Good product photos do more work than any description. Shoppers can't touch what you sell, so the photos have to answer their questions: what does it look like, how big is it, what is it made of, and how would it look on me or in my home.
The good news: a recent phone and a window are enough. These habits make the biggest difference.
1. Use daylight, not the flash
Shoot near a large window, with the light coming from the side. Turn the flash off. If the light is harsh, tape a sheet of baking paper over the window to soften it. Avoid mixing daylight with warm ceiling lights, which turn whites yellow.
2. Keep the background plain
A white or light grey wall, a sheet of poster board, or a clean wooden table all work. A plain background keeps the eye on the product and makes it easy for your store to display photos consistently.
3. Shoot the same angles every time
Pick a set and stick to it. For clothing, that might be:
- Front, flat or on a hanger
- Back
- A close-up of the fabric or a detail
- The label or size tag
- Worn, if you can
Consistent angles make your catalog look professional and help shoppers compare products.
4. Fill the frame, then leave a little space
Get close enough that the product fills most of the photo, but leave a small margin around it so it isn't cropped awkwardly on product pages and in ads.
5. Show scale
Include one photo that shows size: the bag on a shoulder, the candle next to a coffee mug, the necklace on a person. "How big is it?" is one of the most common reasons people don't buy.
6. Show the truth
Photograph flaws on vintage or handmade items, and make sure colours match the real product. Accurate photos mean fewer returns and better reviews.
7. Name your files so they group together
If you take several photos of one item, keep them together when you upload them (for example, blue-wrap-dress-1.jpg, blue-wrap-dress-2.jpg). It helps anyone, person or software, turn them into one product with a full gallery.
Tip: When you send photos for listing, add a short note with the price and sizes. Photos show what something looks like; only you know what it costs.
Good photos are also your best ads. The same shots that sell on your product page are what stop people scrolling on Instagram and Facebook.