Product Images for Amazon

A guide for creating product images Amazon will accept.

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Picture taken from the Nikon D3200 with the white display we just made!

Evanesce - 0.5oz Amber Glass Dropper Bottles with Glass Dropper, Child Safety Cap (Black) - Pack of 5

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Placing Camera & Adjusting Tripod

Mount the Camera onto the tripod.

Before mounting the camera be sure to read over the instruction manual that came with your tripod. Learn what each knob and lever does, this way there are no expensive accidents.

Mount the base to the camera.

Mount the camera with base to tripod.

Lock it in.

Make sure the connection is solid, it can be easy to over look a connection that hasn't fully engaged.

Most tripods come with several mechanisms to adjust the position & angle of your camera.

Read over the instruction manual that came with your tripod in order to learn what each know and lever does. You may even want to practice using the tripods features before installing the camera, until you feel comfortable with the way it operates. Remember the camera ads weight making it easier to manipulate the mechanism, keep this in mind when trying out the tripod without the camera. This is a cheap one but it does the job for now. 

Some tripods actually have a level built into the tripod in one or more place to help you position your tripod just right.

Using the level on the tripod, a "good eye," and the display itself; find the perfect position for your camera. When taking a picture using a tripod use the screen on the camera instead of the eye whole or control the camera via computer, this prevents bumping and moving of the tripod/camera assembly.

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Setting-Up Your Product Display

We are not quite ready to take pictures, now we have to set up the products in our display the way we want before placing our camera. This helps us later when we adjust the tripod for the greatest angles.

In this case we are using our  Evanesce - 0.5oz Amber Glass Dropper Bottles with Glass Dropper, Child Safety Cap (Black) - Pack of 5 listed on Amazon.

This picture of dropper bottles was taken with my "smart phone"

At the moment I am waiting for my DSLR camera battery charges completely. While its been charging I have been setting up my display.

Picking your Product

If you have multiples of the same product, you may want to look through them and find the best looking ones for your photos.

Cleaning

Clean your product thoroughly to enhance your overall images before positioning them in the display. To keep your products clean while placing, consider wearing a clean glove.

Positioning

Before setting the tripod and camera in position, use this opportunity to place your product to be photographed on the board where you like it. I typically have my products approximately 6-8 inches away from the back board and centered on the bottom board. I choose to do this because it helps me control the shadows coming from the product.

Do what you can to limit touching your display boards and products as it can leave being unwanted marks. Use your "air blaster" if you need to clean off particles after setting your display.

Don't worry about getting this perfect, you may have to move your product again after setting your camera. It may look great to your eye but in the camera it may look different. We want to adjust positions and lighting to make them look the way we want on the camera, It may come natural or it may take practice just don't give up. Play with it and see what you come up with, if your having trouble you can look up some instructional videos on YouTube.

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Get tips for taking photos as well and learn how to take amazing photos. Check out Fro Knows Photo online today.

This is a great place to go to learn photography. You may be able to find a review he's done for your camera model. I recommend stopping by his page if your new to photography.

Disclaimer: I don't know this guy (Jared Polin) personally and have never bought anything from him. I watched a lot of is free YouTube Videos when researching DSLR camera reviews. I also watched some of his videos where he provides tips to new photographers.

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Tools and Equipment

Ill show you what tools and equipment I'm using for this project but keep in mind alternatives you may have laying around your home you can use.

Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) Camera. Nikon D3200 & Tripod

These cameras can be expensive, this DSLR Camera is great for amateur photographers or those transitioning into the DSLR class of digital cameras.

Google Reference : A digital single-lens reflex camera (also called a digital SLR or DSLR) is a digital camera combining the optics and the mechanisms of a single-lens reflex camera with a digital imaging sensor, as opposed to photographic film. The reflex design scheme is the primary difference between a DSLR and other digital cameras.

The tripod I got from Wal-Mart for $28, you can find some as low as $15. When shopping for one make sure it accepts DSLR cameras. Stay away from the tiny ones, I know they are cute but they just can't handle the weight of the DSLR type camera.

If you don't have a DSLR camera but you have a "smart phone" with a camera, you can use this instead. Smart phones typically come equipped with camera technology capable of high megapixels and stabilization features making it possible to shoot high quality images with your phone. While your on the internet look up your phone information to see if it has lens adapters or tripod accessories if you'd like to use your phone.

Basic DSLR Camera Cleaning Kit

Which ever camera you decide on, be sure to pick up a cleaning kit to maintain your camera. A quality camera is an investment and for those who have a career in photography their livelihood, keeping it clean is a great way to keep it functioning properly and make it last a long and useful life. 

Above is a brush used to clean the lens of your camera; a perfect tool for flicking off any little bits of stuff clinging to your lens without scratching the glass or leaving behind in smudges from cloths or skin oils.

Also above is a microfiber cloth perfect for electronic screens, it keeps your screens clean and scratch free. Other clothes although soft, if its not a microfiber cloth you may actually scratch your screen. Also great for the photographer wearing glasses!

The black bulb seen here is an "air blaster", a personal favorite of mine. This is great for getting into tiny spaces on the camera and perfect for keeping your displays and products clean without wiping as wiping leaves smudges.

In place of these products you can use a lint free cloth, most are microfiber. A super soft and new makeup brush, and a bulb syringe typically used to care for baby.

Here I am brushing my lens.

Lighting

Lighting is extremely important when taking photos, especially with a pure white background. You won't need to use a whole lot of light if you have a flash on your camera and adjust the ISO correctly.

Here you'll see a corded L.E.D shop light that I purchased for my garage from Lowe's Home Improvement store.

When deciding on what light to use, make sure it illuminates a pure white light. Others that look yellow may work with computer editing software but is very time consuming and the results are less then pleasant.

When your setting up your lighting angles try focusing on where it has to be to illuminate shadows coming off of your product to be photographed. This may take practice but well worth the time.

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Setting up my display.

There's no room in my house so I decided to create a place for me in the garage. While looking for your perfect spot, plan for enough room to make the job comfortable. You may be at it for a while so its best to make it a comfortable project.

As seen above, I'm using a collapsible table that has been placed against the wall of my garage. Here are instructions for those who want to do this project following this blog assuming you have the same supplies mentioned. I try to post links to product information, hopefully that helps.

**If your under 18 please get help from your parents and be sure you have their permission before doing this.

Instructions:

Find the right spot for your project with enough room

Slide your table square against the wall

Place one of the two boards found in "Elmer's Acid Free Foam Board" pack against the wall with the best side facing toward you.

Slide the board down until the edge of the board rests tight against the surface of the table.

Secure the board in place by attaching it to the wall. This can be done with one staple in each corner, Velcro, double-sided stick tape.

Place the second board onto the table with the best side facing up and slide it's edge against the wall mounted board.

Press the table top board into the wall mounted board until you close off the space where the boards meet.

Secure the table top board in place by using a clamp strong enough to keep it pressed together. (if no clamp, try a weight)

Once you have it secured in place your on to the next thing. Use some air to blow your white surfaces clean, avoid touching unless to move your products or fix your display to prevent smudges.

Here is my wall board, see how it's edge is directly against my table? This is important when setting up a seamless display. By doing it this way we can make adjustments easily while closing the seam with pressure.

I used staples to hold my wall board in place. Behind my wall board I placed a folded cardboard box to compensate for the rounded table edges. This brings my wall board far enough off of the wall to rest on the flat surface of the table. Make the adjustments you need, where you need them. Have fun with your project!

I found a clamp among tools in the garage that I am using to press and hold this cardboard scrap against my table top display board's edge. This is pressing the boards together, closing the gap and done this way prevents damage to the board by the clamp. Be creative, if you don't have what I have you can still make it work using something else. Don't give up!

I cut some cardboard I had laying around into little squares to use as "shims" behind the wall board. This was used to help bring the boards tighter together, closing the seam. If you don't have cardboard try using folded "paper plates" "paper cups" or "news paper."

This is what my display looks like now with the instructions above.

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You will be needing a "White" background for your photo shoot. For this you can use just about anything clean, clear, and white.

Things you might try:

linens

upside down wall posters (backs are usually white)

printer paper

poster board (used commonly in school science fair projects)

gift wrap tissue paper

foam board (as seen above for photo mounting)

That's a list I can come up with, maybe you have some other material laying around that can be of great use for your project.

I did some quick shopping at Wal-Mart for the above material. I used Premium "Acid Free Foam Board" made by Elmer's. I thought they only made glue but it looks like they make another great product. It says on the packaging its "Ideal for Framing and Photo Mounting", but I'm using it for photo taking! It's a really nice clean, bright white, which is how we want it. Because it's foam you have to take care not to ruin your flat surface, it's easy to thumb it too much giving it an ugly surface.

Caring for your display surface

While setting up your display area you will get all kinds of dust or lint onto your perfectly made display.

To clean off your display use some light air to blow contaminants off; this can be done with compressed air found in electronic cleaners, or DSLR Camera air blower. The air blower is great for cameras but it also works to keep your display clean. Nothing like smudges from direct contact wiping to ruin the day. Even when our hands are clean the oils in our hands can still alter the clarity of the white surface.

Don't use tape, it will either tare up the display or create glare. Its better to use Velcro, clamps, staples, weights to hold your display together. If your comfortable with replacing your display then using tape is okay just be aware of its pros and cons.

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I just wanted to take a moment to tell about my latest project Evanesce LLC. I'm not one to like sponsor ads or commercials, unless their the funny ones of course! but what the heck.

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Don't do what I just did.

Preparation is 90% of any job, I put everything together, turned on the camera and realized my battery is about to die! Don't do what I just did, make sure you have a fully charged battery and if you have a back up, charge that too.

There's nothing like a dead battery to stop you in your tracks.

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From my home to yours!

I like to do my photography from home, unfortunately I don't have very many tools to do so. But no problem I am going to make it work!

I did purchase a tripod today to make this easier, you can pick one up from Amazon.com or Walt-Mart. If you don't have one you can still do this without a tripod, you may have to practice holding you camera without shaking.

This blog is me sharing my attempt at product imagery, most of the time I'm in a rush. Now slowed down and focused, I'd like to share with you my project of making product photos for Amazon.

Good luck on your adventures!

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Who am I?

I am the owner of Evanesce LLC a manufacturer and DIY supplier in San Antonio, TX.

I started a professional sellers account on Amazon.com in order to help my business get off the ground. It can be a learning curve to start but easy to quickly find your way around and start. The Staff at Amazon.com is very friendly and helpful so don't be afraid to ask them if you need any.

Experiences may differ as everyone has different likes or dislikes. Don't let it be because you didn't research your project fully. I researched mine and still had  a bad first month but it was because I didn't familiarize myself with their fees. Let that be a heads up to you folks looking to get into business online, get rid of all your learning curves!

Our Amazon products can be seen by Clicking Here.

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Amazon - Product Image Requirements

Technical Requirements

Product images submitted to Amazon must meet the following technical specifications.

TIFF (.tif/.tiff), JPEG (.jpeg/.jpg), GIF (.gif) and PNG (.png) format

Image pixel dimensions of at least 1000 or larger in either height or width preferred

sRGB or CMYK color mode

File names must consist of the product identifier (Amazon ASIN, 13-digit ISBN, EAN, JAN, or UPC) followed by a period and the appropriate file extension (Example: B000123456.jpg or 0237425673485.tif)

Note: Spaces, dashes or additional characters in the filename will prevent your image from going online.

Amazon Site Standards for Product Images

For images named by product identifier without a variant code or named with the MAIN variant, and display as the main image on the product detail page, Amazon maintains the following site product image standards:

The image must be the cover art or a professional photograph of the product being sold. Drawings or illustrations of the product are not allowed.

The image must not contain gratuitous or confusing additional objects.

The image must be in focus, professionally lit and photographed or scanned, with realistic color, and smooth edges.

Books, Music, and Video/DVD images should be the front cover art, and fill 100% of the image frame. Jewel cases, promotional stickers, and cellophane are not allowed.

All other products should fill 85% or more of the image frame.

The full product must be in frame.

Backgrounds must be pure white (RGB 255,255,255).

The image must not contain additional text, graphics, or inset images.

Pornographic and offensive materials are not allowed.

For additional other view images:

The image must be of, or pertain to, the product being sold.

The image must be in focus, professionally lit and photographed or scanned, with realistic color, and smooth edges.

Other products or objects are allowed to help demonstrate the use or scale of product.

The product and props should fill 85% or more of the image frame.

Cropped or close-up images are allowed.

Backgrounds and environments are allowed.

Text and demonstrative graphics are allowed.

Pornographic and offensive materials are not allowed.

VISIT AMAZON PAGE CLICK HERE                                                                                                                                                                     

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Product Pictures on Amazon

You may have just started as a seller on Amazon.com, thinking of it, or have been already. Hopefully after you have looked through this blog you will have come up with a great way to set up your photo shoot. That's what this is! We may not be shooting images of runway models but you are making many adjustments and taking lots of time to make sure you have the right photos.

Lets talk about that for a second.

Taking the "right" photos means two things. One, being Amazon's requirements and two being whats best for the item your selling.

Its important to do everything you can to make sure you are in compliance with Amazon's requirements. You wouldn't want to lose the income you are generating or about to generate! With any business it is important to maintain a good working relationship with all your end connections. Suppliers are very important but if you have no structure to sell those products then your at a loss. Amazon provides you that structure and we need to maintain it by taking those pictures right from the start.

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Link to Amazon's "Product Image Requirements"