Product Photography Guide
Platform Image Requirements
| Platform | Main Image | Additional Images | Background |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | Min 1000px (long side), JPEG | Up to 9 images | Pure white (RGB 255,255,255) |
| eBay | Min 500px, up to 12 images | Free choice | Any, white preferred |
| Shopify | Min 2048×2048 recommended | Up to 250 images | Consistent across store |
| Etsy | Min 2000px (long side) | Up to 10 images | Lifestyle preferred |
| Taobao/Tmall | 800×800 min, 1:1 ratio | 3–5 required | White or light |
Lighting Setup Tips
Natural Light
Shoot near a large north-facing window on an overcast day for soft, diffused light. Avoid direct sunlight which creates harsh shadows.
3-Point Lighting
Key light (main) + Fill light (soften shadows, 50% power) + Back light (separation from background). Use softboxes for diffused light.
Light Tent / Lightbox
Affordable fold-out lightboxes work great for small products. Built-in LED panels provide consistent lighting.
Reflectors
Use white foam board to bounce light into shadow areas. Cost-effective alternative to a second light source.
Required Shot Types for E-commerce
| Shot Type | Purpose | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Hero / Main | First impression, thumbnail | Front, center, white bg |
| 3/4 angle | Show depth and volume | 45° from front and side |
| Back / sides | Labels, ports, features | All remaining angles |
| Detail / Closeup | Texture, quality, materials | Macro lens or crop |
| Lifestyle | Context, emotional connection | In use, natural setting |
| Scale / Size reference | Help buyer visualize size | With hand or common object |
| Packaging | Unboxing experience | Box + contents laid out |
Post-Processing Checklist
| Step | Tool | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Background removal | remove.bg, Photoshop | Refine edges carefully |
| White balance correction | Lightroom, Camera Raw | Neutral grays should be 128,128,128 |
| Exposure / contrast | Any photo editor | Avoid over-editing which looks fake |
| Resize and export | Photoshop, GIMP, Squoosh | JPEG quality 80–90% balances size/quality |
| Consistency check | Side-by-side comparison | All images should have same tone, brightness |