoot to even doing your own photography without a model, this guide will tackle everything you need to start capturing the perfect images for your brand and business.
You’ll need a visual concept before you even pick up a camera. Visualizing your shoot helps you acquire the right products, hire the right models, and create the mood you want to convey through your brand’s images.
Think about your current eCommerce store. What is it lacking? You might think that the essence of your brand isn’t evident in your current photos. If that’s the case, what mood do you want to convey?
A helpful exercise is to come up with three words you want people to feel when they see your brand’s photos online.
"Think confident, youthful, sophisticated, or bold."
Next, think about the location. Do you want a studio shoot with a colored backdrop or are you interested in something more natural setting, like a beach or forest?
You should also consider whether you’ll need to rent equipment such as lighting and props. In some cases, you may also pay to use a certain venue. This could be in a sophisticated hotel lounge, a building’s rooftop with a skyline view, or even a botanical garden filled with fields of blooming flowers.
Some technical work is also important during this stage. Consider what size your eCommerce images need to be, the file type, and the quality of the camera you’ll be using.
You can either ask friends or family to model, be a model yourself, or look for models online. Consider putting out a casting call on social media, reaching out to local modeling agencies, or posting on job sites.
There is no set price on how much to pay a model for a photoshoot, and some are willing to work for free to build their portfolio. You should consider how much a model will have to spend to get to and from your shoot and how many hours they’ll be working. You could offer pay per hour or a lump sum.
The cost of hiring models for eCommerce shoot jobs can range anywhere from $100 to $1500 for a small business.
If you can’t pay a large sum of money, you can promote the opportunity to develop their modeling portfolio and provide small amenities, such as paying for transportation, offering a free lunch and refreshments, etc.
Most small businesses will rely on friends and family for their first eCommerce photo shoots. This is a fun way to bond, and it can even create better end results. Why?
Because you have an established relationship with the people on the other side of the camera.
When people feel more relaxed, their poses appear more natural, their smiles are more authentic, and the energy in the final images ultimately feels far more real and convincing.
On the day of the shoot, you’ll either be prepping at home, setting up in a studio, or working on-site at your chosen destination.
If you’ve decided to shoot somewhere public, you should speak to the owner of the venue ahead of time. If you can rent a portion of the area for the day, you’ll be able to get the best shots without any interruptions.
You may also need to acquire a photography permit if you’re shooting at a private location for commercial purposes. Always ask ahead of time when shooting on location, unless it’s a public space. In that case, you can shoot photos freely, but you can’t close off streets or obstruct any people walking by.
You should show up at least 2 hours before the model to plan for the shoot. Make sure you have -
If you’re working with a crew, then they’ll likely handle most of the organization before the shoot. You may have even hired a photographer to photograph your models. In that case, they’ll be in charge of arranging their equipment and prepping the setting for the photos.
Make sure there is enough space for everyone to work, including any makeup artists, hair stylists, and other professionals or friends you bring along to help out.
Make sure that you also define what type of pictures you need. This will ensure you get enough images to work with, and you shouldn’t be afraid to take dozens of a single shot. The more you have to edit later, the better.
The type of equipment you’ll need will vary drastically. Many novice photographers are able to capture great images with nothing more than their smartphone, natural lighting, and a bit of editing.
The price will vary depending on your location, equipment, models, and overall vision.
You can do a shoot using yourself, a camera/smartphone, and some lighting for nothing, or easily get some product pictures for under $50.
On the other hand, some shoots cost thousands due to models, crew, equipment rentals, and professional editing services.
Ultimately, you should feel comfortable working with your current budget and abilities. Even simple photos can have a strong impact as long as you have good lighting, high-quality images, and a basic understanding of photography.
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