Create 360-Degree Product Photos Yourself

360-degree product photography is a technique that allows presenting a product from all angles by taking a series of images from different perspectives and combining them into an interactive display. Basically, it works like the old flip book. Here is a basic guide to the process:

1. Preparation of the product: Ensure that the product is clean and free of scratches or other defects. Place it on a stable surface that can be easily rotated.
2. Camera setup: Use a high-quality camera with a wide-angle lens. Mount the camera on a tripod to ensure consistent height and perspective.
3. Lighting: Use even, diffused lighting to minimize shadow formation and improve color accuracy. Studio lights or daylight lamps can be useful here.
4. Photography: Position the camera so that it captures the product centrally from the front.
5. Rotation of the product: Rotate the product at a fixed angle, for example 10 to 15 degrees, and take a photo each time. Repeat this step until you have captured the product from all angles 360 degrees. 24 photos are the standard.
6. Image editing: Transfer the captured images to your computer and use specialized software for 360-degree photography to combine them into an interactive view. This software allows viewers to rotate the product and view it from different angles.
7. Integration on your website: Upload the finished 360-degree view to your website so customers can interactively explore the product. You can also add additional features such as zoom and descriptions to enhance the shopping experience.

360-Degree Product Photo Scanmotion

By using 360-degree product photography, customers can experience a product virtually as if they were physically holding it in their hands, which often facilitates the purchasing decision. The actual size of the product or even the weight does not matter.

The decision whether 360-degree product photography is worth it depends on various factors, including the type of products, the market, the target audience, and the budget. Here are some considerations:

1. Type of products: For some products, especially those with many details or features, the 360-degree view can be extremely useful in providing customers with a comprehensive insight. For example, complex electronic devices, jewelry, or fashion items are good candidates for 360-degree photography. For simple products with fewer details, it may be less relevant.
2. Market and target audience: If you operate in a market with high competition and customers place great value on product presentation and experience, investing in 360-degree photography can be worthwhile. If your target audience is tech-savvy and interested in innovative product presentations, this could also be a plus.
3. Budget: The costs for creating 360-degree product photos can vary depending on the scope and complexity of the shoots. For companies with a limited budget, it may not be economical to create a 360-degree view for each individual product. In this case, it might make sense to focus on key products or find alternatives, such as using 360-degree product photos for marketing purposes or special promotions.
4. Product variety: If you have thousands of products in your range, it can be challenging to create a 360-degree view for each individual one. In this case, it might be sensible to focus on those products that generate the most revenue or are particularly popular with customers.

From our experience, we can say that self-created 360-degree product photos are just as unprofitable for only a few products as they are for very large quantities. For a small number of products, the investment in the necessary hardware is too high. Experience also plays a very large role in truly high-quality 360-degree shots. There are no devices on the market that can replace experience. After over 15 years in this field, we know well what works and what doesn’t.

For very large quantities in the thousands or tens of thousands, producing 360-degree product photos is a very complex and, above all, extremely time-consuming matter. For products in these quantities, the capturing process can take months and sometimes even years. However, Scanmotion is set up for very large quantities. Therefore, in such cases, we create the majority of 360-degree product photos for renowned customers to enable a quick start for the respective customer application. After the majority of the products have been captured, our customers can often then handle the capturing of new products themselves. Often, we continue to support these customers in post-processing or with special products that, for example, exceed certain sizes or weights.