Product photography tips for selling online

Product photography setup

Before you start snapping, take a few moments to get set up properly. A little preparation now saves a lot of reshooting later.

Start by deciding where you'll take your photos and what the background will be. We recommend something neutral and uncluttered, so your items stand out.

Once you've picked your spot, give your camera lens a wipe with a lint-free cloth so your photos come out crisp and clear, then head into your phone settings. In this menu, you can turn on gridlines. These will help you centre the item in the shot and ensure the photo is straight. We also recommend making sure that your camera is set to take the highest-quality images possible. If you have an HDR setting, be sure to switch that on.

Before you start taking photos, set up a tripod to keep everything steady. A self-timer can also help with this because it gives the camera time to settle after you press the shutter button. Make sure you’re shooting the item straight on. Shots from above or below can distort how the item appears. Tap the phone screen to focus. This will automatically adjust the focus and the brightness. If the shot looks too dark, use the brightness slider to adjust it.

If the size of an item matters, take one clean photo for your main image and a second one with a tape measure alongside it, so buyers can check the scale.

How to set up lighting for clothing photography

Our biggest tip is to use natural daylight for your photos because it tends to look the most flattering. But there are some caveats and a lot of them come down to the weather. Bright days and dull days each bring their own challenges.

Don’t place your items directly in the light on a sunny day because it can bleach what's in front of the camera. If the sun is too harsh, try draping a white bedsheet across the window. Hung from a curtain pole, it'll diffuse and soften the light for you.

Watch out for shadows, too. Standing an item directly in the sun can cause shadows that may affect the image quality. And keep an eye on where you're standing too, so you don't cast one yourself.

At the opposite extreme, if the weather is dull and gloomy, avoid using your flash. The light can often be too harsh and cast heavy shadows. Instead, try using a ring light. Widely available online, they disperse light evenly across your products, rather than concentrating it in one spot. That way you’ll end up with a photo that looks natural.

Product photography ideas

There are lots of product photography techniques you could use to sell your items online.

The simplest is a flat lay. Arrange your items out on a clutter-free surface and photograph them from above. It can be tricky to shoot clothes this way, so you might prefer to put pieces on hangers, or pop them onto a mannequin so buyers can see the fit. You could also model them yourself. If you'd prefer to stay anonymous, crop the photo to hide your face.

There's a raft of AI platforms out there to help, too. Tools like Fashn.ai and Kive.ai can show what your clothes look like on AI-generated models for a small fee. Just be careful the AI doesn't alter an item or hide any flaws. Also, not all marketplaces allow AI imagery, so be sure to check before getting started.

Another option to explore is lifestyle photography, which shows your products in use. It helps buyers picture an item in a real-life scenario and whether it'd fit into their lives. This can help to bring things to life and show viewers what they’re missing.

Whichever style of image you choose, leave some space around the edge of each item, in case you need to crop it for your chosen platform.

Product photography tips

Our tips for product photography aren’t just about taking the photos. Following the next few steps can make a real difference to how your photos turn out:

Before you shoot

• Give your items a clean and remove any dust or lint
• Steam or iron clothes so they hang correctly
• Check the light levels

While you shoot

• Use your phone's rear camera – it usually takes sharper photos than the front one
• Tap the screen to focus, so your item stays crisp
• Shoot from several angles to show how it really looks
• Get close ups of details, like labels, fastenings and any flaws

Once you’re set up, photograph as many items as you can in one go, so you don't have to set up all over again next time.

A minimum of five images is recommended, but include more if you can. Photos of the front, back, labels, flaws and details all help shoppers get a feel for what they’re buying. Remember that flaws aren’t necessarily a problem – as long as you’re honest about them and buyers know what they’re getting.

Product photography editing tips

Once you've taken your photos, editing can help them make a great first impression. Crop out anything that doesn't add to the shot, straighten it if it's wonky, and if it's looking dark, brighten it up. Some tools, like Adobe Express, can even cut your product out and drop it onto a clean background, or improve the quality for you.

If you're listing several photos of the same item, edit them in the same way, so your listing looks consistent. And don't overdo it. Over-editing could give buyers a false impression of what they're getting, leading to disappointment and returns. It's best to avoid filters too, because they can shift the colours and make your item look like something it isn't.