E-commerce Product Photo Guide

Quick Answer Product photos directly impact conversion rates. Every e-commerce listing needs: a clean white background hero image, multiple angles (front, back, side, detail), at least one lifestyle/in-context shot, and size reference. Edit for consistent white balance, remove background distractions, and ensure images meet platform requirements (Amazon: 1000px minimum, pure white background, 85% product fill).

Why Product Photos Drive Sales

Shopify reports that 75% of online shoppers rely on product photos to make purchase decisions. Poor product photography is the number one reason for returns on Amazon. Buyers can't touch, hold, or try your product. Photos are the substitute for that physical experience. They need to answer every question a buyer might have: what does it look like from every angle? How big is it? What's the texture? How does it look in use? The difference between a well-photographed product and a poorly photographed one isn't subtle. Listings with professional-quality photos see 2-3x higher click-through rates and significantly lower return rates. You don't need expensive equipment. A smartphone, a window for natural light, a white poster board, and a free editing tool can produce product photos that compete with professional studios. Technique and editing matter more than gear.

Prioritize your hero image

The main product photo determines whether shoppers click. Clean, bright, on white background.

Show every angle

Front, back, sides, top, bottom, detail close-ups. Answer visual questions before they're asked.

Include context

At least one lifestyle shot showing the product in use or in its intended environment.

Essential Product Photo Types

Every product listing should include these photo types for maximum conversion: Hero shot: clean, well-lit product on a white or neutral background. This is your main listing image and the one that appears in search results. It should be instantly recognizable and professional. Multiple angles: front, back, left side, right side, top, and bottom views. Customers want to see the entire product. For clothing, include front and back on a model or mannequin. For electronics, show all ports and buttons. Detail close-ups: textures, materials, labels, buttons, stitching, packaging details. These shots build confidence in quality and craftsmanship. Scale reference: the product next to a common object (hand, coin, ruler) or being worn/used by a person. This prevents the most common complaint in e-commerce: 'it was smaller than expected.' Lifestyle/in-context: the product being used in its natural environment. A coffee mug on a desk with morning light, a phone case on a phone being held, a tool being used in a workshop. Packaging shot: if packaging is a selling point (gift items, premium brands), include an image of the product in its packaging.

Start with the hero

White background, well-lit, product fills 85%+ of the frame. This is your money shot.

Shoot all angles

6-8 angle shots minimum. Use a turntable or rotate the product on a consistent background.

Add context and scale

Lifestyle shots and size reference images answer the questions that drive returns.

Creating Clean White Background Photos

Amazon requires a pure white (#FFFFFF) background for main product images. Most e-commerce platforms prefer white backgrounds because they're clean, consistent, and let the product speak for itself. DIY setup: place your product on a white sweep (poster board curved from a wall to a table). Use two light sources at 45-degree angles. The white surface bounces light under the product, reducing shadows. Even with a DIY setup, backgrounds rarely come out pure white. They typically photograph as light gray or slightly colored. This is where editing makes the difference. AI background removal is the fastest method: upload your product photo and say 'remove the background and make it pure white.' The AI cleanly separates the product from its background, handling reflections, shadows, and transparent elements that would be tedious to mask manually. For products with transparent or translucent elements (glass bottles, sunglasses, clear phone cases), add specific instructions: 'remove the background to pure white while preserving the transparent glass of the bottle.'

Shoot on white or light gray

White sweep, lightbox, or white posterboard. Get as close to white as possible in-camera.

Remove background with AI

'Remove the background and make it pure white.' Handles edges, shadows, and reflections automatically.

Check the result

Zoom in on edges. Ensure no gray halo remains. Product should look natural on the white.

Creating Lifestyle and In-Context Photos

Lifestyle photos show your product in use. They help buyers visualize ownership and create an emotional connection that white background photos can't achieve. Shooting lifestyle photos requires more planning: you need a relevant environment, good natural lighting, and often a model or hand model. But the payoff is significant. Amazon sellers report that listings with lifestyle images see 20-30% higher conversion rates. For small products: photograph them being held, worn, or used. A watch on a wrist, a notebook on a coffee shop table, a skincare product on a bathroom vanity. For large products: show them in a complete room setting. Furniture in a styled room, appliances on a kitchen counter, artwork on a wall with surrounding decor. AI can help create lifestyle shots from white background photos: 'place this product on a wooden kitchen counter with morning light coming from the left.' The results aren't as authentic as photographed lifestyle shots but work well for sellers who can't organize styled shoots. Consistency across your catalog matters. If all your lifestyle shots have a similar aesthetic (same color palette, similar environments), your brand feels cohesive and professional.

Choose a relevant setting

Where would a buyer use this product? That's your shooting location.

Use natural light

Window light creates the most authentic lifestyle look. Avoid direct flash.

AI alternative

'Place this product on a marble countertop in a modern bathroom with soft natural light.' Quick lifestyle shots from white background originals.

Product Photo Editing Workflow

A systematic editing workflow ensures consistency across your catalog and saves time. Step 1: Cull and select. From each product's photo set, select the best shots for each required angle. Eliminate duplicates, blurry shots, and poor compositions. Step 2: Base corrections. Apply white balance correction to a representative image, then sync to all images of the same product. This ensures consistent color across angles. Fix exposure so the product is bright and well-lit. Step 3: Background treatment. For hero shots: remove background to pure white. For lifestyle shots: minimal background editing to keep authenticity. Step 4: Product-specific edits. Remove any dust, scratches, or imperfections on the product itself. Clean up any tape, putty, or supports used during shooting. Enhance colors if the camera didn't capture them accurately. Step 5: Crop and resize to platform specifications. Each platform has different size requirements. Create export presets for Amazon (2000x2000px), Etsy (2000x2000px), Shopify (2048x2048px), and eBay (1600x1600px). Step 6: File naming. Use descriptive names: 'ProductName_Front_2000x2000.jpg' not 'IMG_4732.jpg.' Organized files save time when uploading to multiple platforms.

Batch correct white balance

Fix one image, sync to all angles of the same product. Consistency first.

Remove backgrounds

Hero shots on pure white. Batch process if you have many products.

Export per platform

Amazon, Etsy, Shopify each want different sizes. Create export presets for one-click batch export.

Platform-Specific Photo Requirements

Each e-commerce platform has specific image requirements. Meeting them exactly prevents listing rejections and ensures your photos display optimally. Amazon: main image must have pure white (#FFFFFF) background, minimum 1000px on longest side (2000px recommended for zoom), product fills 85% of frame, no text/watermarks/logos, JPEG/PNG/GIF format. Etsy: minimum 2000px wide for zoom functionality, 5:4 aspect ratio recommended, first photo is the thumbnail shown in search, supports up to 10 photos per listing. Shopify: 2048x2048px square recommended, consistent aspect ratio across products, supports up to 250 images per product, WebP format supported. eBay: minimum 500px on longest side (1600px recommended), up to 24 photos free, white or neutral background preferred for main image. All platforms compress your images during upload. Upload at the maximum recommended resolution and quality to minimize compression artifacts. Save at 90-95% JPEG quality for the best balance of file size and visual quality.

Check platform specs

Amazon: 2000px, white BG, 85% fill. Etsy: 2000px, 5:4. Shopify: 2048px square. eBay: 1600px.

Create export presets

One preset per platform. Apply to all products for consistent sizing.

Upload at maximum quality

90-95% JPEG quality. Platforms compress further, so start high.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many product photos should each listing have?

As many as the platform allows, with a minimum of 5-7. Amazon allows 9 images. Etsy allows 10. More images consistently correlate with higher conversion rates. Include: hero, angles, details, scale, lifestyle, and packaging.

Can I use my phone for product photography?

Modern smartphones produce excellent product photos. Use the main camera (not ultrawide), shoot in good natural light, keep the phone steady (tripod or stack of books), and clean the lens. The editing afterward matters more than the camera.

How do I make product colors accurate in photos?

Use a gray card or white sheet of paper in your first shot to set accurate white balance. Match the on-screen colors to the physical product. Shoot in RAW if possible for maximum white balance flexibility in editing.

Should I show product imperfections?

For used or vintage items, yes. Show flaws honestly to prevent returns and negative reviews. For new products, minor manufacturing variations are normal and don't need to be highlighted, but don't edit out defects that a buyer would notice.

What's the best background for product photos?

Pure white for main/hero images (required by Amazon). Light gray or gradient for a more premium look on your own website. Lifestyle contexts (wood, marble, fabric) for secondary images. Avoid busy or colorful backgrounds that compete with the product.

How do I photograph reflective products?

Reflective items (jewelry, glass, metal) need diffused light. Use a lightbox or bounce light through white fabric. Avoid showing your reflection or the camera in the product. AI can remove unwanted reflections after shooting: 'remove the reflection in the glass.'

Can AI edit product photos to look studio-quality?

AI can remove backgrounds, fix white balance, enhance lighting, and create lifestyle contexts. Starting with a well-lit photo on a clean surface, AI editing can produce results comparable to a product photography studio for most items.

How do I batch edit product photos?

Shoot all products under the same lighting setup. Edit one product completely, then sync the corrections (white balance, exposure, background removal) to all similar products. AI tools process each image consistently when given the same prompt.

Edit product photos that sell

Remove backgrounds, fix lighting, create white-background hero shots. Upload a product photo, describe the edit. Free, no signup.

Edit Product Photos