Product photography is a critical element of eCommerce success. Studies show that high-quality product images can increase conversions by up to 60% and reduce return rates by giving customers a clear, detailed look at what they're buying. Whether you're selling on Amazon, Shopify, Etsy, or your own website, compelling visuals can help you stand out in a crowded marketplace.
However, many small businesses and independent sellers hesitate to invest in product photography due to high equipment costs and the perceived need for professional expertise. The good news? You don't need an expensive DSLR camera or a full-scale studio to take great product photos. With the right techniques, a smartphone, natural lighting, and a few budget-friendly tools, you can achieve stunning, professional-grade images that showcase your products in the best light.
This guide combines expert insights from multiple industry leaders to help you capture high-quality product photos without breaking the bank. We'll cover everything from affordable equipment and DIY lighting setups to shooting techniques and editing tips—ensuring your product photography looks polished, professional, and sales-ready.
Whether you're exploring photography for beginners or a business owner seeking cost-effective solutions, this guide will equip you with all the essential knowledge you need. Let's dive in!
One of the biggest misconceptions about product photography is that you need a high-end DSLR camera to capture stunning images. While professional cameras offer better manual controls, modern smartphones can deliver incredible results with the right setup.
A smartphone is a great choice if:
✔ You're on a budget and want to maximize existing resources.
✔ Your phone has a high-quality camera (8MP or higher) with manual settings.
✔ You plan to shoot for social media or eCommerce platforms that resize images.
✔ You want a quick, easy-to-use solution for taking and uploading photos.
📌 Pro Tip: Many newer smartphones come with AI-enhanced cameras, portrait modes, and RAW photo support, making them highly capable for how to take product photos with iPhone or Android devices.
A DSLR or mirrorless camera is beneficial if:
✔ You need high-resolution images for print advertisements or large-scale banners.
✔ You want full control over settings like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
✔ You require consistent lighting adjustments in studio environments.
✔ You plan to shoot products with fine details, such as jewelry or fabrics.
📌 Budget Alternative: If you don't own a DSLR, consider renting one for a product shoot instead of purchasing. Many camera rental services offer affordable daily or weekly rates.
Why use a tripod? Hand-held photography can result in blurry images due to slight hand movements. A tripod ensures sharp, stable, and professional-looking photos, especially when using long exposure settings or capturing multiple product angles.
Budget-Friendly Tripod Options:
✔ Phone Tripods – Compact, adjustable, and great for smartphone photography.
✔ Tabletop Tripods – Small and perfect for shooting products on flat surfaces.
✔ Flexible Tripods (GorillaPod-style) – Ideal for uneven surfaces and creative angles.
✔ Standard Camera Tripods – Best for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras with height adjustments.
📌 Pro Tip: Use a remote shutter button or self-timer mode to minimize camera shake further when capturing product photos.
Lighting is the most important factor in determining the quality of your product photography. Poor lighting can result in dull, shadowy, or miscolored photos, which can misrepresent your product and lead to increased return rates.
✔ Free and readily available – No additional equipment needed.
✔ Best for soft, evenly-lit product images (especially clothing, accessories, and food photography).
✔ Works well when shooting near a large window or outdoors on a cloudy day.
📌 Pro Tip: To soften harsh sunlight, use a white sheet, sheer curtain, or diffuser panel to create an even lighting effect.
✔ Best for product shots that require precise lighting, such as jewelry or electronics.
✔ Allows for controlled shadows and reflections.
✔ Works well for night-time or indoor photography when natural light isn't available.
Budget-Friendly Artificial Light Options:
💡 Ring Lights – Great for small products and close-up shots.
💡 Softbox Lights – Provides even, diffused light for a professional look.
💡 LED Panel Lights – Adjustable brightness and temperature settings.
📌 Pro Tip: the technique of positioning softbox lights at 45-degree angles on either side of a product for even illumination is a common practice in professional product photography. This setup helps in minimizing shadows and highlighting product details effectively. For a comprehensive guide on enhancing your product photography, you might find B&H Photo Video's article.
A clean background helps keep the focus on the product and prevents distractions. Different products may require different background styles:
✔ Works for Amazon, Shopify, and eCommerce listings.
✔ Creates a clean, distraction-free look.
✔ Can be achieved with a white poster board, foam board, or DIY lightbox.
📌 Pro Tip: For a seamless background, curve the white sheet or board so that it forms a smooth transition from the surface to the back wall (a technique called an infinity curve).
✔ Best for social media, lookbooks, and brand storytelling.
✔ Adds personality and makes products stand out.
✔ Can be achieved using colored paper, fabric, or textured surfaces like wood or marble.
📌 Pro Tip: Using digital background removers to change backgrounds while keeping the product sharp is one of the essential product photography tips for efficiency.
While a plain white background works best for eCommerce, creative props can be used to:
✔ Tell a brand story – For example, a coffee mug can be placed next to coffee beans to create an inviting mood.
✔ Provide a sense of scale – Adding everyday objects can help customers understand the product size.
✔ Add lifestyle appeal – A fashion item might look better on a styled mannequin or model.
📌 Pro Tip: Keep props minimal and relevant—they should complement, not overshadow, the product.
If you want to take your product photos to the next level without overspending, consider these low-cost accessories:
🛠 Light Reflectors – Helps bounce light onto the product, reducing harsh shadows.
🛠 DIY Light Diffusers – Use wax paper, sheer fabric, or frosted plastic sheets to soften light.
🛠 Backdrop Clamps & Stands – Keep backgrounds steady and wrinkle-free.
🛠 Turntable for 360° Shots – Create dynamic product images for interactive online listings.
📌 Pro Tip: You can find budget-friendly photography accessories on platforms like Amazon, eBay, or second-hand marketplaces.
A well-composed product shot not only enhances visual appeal but also builds customer trust by providing clear and detailed images. Setting up your shot properly ensures that your products look professional, well-lit, and engaging. Below, we cover lighting techniques, background choices, composition strategies, and camera settings to help you achieve picture-perfect results every time.
Lighting is the most important factor in product photography, affecting clarity, color accuracy, and overall presentation. Choosing the right lighting setup can make a budget-friendly shoot look high-end.
If you're on a tight budget, natural light is your best friend. It provides soft, diffused lighting that works well for clothing, food, and lifestyle products.
✔ Ideal conditions: Near a large window or outdoors on an overcast day.
✔ Time of day: Morning or late afternoon for softer light; avoid direct midday sunlight to prevent harsh shadows.
✔ DIY Diffusers: If the sunlight is too strong, use a white sheet, sheer curtain, or wax paper to soften it.
📌 Pro Tip: Position your product perpendicular to the window rather than directly in front of it to create natural shadows and depth.
For those who want complete control over lighting, artificial light sources like softbox lights, ring lights, or LED panels can help create a professional setup.
✔ Two-Light Setup: Place one main light (key light) at a 45-degree angle in front of the product and a second fill light on the opposite side to soften shadows.
✔ Single-Light Setup: If using just one light, place a reflector (or white foam board) on the opposite side of the product to bounce light and reduce harsh shadows.
✔ Color Temperature: Stick to daylight-balanced bulbs (5000K-5500K) to maintain accurate product colors.
📌 Pro Tip: Shopify's article "Shoot Reflective Products Like a Pro with These DIY Lighting Setups" offers practical tips on managing reflections and glare when photographing products with reflective surfaces.
A clutter-free background ensures that your product is the main focus of the image. Different platforms may have specific background requirements, so it's important to choose the right one for your needs.
Most marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart require a pure white background (RGB 255,255,255) to create a clean, professional look.
✔ DIY White Backgrounds: Use a white poster board, foam board, or fabric as an affordable backdrop.
✔ Lightbox for Small Products: An inexpensive lightbox can provide even lighting and a seamless white background.
✔ Post-Processing Tools: Use Canva or Photoshop's background remover if your setup doesn't give you a perfectly white background.
📌 Pro Tip: Create an infinity background effect by bending a large sheet of white paper where it meets the floor and wall, eliminating any visible edges.
A colored or textured background can help enhance brand personality and create eye-catching images for social media and websites.
✔ Solid Colors: Use backdrops that complement your brand's color scheme.
✔ Textured Backgrounds: Marble, wood, or fabric backdrops can add depth and aesthetic appeal.
✔ DIY Solutions: Use wrapping paper, vinyl sheets, or fabric swatches for affordable backgrounds.
📌 Pro Tip: If using a colored background, ensure it doesn't overpower the product—the product should always be the star.
How you frame and position your product can dramatically affect how it is perceived. Proper composition ensures your product is visually engaging and accurately represented.
✔ Imagine a grid of nine equal sections (two horizontal and two vertical lines).
✔ Place the product at one of the intersection points to create a balanced and visually appealing shot.
✔ Works best for lifestyle product shots where negative space is useful for text or branding.
📌 Pro Tip: Many smartphone cameras and professional cameras have a grid overlay feature—enable it to easily apply the rule of thirds.
Different products require different camera angles to showcase them effectively.
✔ Eye-Level Angle – Best for products that should be viewed as they would appear in real life (e.g., shoes, electronics).
✔ Flat Lay (Top-Down View) – Great for clothing, accessories, and food photography.
✔ 45-Degree Angle – A natural and dynamic view that captures both depth and details (ideal for furniture and home decor).
✔ Macro Close-Ups – Perfect for highlighting textures, labels, and small details (e.g., jewelry, cosmetics).
✔ Hero Shot (Dramatic Front View) – Makes a product look bold and eye-catching, great for branding visuals.
📌 Pro Tip: Experiment with multiple angles and choose the ones that highlight your product's best features. These various perspectives are excellent product photography ideas for creating a diverse catalog.
Blurry or improperly framed images can hurt credibility and sales. Follow these steps to ensure sharp, high-quality photos:
✔ Keep the Camera Steady – Use a tripod or a smartphone stabilizer to prevent hand movements.
✔ Enable Manual Focus – If available, adjust focus manually to keep the product sharp.
✔ Maintain Consistent Framing – Keep all products framed similarly to create a cohesive look across your product catalog.
📌 Pro Tip: If your camera has focus peaking, enable it to highlight the sharpest areas in real-time.
Even if you're using a smartphone, adjusting settings manually can drastically improve image quality.
✔ ISO – Keep ISO low (100-400) to avoid grainy images.
✔ Aperture (f-stop) – Use a higher f-number (f/8-f/16) for sharp focus on the entire product.
✔ Shutter Speed – If using a tripod, set a slower shutter speed (1/60s or slower) for better lighting.
✔ White Balance – Adjust white balance to match the lighting (Daylight, Tungsten, or Fluorescent modes).
📌 Pro Tip: If your smartphone allows it, shoot in RAW format to preserve maximum image details for editing. This is especially important for product photography for ecommerce where image quality directly impacts sales.
Once your setup is ready, it's time to capture high-quality product photos that grab attention and enhance customer confidence. Using the right shooting techniques can improve clarity, showcase details, and add visual appeal to your product photography. Below, we'll cover best practices for styling, reflections, creative angles, and achieving professional results with minimal effort.
Styling your product correctly can make a huge difference in how professional and appealing your final images look. The goal is to present your product in a way that highlights its best features, use cases, and quality.
✔ Remove Dust & Smudges – Clean the product before shooting to avoid unnecessary post-processing work.
✔ Use Stands & Holders – Invisible fishing lines, clear acrylic stands, or double-sided tape can help keep the product in position.
✔ Showcase Variations – If your product comes in different colors or styles, include images for each.
✔ Keep Branding Consistent – Use props, lighting, and backgrounds that match your brand's aesthetic.
📌 Pro Tip: For clothing and accessories, use mannequins, flat-lay setups, or live models to display how the product looks in real life. Etsy emphasizes the importance of contextual product presentation to enhance buyer confidence.
Reflections and shadows add a professional touch and create a sense of depth, making the product feel more tangible and three-dimensional.
✔ For Luxury Products (Jewelry, Watches, Glassware) – Use a glossy surface like black acrylic, glass, or a mirror to create elegant reflections.
✔ For a Clean Look – A slight reflection on a white surface can enhance product appeal without looking overwhelming.
📌 Pro Tip: If your product reflects too much (e.g., sunglasses, bottles, electronics), use soft, diffused lighting and shoot at an angle to minimize glare.
✔ Soft Shadows (For Natural Look) – Position a light source at a slight angle to create gentle, natural shadows that add dimension.
✔ Hard Shadows (For a Dramatic Effect) – Use a single strong light source from one side to create bold, high-contrast shadows.
✔ Floating Shadows (For an E-Commerce Aesthetic) – Use a tripod and overhead lighting to cast a subtle shadow below the product.
📌 Pro Tip: If you want consistent shadows across multiple product images, keep the light source and shooting angle the same for each shot.
Customers rely on images to assess quality, texture, and material before making a purchase. Capturing sharp, high-resolution details can significantly improve conversions.
✔ Macro Mode (For Close-Ups) – If your camera or smartphone has a macro mode, use it for small details like fabric textures, fine engravings, or stitching.
✔ Adjust Aperture for Depth (DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras) – Use an aperture of f/8 or higher to keep the entire product in focus.
✔ Control Light to Avoid Overexposure – Too much brightness can wash out details, so adjust exposure settings accordingly.
📌 Pro Tip: If using a smartphone, tap on the product to manually set focus and ensure the sharpest possible image. This simple technique is essential for anyone learning how to take product photos with mobile devices.
Different products require different angles to highlight their best features. Below are some of the most effective product photography angles:
✔ Straight-On Angle – Best for electronics, packaged products, and furniture to provide a neutral, front-facing view.
✔ Flat Lay (Top-Down View) – Perfect for clothing, accessories, food, and stationery to display all elements in a single shot.
✔ 45-Degree Angle – A natural perspective that gives depth to home decor, beauty products, and small gadgets.
✔ Close-Up Shot – Ideal for jewelry, textured fabrics, and detailed craftsmanship to show fine details.
✔ Lifestyle Shots – Show products in real use (e.g., a coffee cup on a breakfast table) for a storytelling effect.
📌 Pro Tip: Test multiple angles and review them on a larger screen before finalizing your best shots.
Blurry images can kill conversions by making the product look unprofessional. A tripod or camera stabilizer ensures sharp images, consistent framing, and better control over angles.
✔ Eliminates Hand Shakes – Even slight movements can blur the image.
✔ Ensures Uniformity – Helps maintain consistent product framing for a cohesive catalog.
✔ Allows Long Exposure Shots – Lets you use a slower shutter speed for better lighting without motion blur.
📌 Pro Tip: If you don't have a tripod, place your camera on a sturdy surface and use a self-timer to avoid movement when pressing the shutter button. This is especially valuable in photography for beginners who may not have invested in a tripod yet.
Even with the best photography techniques, post-processing is essential to refine your product photos and make them look polished and professional. Editing helps correct lighting, enhance colors, remove imperfections, and optimize images for different eCommerce platforms. Below, we'll cover essential post-processing techniques, tools, and best practices to ensure your product photography is market-ready.
Even with the right lighting setup, some images may turn out too dark, too bright, or slightly off-balance. Adjusting these settings can make a huge difference:
✔ Brightness – Increases overall light in the image to make the product more visible.
✔ Contrast – Enhances the difference between the darkest and lightest areas for a more defined look.
✔ Exposure – Adjusts how much light is captured; reducing overexposure prevents washed-out images.
✔ Shadows & Highlights – Balancing these can bring out details in darker or overly bright areas.
📌 Pro Tip: Be careful not to overdo adjustments—excessively bright or high-contrast images may look unnatural.
✔ White Balance – Ensures accurate color representation by adjusting the temperature of your image (cooler or warmer tones).
✔ Saturation & Vibrance – Enhances or tones down colors to make the product look true to life.
✔ Color Consistency – All product images should have consistent colors across your website or marketplace.
📌 Pro Tip: Use the dropper tool in editing software to select a true white, gray, or black point in the image—this helps correct color imbalances automatically.
If your product photos have distracting backgrounds, shadows, or unwanted objects, you may need to edit them out for a cleaner, more professional look.
✔ White Background (E-commerce Standard) – Many platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart require a pure white background for consistency.
✔ Transparent Background (For Customization) – Ideal for adding your product onto different backgrounds for marketing purposes.
✔ Lifestyle Background Replacement – Swap out a basic background for an on-brand environment (e.g., a shoe on a gym floor instead of a plain white surface).
📌 Recommended Tools: ✅ Adobe Photoshop – For detailed background removal. ✅ Remove.bg – AI-powered background remover for quick edits. ✅ Canva & Fotor – Beginner-friendly tools for background changes.
📌 Pro Tip: If your product has intricate edges (like hair or lace), use the "Select and Mask" tool in Photoshop for precise cutouts. Adobe emphasizes that clean background removal is essential for professional-looking product images. Removing distracting backgrounds allows the product to stand out, resulting in a more polished and appealing presentation.
✔ Dust & Scratches – Use the Spot Healing Brush (Photoshop) or Clone Stamp Tool to remove dust particles, smudges, or small defects.
✔ Wrinkles & Creases – Especially useful for clothing photography—retouch fabric folds that distract from the product.
✔ Fix Reflections & Glare – Reduce glare from shiny surfaces like jewelry, sunglasses, and electronics.
📌 Pro Tip: Keep the final image realistic—don't over-edit to the point where the product no longer looks like what customers will receive.
Each eCommerce platform has different size requirements, and optimizing your images accordingly helps improve loading speed and visibility.
✔ Amazon – 2000 x 2000 pixels (square format recommended).
✔ Shopify – 2048 x 2048 pixels for zoomable images.
✔ Etsy – 2000 pixels wide, 72 dpi resolution.
✔ Instagram & Social Media – 1080 x 1080 pixels (square) or 1080 x 1350 pixels (portrait).
📌 Pro Tip: Always export in high resolution (JPEG or PNG) while keeping file size under 1MB for fast-loading images. This is a crucial aspect of product photography for ecommerce success.
Product photography is more than just taking pictures—it's about creating visual experiences that attract, engage, and convert customers. High-quality images can increase trust, reduce return rates, and enhance the overall perception of your brand. Throughout this guide, we've covered essential steps to achieving professional-grade product photos, whether you're working with a budget setup or investing in high-end equipment.
Here's a quick recap of the key takeaways:
Even simple tools like a tripod, lighting setup, and a good camera (or smartphone) can drastically improve image quality. You don't need an expensive DSLR to take great shots—what matters most is stability, lighting control, and composition.
A clean background, proper lighting, and consistent angles make a huge difference. Pay attention to styling and product placement to highlight the best features of your product.
Mastering different camera settings, angles, and perspectives can elevate your product photography. Experiment with different techniques like flat lays, macro shots, and lifestyle images to showcase versatility.
Editing is a crucial final step that ensures your product photos look polished and professional. Adjusting brightness, contrast, and sharpness while removing distractions and imperfections will make your products stand out.
Each online marketplace has specific image requirements. Resizing and compressing images without losing quality ensures faster load times, better SEO ranking, and a seamless shopping experience.
In the world of eCommerce, customers can't touch or try your products before buying. Your product photos serve as a virtual showroom, influencing purchase decisions in just seconds. High-quality visuals can:
✔ Boost conversion rates by helping customers visualize the product.
✔ Reduce return rates by accurately representing the product.
✔ Strengthen brand identity by creating a consistent, professional look.
✔ Enhance customer trust with clean, high-resolution images.
In short, investing in product photography is investing in your brand's success.
Now that you have a solid foundation in product photography, it's time to put your skills to work. Here are some actionable next steps:
📌 Start Small & Experiment – Practice with different lighting setups, angles, and compositions to find what works best for your products.
📌 Use AI & Editing Tools – Take advantage of tools like Dresma, Canva, Lightroom, or Photoshop to refine your images efficiently.
📌 Test & Optimize – Monitor which product photos perform best and continuously improve based on engagement and sales data.
📌 Stay Consistent – Maintain a unified style across all your product images to build brand recognition and professionalism.
📌 Keep Learning – Stay updated on the latest photography trends, AI-powered tools, and industry best practices to stay ahead of the competition.
Great product photography is a blend of creativity, technical skill, and strategic editing. Whether you're a small business owner, an independent seller, or a growing eCommerce brand, high-quality visuals can transform your online store and elevate your brand.
By following these best practices, you'll be well on your way to creating compelling product photos that captivate your audience and drive sales.
Are you ready to take your product photography to the next level? Start experimenting today, and watch your brand shine!
DoMyShoot provides online sellers with a simple photography workflow to create marketplace ready images in no time. Sellers can easily follow the in-app guides for their product category and get back ready to use images in multiple adaptations within 24 hours.
Besides being perfect for product listings and ecommerce photography, DoMyShoot users can pick from a variety of templates to get stand out images for listings or for social media.
No matter what you sell - apparel, fashion accessories, shoes, electronics, furniture, real estate, cars, or food, DoMyShoot can make eCommerce product photography hassle-free for you. Choose from several templates and capture images using flat lay photography, close ups, or other angles, perfect for ecommerce listings!
The app works in 3 simple steps:
1. Sellers start by shooting their product using the in-app guides and overlays available for their product category. They can shoot as many angles of the products as they need. When they are done shooting, they can submit the clicked images to us.
2. We receive the photos. The images are enhanced and optimized based on the marketplace guidelines. We also generate custom outputs, including products on any background, lifestyle images and 3D content.
3. Once processed, the images are available in the Gallery section of the app and from there they can be linked to any product.
Our success rate includes being the photography and listing partner for international stalwarts like Walmart, Amazon and Shopify, as well as having a list of successful clients and use cases in different categories, such as kids wear with Gugguu and hair products with WigChick.
Let’s deep dive into how DoMyShoot helped these sellers to succeed:
Gugguu is a premium kids’ fashion brand from Finland. The company designs and manufactures high-quality clothing for children aged two to fourteen years old.
The company was founded on the principle that every child has the right to feel beautiful, comfortable, and stylish in their own clothes. They believe that dressing well boosts self-esteem and helps children to feel confident in their own skin. Their vision is to create garments that are both stylish and practical, ensuring that children can move around freely without feeling constricted.
The company’s target market is families with young children who appreciate quality clothing and want their children to look fashionable yet timelessly elegant.
Prior to incorporating DoMyShoot into its photography workflow, the client faced a few key challenges:
After discussing the situation with the client, we came up with a plan that would help them achieve their goals. Here is what we did:
1. We created a system for batch processing photos. This enabled the client to quickly and easily produce large quantities of photos without sacrificing quality.
2. We worked with the client to streamline their photo editing process. By doing this, the client was able to reduce the amount of time spent on each photo edit.
3. We helped the client find cheaper sources of stock photography. By doing this, the client was able to save money while still meeting their needs for high-quality photos.
The client is an online luxury wig store dedicated to providing its customers the highest quality human hair products. Its range of products includes everything from toppers to full wigs and all the tools and accessories in between. Made from 100% human hair ethically sourced from all over the world, each product is individually designed and thus, no two products are identical.
Wig Chicks & Co. sells its products through their Shopify store as well through social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Tik Tok. Therefore, they needed high quality product images for a variety of platforms.
Before incorporating DoMyShoot into its photography workflow, the client faced some key challenges like –
After working together, we simplified the photography workflow for the client, making the entire process seamless and hassle-free. Now they get high quality images in half the time.
Traditional photo shoots have always been a challenge for photographers. The process is time consuming, expensive and can take days to produce just one image.
Technology based app shoots are much easier to produce and require far less effort. The photographer sets up the shoot using a mobile phone app that allows them to choose from hundreds of different filters and effects. They can also add text or images to their photos before they are sent out.
The cost of traditional photography is also higher than technology-based photography because the photographer must pay for studio space, models and props.
Technology based photography requires no extra costs like these items since it produces images on its own. Therefore, apps like DoMyShoot are disrupting this space. Making use of your mobile phone, with the power of AI, you get high quality studio like results in just a few minutes.
Not only that- the traditional forms of structuring an image and shooting, be it using flat lays, portrait shoots or contextual shoots can all be done using the app as well- thereby making exorbitant spends on a shoot outdated.
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