Here's the truth, low-quality images negatively impact your brand perception and decrease the likelihood of conversion. That being said, you don't necessarily need to hire a big fancy creative agency to do your lifestyle photography - a specialized product photography studio will be able to provide top-quality images quickly and at a lower cost than big agencies.
The purpose of lifestyle photos is more than just showing off product features, they allow you to invite customers into a story with your product playing a major role in the plot. The narrative your lifestyle images paint is powerful - it shows how your product fits into customers' lives, addressing their pain points and fulfilling their desires. It is critical that you have this narrative in mind before initiating a lifestyle image project.
It may go without saying, but understanding your target audience is crucial in crafting effective lifestyle images. Tailor your visuals and messaging to appeal to your customers' aspirations, interests, identities, and lifestyle choices. Speak directly to their needs and aspirations through your imagery to quickly build trust.
While lifestyle images are all about emotions and storytelling, don't forget to highlight the product's features and benefits. This can be fairly explicit or more subtle depending on your style/strategy. But you should always showcase how your product will solve a problem or enhance your customer's life.
Emotions drive consumer behavior. Lifestyle images are a great tool to evoke positive emotions such as joy, happiness, excitement, contentment, etc. Emotionally resonant visuals leave a lasting impression on viewers, ultimately building trust and driving sales.
It is critical to maintain a consistent visual style across all marketing channels, including your website, social media, and product listings on all sales channels. Consistency strengthens your brand identity and makes it more easily recognizable to customers, especially when it comes to your product imagery.