Complete Product Photo Checklist for E-commerce
A step-by-step guide to creating product photos that convert. From prep to posting, everything you need for successful e-commerce imagery.
Complete Product Photo Checklist for E-commerce
Managing an e-commerce store means juggling inventory, customer service, and the challenge of standing out. Without clear goals and quality imagery, even great products can get lost. Creating photos that convert starts with well-defined objectives and the right setup so you deliver the right image at the right angle and turn browsers into buyers.
Table of Contents
- Step 1: Define Your Photo Goals and Style
- Step 2: Set Up Your Lighting and Background
- Step 3: Prepare Your Products
- Step 4: Shoot and Capture Multiple Angles
- Step 5: Edit and Optimise for Web
Quick Summary
| Key Takeaway | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 1. Define Clear Goals | Establish specific objectives—white background for listings, lifestyle shots for hero images. |
| 2. Consistent Lighting | Use soft, even lighting to eliminate shadows and show product details clearly. |
| 3. Multiple Angles | Capture front, back, sides, and key details so buyers understand what they're getting. |
| 4. Clean Background | Pure white (#FFFFFF) works best for Amazon, Flipkart, and most marketplaces. |
| 5. Optimise for Web | Resize for fast loading; most platforms recommend 1000px+ width. |
Step 1: Define your photo goals and style
Creating effective product photos starts with crystal-clear goals. Without these foundational elements, your imagery will feel scattered and inconsistent.
To define your goals, consider what you want to achieve. Are you shooting for Amazon listings, brand hero images, or social media? Understanding your purpose is crucial for crafting the right style.
Break down your objectives into specific categories:
- Marketplace Goals: White-background shots for Amazon, Flipkart
- Brand Goals: Lifestyle and styled shots for your website
- Conversion Goals: Multiple angles that answer buyer questions
- Speed Goals: Batch shooting for efficiency
The more precisely you define your style, the more consistent and professional your catalog will look.
Pro Tip: Create a style guide with 2–3 reference images to maintain consistency across all product shoots.
Step 2: Set up your lighting and background
Selecting the right lighting setup is critical for professional-looking product photos. Consistent lighting eliminates shadows and shows products at their best.
When evaluating your setup, consider:
- Soft, even light: Avoid harsh shadows; use softboxes or natural diffused light
- White backdrop: Seamless paper or fabric for clean marketplace images
- Reflective surfaces: Use reflectors for jewelry and shiny products
- Consistency: Same setup for same product categories
| Setup Type | Best For | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Natural light | Food, lifestyle | Low |
| Softbox kit | Most products | Medium |
| Studio strobes | High volume, jewelry | High |
The right setup doesn't have to be expensive—consistency matters more than gear.
Step 3: Prepare your products
Clean, pressed, and properly staged products photograph dramatically better. Dedicate time to prep before each shoot.
Key preparation steps:
- Clean and dust all products
- Steam or press fabrics and apparel
- Remove packaging unless shooting unboxing
- Organise products by category for batch shooting
- Have touch-up tools ready (cloth, brush)
Pro Tip: Shoot similar products together to maintain consistent lighting and speed up your workflow.
Step 4: Shoot and capture multiple angles
Buyers can't touch the product—angles help them understand what they're getting. Capture front, back, sides, and key details.
For each product, aim for:
- Main shot: Front-facing, hero angle
- Secondary angles: Back, sides, top
- Detail shots: Texture, logo, key features
- Lifestyle shot: Product in context (if applicable)
Great product photos answer questions before the customer has to ask.
Step 5: Edit and optimise for web
Final editing and optimisation ensure your images load fast and look sharp across devices.
Essential edits:
- Background: Pure white (#FFFFFF) for marketplace compliance
- Colour correction: Match product to real-life appearance
- Retouching: Remove dust, lint, imperfections
- Resize: 1000px+ on longest side for marketplaces
- Format: JPEG for photos; PNG for transparency when needed
| Platform | Recommended Size | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 1000px min | JPEG |
| Flipkart | 1000px min | JPEG |
| Website | 800–1200px | WebP preferred |
Pro Tip: Keep originals in high resolution; create optimised versions for web to balance quality and load speed.
Need Professional Help?
We offer flat-rate product photography in Gujarat. Our packages include white-background shots, lifestyle imagery, and full retouching. Get a free quote or WhatsApp us for quick turnaround.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many product photos do I need per listing?
For marketplaces like Amazon, use all 7 image slots: main white-background shot, 2–3 alternate angles, 1–2 detail shots, and a lifestyle or in-use image if relevant.
What background colour works best for e-commerce?
Pure white (RGB 255, 255, 255) is required for Amazon's main image and works best for most marketplaces. Lifestyle shots can use contextual backgrounds.
Should I shoot products myself or hire a photographer?
For small batches or testing, DIY can work. For 10+ products, consistent quality, or specialized items (jewelry, food), professional photography typically delivers better ROI.