4 Additional Ways to Use Product & Promo Videos

4 Additional Ways to Use Product & Promo Videos

So far, when talking about product and promo videos, we’ve only discussed their placement on the actual product pages of your website – and how doing so can reduce returns, improve sales and increase conversions. But did you know there are actually a number of other highly effective ways you can use those great videos you’ve created?

Well, there are. And just like videos on your product page, they can have a big effect on your bottom line. They can entice new customer leads, bring in sales, and help improve your web performance as a whole. Are you considering investing in product or promo videos for your brand? Do you already have some? If so, here are just a few of the alternate ways you can use them to improve your revenues:

1. In email marketing campaigns – Do you have a newsletter, email list or database of leads? Next time you send out a campaign to them, be sure to include one of your product or promo videos, too. For most effectiveness, you’ll want to embed it into the body of the email. Because some people have email client’s that don’t allow video, though, you’ll also want to include a link to your video, so they can watch it elsewhere if necessary.
2. On video sharing sites – You can also post your videos on sites like YouTube and Videos, which allow users to post and share their own videos with others. These sites have millions of users daily, so they can offer you exposure to customers you may not otherwise have reached! Just be sure to be very descriptive in your video’s title, summary and other details, so that it shows up in the site’s search results.
3. On your social media networks – In addition to posting your video on your product pages and on video sharing sites, you should also disperse it via social media. Post the video directly to Facebook, and let users like and comment on it. You can also share the link via Twitter or post a screen-shot on Instagram. When a user interacts with your video, shares it or retweets it, it will then put your brand in front of their friends, family and social circle – all potential customers you couldn’t have connected with otherwise.
4. On your blog – If you have an on-site blog, create a unique blog post for each product and promo video you have. This will give you a great place to direct users when sharing the video on social media, in emails and other non-media-friendly venues. It will also be an easy way to allow comments and interaction with viewers, and it will give your site an overall SEO boost!

Don’t have product or promo videos of your own just yet? Then contact Image Alive Studios today. Our video production experts can help you create powerful media that helps entice new customers, sell your products and improve your website as a whole. Call now for a free consultation.

What to Look for in a Video Production Company

What to Look for in a Video Production Company

In a recent post, we talked about just how powerful product videos can be. They can improve your brand image, your sales and your conversion, and they can make a marked difference on your bottom line. But one thing we didn’t talk about was how to go about creating those great videos and, most importantly, how to find the right video production company to handle them.

In a big Metroplex like Dallas-Fort Worth, video production groups are literally a dime a dozen. This can be a benefit (you have lots of choices), and it can also be a burden (those choices aren’t always well-qualified.) If you want to make sure your product videos are as powerful and impactful as they can possibly be, you need to be careful in choosing who provides them for you.

Specifically, you should look for these traits in a video production company:

• Experience with products – Creating videos of people and places is one thing, but creating videos of products is a whole different ball game. It requires more creativity, more specific lighting and a deft hand in editing in order to tell the product’s story correctly. If you want your videos to be great, you want to choose a production team that has extensive experience in shooting products – not just live-action videos of landscapes, scenery or people. Be sure to request a portfolio or samples, and see their past videos for yourself before you hire anyone.
• Their own studio – Don’t choose a production team that operates out of their own house or on the go. You want someone who has a space of their own where you can shoot your product, capture B-roll, check out your video in editing, or just sit down for a consultation if you need to. Teams with their own studios are typically more successful than others (they have more money to spend) and they tend to have more (and better) equipment, simply because they have the space to store it. All of this can benefit you and your brand in the long run.
• Photography abilities – The best type of video production team is one that can also handle your photography, too. This allows you to have a consistent look and feel throughout all your media and collateral, and it helps you keep costs low and efficiency high. They can shoot your products when a new line comes in, head-shots of new employees for your website, or even lifestyle shots for your advertising or marketing campaigns. It makes for a valuable and convenient relationship for both parties.

Are you on the hunt for a great video production team for your brand’s product videos? Then contact Image Alive Studios. We have the experience, equipment, space and ability to get the job done. Call us now to schedule a free consultation!

4 Product Photography Tips for Clothing Retailers

4 Product Photography Tips for Clothing Retailers

Clothing retailers have a unique product. Unlike most stores, which sell tangible goods that buyers need or use, clothing retailers offer something that will be physically worn by the shopper. Because of this, their product photography needs to not just give shoppers enough detail to evaluate the clothing item, it also needs to frame the clothing in a way that makes shoppers want the product and imagine themselves wearing it.

It’s a tall order – especially for retailers trying to DIY it.

Fortunately, there are a few tips you can follow that can make clothing product photography significantly more effective. If you’re an online clothing retailer, try these quick tips at your own store:

• Use models or mannequins – There’s nothing less exciting then limp clothes strewn about the floor. If you want shoppers to imagine how the clothes look on, how they accentuate the body, and how they fit, you need to show them. If you can afford it, hire one or two models for your product photography shoot. If that’s too pricy, invest in a good mannequin to model the clothing. You can usually edit these mannequins out in post-production, but at least they give your clothing some body and shape.
• Style away – Remember you’re not just selling a product, you’re selling a look. For this reason, you need to really focus on styling. You might only be selling a shirt, but if you want that shirt to look its best, accessorize it with a great pair of jeans, some jewelry, a hat and more. You should also ensure your models have hair and makeup to match the feel of your clothes. If you’re selling workout gear, give them a more natural, subtle and laid-back look. If you’re selling ball gowns, a full face of makeup and an up-do may work better.
• Hire a pro – If you want the best product photography possible – no matter what type of product you sell – it’s always best to enlist the help of a pro. Not only do they have the experience and know-how necessary to make your clothing look great, they also have studio space and equipment – something that’s very hard to come by when you DIY it.
• Watch your background –Most photographers will use a simple, solid white or black backdrop when shooting clothing items. This allows the pieces to really pop on the screen, and it puts all the focus on the product, taking away any distractions for the buyer.

Are you a clothing retailer looking to improve your product photography? Then call Image Alive Studios today. We have years of industry experience, state-of-the-art equipment and studio space, and a whole team dedicated to your success. Contact us today for a free consultation.

5 Reasons You Need a Promotional Video

5 Reasons You Need a Promotional Video

In addition to product videos, promotional videos can also be a great way to add value to your business and draw in new customers. They give you a chance to market your company as a whole – not just one particular product or service – and they enhance your brand image in the eyes of your customer.

Does your business have a promotional video yet? If not, here are 5 reasons you should consider getting one – and fast:

1. To let customers get to know you. Customers like to know who they’re working with and buying from. It helps them feel more confident in their purchase, and it gets them more excited about the process. A promotional video is a great way to give customers a glimpse into your company – what you do, who you are and how you do it. Show your team hard at work behind the scenes, conduct on-screen employee interviews, or even show a product being made and manufactured – anything that will give them insight into your brand.
2. To show off your products. In a promotional video, you can show off your products in a broader way. Instead of focusing on just one, you can focus on the whole line, and you can even show them in use! Incorporate an actual customer, and have them demonstrate the products live, on-screen. You can also show them using the product in their real life, and let other potential customers see just how powerful your products can be.
3. To show off your services. If your company is more service-oriented, a promotional video is great for that, too. Catch your team in action delivering your services and taking care of your customers in the office, on the field or even at home. Potential customers will love seeing your team in action and getting a glimpse at just how exactly your services work.
4. To give customer testimony. Promotional videos are also perfect for showing off happy, satisfied customers. Gather a group of past customers – ones who were extremely satisfied with their products of services – and see if they’d be up for a video shoot. Prepare questions, and interview them about their experience with your brand right on camera. In the end, it could result in some pretty persuasive testimony.
5. To look professional and connected. We’re in a digital age, and if you want to look professional, current and at the top of the game, you need go digital, too. That means you need a great website, you need 360 product photos that translate to mobile phones, and you need a customized promotional video just about your brand. Ultimately, it will make you seem more professional, and it will help you connect and engage better with your customers.

Are you ready to invest in a promotional video for your brand? Then contact Image Alive Studios today and schedule a free consultation. We can even incorporate product videos, 360 images and product images into the shoot!

Why Clothing Retailers Need 360 Product Photography

Why Clothing Retailers Need 360 Product Photography

We’ve said it before: 360 product photography can be a boom to sales no matter what industry you’re in. It can improve your conversions, it can reduce your return rates, and it can increase your revenues across the board. But although you can enjoy these benefits regardless of what type of product you sell, there’s one sector in particular that can see exceptional gains, and that’s the clothing industry.

CLOTHING RETAILERS AND 360 PHOTOGRAPHY

Selling clothing and wearable accessories online can be difficult. In the real world, shoppers will touch, feel and even try on the items before they purchase them, so they can be absolutely sure the product meets their needs, fits them and is worth the cash. When selling clothing online, this type of tactile interaction just isn’t possible. But, with 360 product photography on your side, you can at least come pretty close.

With 360 product photography, you can give shoppers a way to virtually interact with the clothing and accessories they’re considering. While they obviously can’t try it on or model it in front of a mirror, they can view it at every angle, zoom in on details and accents, and get familiar with the colors, fabrics and other more intricate parts of the product. Ultimately, this allows them to better evaluate the piece in relation to their needs, and it helps them feel more comfortable putting down their cold hard cash for something they’ve yet to try on or even touch.

In the online world, selling clothingcan be difficult There are a lot of hurdles to overcome, and return/exchange rates are often high, increasing your costs and lowering your customer satisfaction. Though 360 product photography isn’t the end-all be-all solution; it can certainly help improve your customers’ shopping experience and your sales on the whole.

TRY 360 PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY

Are you an online clothing retailer? Then consider implementing 360 product photography on your site today. Contact Image Alive Studios now and get a free spin of one of your products!

How to Amp Up Your Product Pages

How to Amp Up Your Product Pages

As an e-commerce retailer, your product pages are your bread and butter. They power your website, they fuel your sales and, ultimately, they put money in your pockets. With all this important stuff riding on their shoulders, shouldn’t you be doing all you can to ramp up those product pages, and make them the best they possibly can be?

Fortunately, we can help. Over our years in the industry, we’ve seen some sure-fire tactics that can improve your product pages and make a marked difference on your sales, revenue and bottom line. Here are a few of the most effective:

1. Add interactive elements – Get the user involved. Let them swap out colors on the product, allow them to zoom in and enlarge the photos, and give them the ability to share their favorite items on Twitter, Facebook and other social media. You can even let real-life customers share their reviews of products after a purchase.
2. Offer 360 degree views – When it comes to product photos, nothing is as powerful as the 360-degree image. It gives online shoppers a unique, 3D view of a product, making it look and feel like a real-life, in-store shopping experience. With 360 product photos, customers are able to get more details and information on the products they’re considering, in turn, increasing your conversions, improving your customer satisfaction and reducing your return rates in the long run.
3. Have videos – In addition to your 360-degree product photos, you’ll also want to have videos of your products wherever possible. Give live demos of your products in action, show them being used by real-life people, or even post video reviews of products if you have them. These will show up great on virtually any device your customer is using, and they’ll give a professional look to your product pages on the whole.
4. Show stock levels – Nothing spurs action like scarcity. If customers know there’s only one or two of a product left, and they’re even somewhat considering purchasing it, that’s usually enough to spark a buy.  You’ll be clearing out that inventory in no time!
5. Display price comparisons – Let customers know just how affordable your prices are. Show them in relation to prices on other e-commerce sites, or even against their “manufacturer price.” For utmost visibility, display the price somewhere near the product photos, where you know viewers will be looking.
6. Offer live chat – Be there to answer your customers’ questions when and where they have them. If they’re on your site, looking at your product photos, and they can’t tell if a shirt is green or blue, then let them live chat you and ask for help. Most of the time, great customer service is a enough to turn a prospective buyer into a real, tangible sale.

Want to improve your sites’ product pages? Then call Image Alive Studios. We can create sales-inspiring 360-degree product photos, videos, and more that will help sell your products and improve your revenues. Contact us today for a free consultation.

The 5 Keys to Great Product Photography Across the Board

The 5 Keys to Great Product Photography Across the Board

If you sell your products online, then a lot rides on your photography. For online shoppers, there’s not much else to go on! Sure there are customer reviews and a short description – but really, how much can they tell about your products through those? The only true way to impress them and inspire them to buy is to have great, top-quality product photography that catches their eye.

Is your current product photography doing enough to bring in big sales? If not, you might be missing out on one of these five key ingredients:

1. Consistency – You want all your product photos to have a consistent look, feel and vibe. Regardless of where a product is located, what season’s line it’s from or how old it is, in order to have a truly professional look, they all need to be consistent. They should use the same framing, lighting, angles and, of course, image size, and the transition from one product to the next should be seamless.
2. Brand voice – One of the biggest keys to successful product photography lies in a photographer’s ability to capture the brand’s voice. What is a “brand voice,” you ask? Basically, it’s a company’s essence – its culture, its people and its message to the world. A great product photo will deliver this voice clearly and concisely. When people see those photos, they’ll know precisely what brand they came from and what kind of service they’ll get if they make a purchase.
3. Clarity – Always remember, the focus of your photos is the actual product – not anything going on around it. Sure it’s OK to take a few actions shows here and there, for but for the most part, you want clean, clear and uncluttered photos that put all the emphasis on your products. Pure white and black backgrounds are usually best for maximum effect.
4. The right lighting – Lighting plays a crucial role in product photography. With the right lighting, a product can look even better than it does in person!  With the wrong lighting, you can turn customers off a product forever. Always be sure you choose a photographer that’s not only great with shooting products, but one who’s familiar with various lighting techniques and strategies. You’d be amazed at the difference it makes.
5. Good editing – No matter how hard you try, sometime, mistakes just happen. Fortunately, when it comes to product photography, it can usually be fixed in editing. Blown outimages, poor framing and incorrect angles can all be manipulated in the editing room, as long as your photographer knows how.

Want to ensure your product photography is as good as it can be? Then contact the pros at Image Alive Studios today and schedule a free consultation. We’d be glad to help!

3 Types of Product Videos You Should Be Using

3 Types of Product Videos You Should Be Using

In addition to great product photos and 360 spin images, videos are also a great way to make sure your products stand out from the pack. Product videos allow you to give online visitors an in-depth, real-life look at your products, including how they work, what they do, and just how great they are. Ultimately, they can help lead to more sales, they can lower your return rate and they can increase your conversions – all of which means more money in your pocket.

Thinking about using product videos to up your online store’s ante? If so, be sure to incorporate these three types:

• Demonstrations – One of the biggest problems with online shopping is that customers can’t see, touch, try on or really interact with the product at all. This makes it hard for them to feel comfortable with the purchase, and it often leads to more returns than you’d like. Fortunately, product videos allow you a way to combat this. Use your product videos to show real-life individuals using, interacting with and demonstrating your products. These will give customers a detailed look at exactly what your product is and how it can be used in their own life.
• Details – Product videos are great for showing detail and getting up close and personal. They allow you to zoom in on small parts and accents and show how the color, print and fabric looks in real life. Often, this can be just want a customer needs to feel comfortable putting down their cash and making a purchase.
• Reviews/Testimonials – Another great use of product videos is the review/testimonial. If you have customers who are extremely satisfied with their recent purchase from you or some that are just in love with a product or service you carry, then see if they’d be willing to go on tape about it. Have them talk about their experience with your company, how great the product is, and how it’s changed their life. In the end, it could be that honesty and personalized touch that pushes a customer to click that “buy” button, and head to checkout.

Want to start adding product videos like these to your online store? Then contact Image Alive Studios today for a free consultation. Our team can help you take your brand to the next level.

Vitafive

Recently, we worked with Vitafive on some packaging and advertisement imagery. Here are a few of our favorite images from our recent shoot. 

Metro PCS Product Photography

We recently teamed up with Rockfish, in Dallas, to shoot commercial, e-Commerce and 360 Spin photography for Metro PCS phones.

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Spin Photography and Product Videos Go Hand in Hand

SPIN PHOTOGRAPHY AND PRODUCT VIDEOS GO HAND IN HAND

Spin photography can do wonders for improving your online store and increasing your overall sales and revenues. It can give customers a great way to get intimately familiar with your products (even on tiny smartphone screens!), so they feel comfortable purchasing products – even without ever seeing them in person! But spin photos aren’t the only way to do that. Now, you can complement those same interactive images with product videos, and give your customers even more to get excited about.

360 PHOTOGRAPHY & PRODUCT VIDEOS

360 spin images and product videos go hand and hand. While a spin photo can give customers a way to zoom in, pan and spin around a product, taking in all its minute details, product videos can take that even further, rotating products for them, flying over and under the products, and much, much more. In a nutshell, product videos can add even more dimension and detail to your product page.

The best part is, if you choose a studio that has automated spin photography equipment, they can use that equipment to create both 360 images AND product videos for your stores – all at the same time. This saves you significantly on production costs, and it helps ensure you get your final images and videos in no time at all, so you can start making money.

GET 360 IMAGES AND PRODUCT VIDEOS FOR YOUR BRAND NOW

Take a look at what spin photography equipment can do for product videos in this example, and think about how much videos like this could change your brand and online presence. Want to learn more? Ready to get started? Contact the Image Alive team today for a free consultation or product spin.

Show, Don’t Tell with 360 Product Photography

Show, Don’t Tell with 360 Product Photography

You’ve heard that old saying “actions speak louder than words,” right? Well, it’s true – not just in life, but in the online business world, too. You can tell customers about how great your products are, write the most intriguing descriptions possible, or market them through social media or blogs until you’re blue in the face, but none of those will be as effective as actually showing them just how great the product really is.

But how do you do that, when all you have is a website and a screen to connect you and your customers? You could Skype with each potential customer and give them a live demo of your product. But do you really have the time and resources for that? In truth, there’s only one real way to do it: implement 360 product photography.

HOW 360 PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY CAN HELP

360 product photography lets you show customers, not just tell them, how great your products are. It gives you a way to deliver a lifelike “in-store” experience, without requiring them to ever set foot outside their house! They can interact with the product, spin in, zoom in on details and get as familiar with it as they need to in order to feel comfortable making the purchase.

In the end 360 product photography can deliver not only a better shopping experience for your customers, but also higher conversions for your site, a lower return rate, and more sales for your business in the long run. It’s a win-win for both parties.

GIVE 360 PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY A TRY

Want to improve your customer’s experience, and show – not tell – them just how much they need your products? Then consider implementing 360 product photography. Contact the Image Alive team today to get a glimpse of your products in action, or to schedule a free consultation!

Signs 360 Product Photography is Taking Off

Signs 360 Product Photography is Taking Off

We told you before how great 360 product photography is: how it can improve your sales, how it can lower your return rates and how it can make online shopping easier all-around. Now, you don’t have to just take our word for it. We have bona fide proof that 360 product images are taking off – and fast.

Don’t believe us? Here it is:

• Google is on board – Google doesn’t do anything lightly. Every change and alteration to its schema is made after thorough research, surveying and testing to ensure it will be successful, functional and, most of all, profitable. Well, last year, Google started integrating 360 product photography into its “Shopping” listings. While only a few products had the technology at first, today there are millions. It just goes to show that we’re not the only ones who have seen success with 360 imagery!
• Tons of huge retailers are using it – Big-name retailers across the world are hopping on the 360 product photography bandwagon, investing millions of dollars and putting their sales on the line. They wouldn’t do that without some inkling that the move would be a success (or improve their revenues.) Some big retailers with 360 images include: Staples, RadioShack, Fry’s Electronics, Sam’s Club and more.
• Equipment is making it easier – As demand for 360 imagery grows, so does the demand for equipment – equipment that makes 360 photography easier, more seamless and more affordable. Photography equipment companies are starting to respond to that demand, creating unique turntables, cameras and other tools that make 360 product photography a cinch.
• Studies show it’s working – The proof is in the pudding. Studies and research have shown – without a doubt – that 360 product photography is effective. Golfsmith.com saw a 10 to 40 percent increase in conversions once implementing the technology, and a study by The Simply Group found a 20 percent conversion increase across seven different web stores. Additionally, Land’s End reported a 26-percent jump in sales after implementing 360 photos.

Are you ready to get on board with 360 product photography, too? Then contact us today. We offer free consultations, and we can even show you how your products would look in action with a free spin!

HAHN

We visited Austin, Texas recently to photograph a few stainless steel sinks for our friends over at HAHN. 

TRAULSEN

Recently, we worked with Traulsen commercial refrigerators on some new catalog and advertisement imagery. Here are a few of our favorite images from our recent shoot. 

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Post Processing a Daniel Defense Upper

WESTERN SPORT

Western Sport reached out to us in need of new product and lifestyle imagery for their website. We photographed in-studio for the stylized product shots and on location to show the products in use. 

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SPRING CREEK BBQ

We recently had the opportunity to work with Spring Creek BBQ, capturing food and lifestyle imagery for their new website. Here are some of the highlights. 

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Saddleback Leather

We have been photographing Saddleback Leather's products for nearly five years now. We handle both their lifestyle and catalog imagery. Below are some examples from recent photoshoot projects in-studio and on location. 

360 Product Photos How to be Successful on the Web

360 Product Photos How to be Successful on the Web

We’ve talked about how important 360 product photos are to your company’s performance. They can increase your sales, improve your conversions and draw in more customer leads than ever before. But what we haven’t yet discussed is how to make those 360 photos successful – how to make them as impactful, powerful and effective as possible.

In our experience, there are three major things 360 product photos must achieve in order to be effective. These are:

1. It needs to load quickly. Users don’t want to wait more than few seconds for an image to load. They’re shopping online because it’s easier, more convenient and, most importantly, faster than shopping in a brick-and-mortar store, and by having slow-to-load photos on your site, you’re negating the whole purpose. If you really want to impress your customers and keep them interested in your products, make sure your 360 product photos pop up quickly, easily and seamlessly.
2. It needs to have a smooth appearance.  There’s nothing worse than a blurry, jumpy or glitchy image. It confuses the user and makes it harder for them to learn about the product and all its details. It can also make your brand look low-quality and unprofessional. This is especially true when using 360 product photos, which inherently offer more information and detail than static shots. If you want your visitors to see a product, be interested in it, and feel confident buying it, you absolutely have to give them a clear, seamless and smooth 360 shot that they can utilize.
3. It needs to be easy to interact with. The whole point of 360 product photos is to give an “in-store” experience on the web, allowing users to virtually interact with products on their screens. If zooming in, spinning or rotating your images causes problems (like jumps, blurriness, slow loading times or anything else), then your photos aren’t doing their job.

Typically, to achieve all three of these, you’ll want no more than 36 images per product. Any more than that, and your images will take a lot of bandwidth to load, making them sluggish, slow-to-respond, and a drag on your visitor’s internet speed. Ultimately, these can aggravate a user and turn them off from your site – and their purchase – entirely.

Want to ensure your 360 product photos are the best they can be? Then let Image Alive help. Contact us today for a free spin and see your products in action!