Good product photography sells. Bad product photography kills conversions. But good doesn't have to mean expensive. You can take photos that convert with a smartphone and $100 in basic equipment.
Here's what actually matters and what you can skip.
Lighting is Everything
This is the one thing that separates amateur photos from professional ones. And it's cheaper to fix than you think.
Natural light works great. Set up near a large window. Shoot during the day. Use a white foam board as a reflector to fill in shadows. Total cost: maybe $5.
If you need consistent lighting regardless of weather or time, get a basic softbox kit. Two lights with softboxes will run you $50-100 and last for years.
The Background
For product-only shots, you want clean and simple. White is the standard because it's versatile and makes editing easier.
A roll of white seamless paper costs $20 and gives you a professional backdrop. Curve it from the wall to the table so there's no visible horizon line. Clean and infinite.
For lifestyle shots, think about context. Where would someone use this product? That's your background.
Camera Settings (Phone or DSLR)
If you're using a phone, use the back camera, not the selfie camera. Turn on portrait mode for products with some depth. Make sure the lens is clean.
For DSLR or mirrorless:
- Aperture: f/8-f/11 for product shots (sharp throughout)
- ISO: As low as possible (100-400)
- Use a tripod to avoid blur
- White balance: Match your lighting or shoot RAW
What to Shoot
Every product needs multiple angles. At minimum:
- Front view (the hero shot)
- Back view
- Side views
- Detail shots of important features
- Scale shot (product next to something for size reference)
- Lifestyle shot (product in use)
More photos generally means higher conversion. People want to see what they're buying from every angle.
Editing: Keep It Simple
You don't need Photoshop. Free tools like Canva or phone apps can handle basic editing. Focus on:
- Cropping consistently (square works for most platforms)
- Adjusting brightness and contrast
- Making the white background actually white
- Removing dust spots or blemishes
Don't over-edit. The product should look like what customers will receive.
Consistency Matters More Than Perfection
Your product photos should look like they belong together. Same lighting. Same background. Same style. A cohesive catalog looks professional even if individual shots aren't perfect.
Create a simple style guide for yourself. Write down your setup, settings, and editing steps. Follow it for every product.
The Budget Setup
Here's what we'd buy if starting from scratch:
- White seamless paper roll: $20
- Foam board reflectors (2x): $10
- Basic tripod: $25
- Softbox light kit (optional): $50-100
Total: Under $100 (or under $200 with lights). That's it. Your phone camera does the rest.