The Benefits of 3D Renderings for Lifestyle Images in Remote-First E-Commerce Companies

At Renovation Brands, we regularly use a 3rd party 3D rendering company to produce lifestyle images using our products. Room scenes help customers more realistically imagine a beautiful outcome, understand custom products, and be able to see them in on-trend and seasonal spaces.

These images were extremely helpful in marketing and as well as blog content - where elevated showcasing of our products stood out in comparison to generic stock images. This especially helped our niche products.

The use of 3D renderings eliminates the need for multiple physical photoshoots. Products can be digitally modeled and rendered in various settings without the logistical challenges of transporting them to a studio or arranging them in different environments. Once a product 3D model is created, it can also be reused across different scenes.

Photoshoots are great when you can afford them, but 3D renderings are a great affordable alternative.

Flexibility and Customization

With 3D renderings you can easily adjust the lighting, textures, and colors after the fact. You can return to a rendering later on in the year and change colors, camera angles, and decor for fresh imagery that aligns to seasonal trends.

Photoshoot had poor visibility of product (registers) on the ceiling. A 3D rendering was commissioned for placement on a wall for better view of the custom pattern design. Placed in an email to sell custom designs.

Visualizing Installation and Real-World Applications

In the realm of e-commerce, particularly for remote-first companies, the ability to visualize products in real-world settings is extremely important. 3D renderings serve as a valuable tool for allowing customers to perceive how a product will look and function in a residential or commercial spaces.

uTILIZING AI

Recently we have started dabbling in AI as well through another 3rd party vendor. AI is rapidly developing in realism, although it is much more limited in editing ability and often creates unrealistic errors. This one, a 90% successful method, used an existing high quality rendering as a reference for to create the AI output, then the product (register) was photoshopped in.

The in-house' marketing department's role in the creation of 3rd renderings

For a successful and realistic rendering someone in the company close to the product should work with someone in the marketing department for creative and artistic direction to direct toward the rendering company. This helps achieve product realism and visual relevance to the customer. A person skilled in art direction may help research and provide example inspiration image styles, visual trends, camera angles, and note deficiencies in realism such as lighting, shadows, textures, scale, proportion. Having a designer on staff who can successfully drive direction of these renderings is also key to getting great results.

Project Example. Concept: Winter Coastal. Starter rendering with Brand marking where they want product.

The in-house' marketing department's role in the creation of 3rd renderings

For a successful and realistic rendering someone in the company close to the product should work with someone in the marketing department for creative and artistic direction to direct toward the rendering company. This helps achieve product realism and visual relevance to the customer. A person skilled in art direction may help research and provide example inspiration image styles, visual trends, camera angles, and note deficiencies in realism such as lighting, shadows, textures, scale, proportion. Having a designer on staff who can successfully drive direction of these renderings is also key to getting great results.

BENEFITS OF 3D RENDERINGS FOR marketing

Having high quality relevant imagery helps drive quality leads and engagement, as well as elevating look and feel. Customers will choose a more elevated presentation over a basic one. It is a great supplement to influencer and user-generated content, which can take weeks or months to wait on.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you aren't already utilizing 3D renderings, I highly recommend exploring the ways they could elevate your brand experience.

Example renderings are Renovation Brands'.

See if you can spot the AI flaws. Hint: Look at the hardware and things on the countertop.

My feedback: The flooring seems rather inconsistent in both color and texture. I'd ask them to even it out. Warm makes more sense than white or grey flooring. The candle votives in the corner seem a little off, I would suggest just removing them. Something about the perspective is looking a little dollhouse? The chairs look short/small? I think perspective is more bird's eye than standing height. It also seems wider than a typical camera lens. Zooming in, down, and shift left to get a little more direct look at the baseboarder [product] would be my recommendation. I'm mixed on the plaster/lime wash texture wall because they aren't common. Also debating if the brightness of the windows is removing realism. Normally I think you'd see a little more outdoors.

Final Rendering

Quick Turnaround for On-Trend Imagery

Content is king and seasonality comes quickly, the capacity to produce images rapidly gives e-commerce companies a competitive edge. Imagery targeting a specific trending product can be created to quickly market and grow sales - adding momentum.