Product photography

Product photography is photographing what you sell so a buyer can judge it without holding it: what it is, how big it is, what it's made of and how it looks in use. For online listings that comes down to soft, even light, a clean background, the camera square to the product, and a set of shots that answers buyers' questions in order. A recent phone, a tripod, window light and a sheet of white card are enough for most products. What changes from product to product is the problem you're solving: glare on glass and metal, white items disappearing into a white background, texture on fabric, condition on collectibles. These guides cover the setup first, then each kind of product.

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How to Take Product Photos With Your Phone: A Practical DIY GuideHow to take sharp product photos with your phone: window light, a paper sweep, the right lens and settings, angles, tricky items and a gear…
Product Photography Lighting Setup (2026): One, Two and Three-Light Guides on a BudgetA product photography lighting setup for any budget: window light, one-light, two-light and three-point setups, light positions, diffusion,…
Best Background Color for Product Photos: White, Grey, Black or Brand Colors?The best background color for product photos by channel and product type: white vs grey vs black vs brand colors, contrast, consistency and…
Product Photography Angles (2026): 7 Shots Every Listing Needs, With a Shot ListThe 7 product photography angles that sell: eye level, 45 degree, top-down, profile, back, macro and in-hand, the best angles per category …
How Many Product Photos Per Listing? Limits and Shot List (2026)Photo limits per listing on Amazon, Etsy, eBay, Shopify, Vinted, Poshmark, Depop and more, plus a shot list that fills every slot without r…

How do you take product photos at home with a phone?

Put the phone on a tripod, light the product from the side with a window out of direct sun or two diffused lamps, use a plain background, and turn the flash off. How to take product photos with your phone walks through the whole shoot, and the product photography lighting setup guide shows where to place each light. You can build a DIY lightbox for product photography for under $25, pick the best background color for product photos, and learn how to make a product photo background pure white. How to make product photos look professional covers the small fixes, and how much product photography costs helps you decide when to hire a photographer instead.

Which shots should every product listing include?

Every listing needs the front, back and side, a close-up of the important details, a shot that shows scale, and the product in use; used items also need every flaw. The 7 product shoot angles every listing needs and how many photos per listing each site allows set the plan. Shoot product color variant photos so every option matches, keep a catalog uniform with how to make product photos consistent, and add motion with 360 product photos. For styled shots, see flat lay photography tips, lifestyle product photo ideas, cheap product photography props, how to create a lookbook and when black and white product photography sells.

How do you photograph shiny, white, black or very small products?

Hard products are mostly a lighting problem: large, soft light sources control reflections, and exposure has to be set for the product rather than the background. See how to photograph reflective products, how to photograph white products on white, how to photograph black products and how to photograph small products with a phone. Product-specific guides cover jewelry with a phone, watches at 10:10 without glare, sunglasses without reflections, perfume bottle photography and electronics for selling. When colors look off on screen, use the product photo color accuracy guide. Chrome tools and black power tools combine both problems; see how to photograph tools to sell.

How do you photograph clothing and accessories to sell?

Clothing sells on fit, fabric and true color, so photograph it flat, on a mannequin or on a person, always with a close-up of the material and the label. Start with how to photograph clothes to sell online and the ghost mannequin effect without Photoshop. Then follow the guides for T-shirts, shoes, handbags, hats, sports jerseys, crochet and knitting and rugs and textiles.

How do you photograph beauty, food, home goods and handmade products?

These products sell on texture and mood, so a clean hero shot plus a styled scene usually beats either alone. Beauty and wellness: skincare product photography, makeup swatches and supplement product photography. Food and drink: packaged food photography, baked goods, coffee products and mugs and tumblers. Home and handmade: candles, handmade soap, pottery and ceramics, resin art, plants and furniture. Flat and paper goods: stickers, wedding invitations, artwork for prints and books.

How do you photograph collectibles to sell?

Collectors buy on condition, so photograph the exact item straight on, without glare, and show every mark, corner and flaw. There are guides for trading cards without glare, coins with a phone, stamps for eBay, comic books, vinyl records, video games, LEGO sets, toys, dolls, enamel pins, antiques, crystals and minerals, knives and guitars.

What should you do with product photos after the shoot?

Edit every photo the same way, in the same order, so the catalog looks like one shop. The 8-step product photo editing workflow runs from culling and cropping through color, cleanup, background, resizing and compression. If you resell, learn how to edit supplier product photos; after a background swap, add a shadow to the product photo so it doesn't float. Check the platform rules on before-and-after photos in ads, and plan the unboxing experience buyers will photograph themselves.

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Frequently asked questions

Can you take good product photos with a phone?

Yes. A recent phone, a tripod, soft window light or two lamps, and a plain background are enough for marketplace-quality photos of most products.

What is the best light for product photography?

Soft, diffused light from the side: a large window out of direct sun, or two lamps with diffusion at about 45° on either side. Avoid the built-in flash, which causes glare and hard shadows.

What angles should product photos include?

At minimum the front, back and side, a close-up of the important details, a shot that shows scale, and any flaws on used items. Then add the product in use.