E-commerce has created massive demand for product photography. Every item sold online needs images, and quality photographs directly impact sales conversions. Professional studio setups cost thousands, but impressive product images are achievable at home with basic equipment and proper technique.
This guide teaches you to create professional-quality product photographs using affordable equipment and DIY solutions, whether for your own business or as a service for others.
Essential Equipment on a Budget
Camera requirements for product photography are surprisingly modest. Entry-level DSLRs and mirrorless cameras produce excellent results. Even smartphones with manual controls work for many applications.
A tripod is essential, not optional. Product photography requires consistent framing and sharp images at smaller apertures. Any stable tripod works. Spend more on lighting than tripod quality initially.
Reflectors bounce light into shadows, reducing contrast. Commercial reflectors cost under $30, but white foam board from art supply stores works identically for a few dollars.
Backgrounds set the context for products. White seamless paper or fabric suits most e-commerce. Textured surfaces add character for lifestyle contexts.
DIY Lightbox Tutorial
A lightbox (or light tent) diffuses light around products, eliminating harsh shadows and creating even illumination. Commercial versions cost $50-$200, but effective DIY versions cost under $30.
Materials needed include a cardboard box large enough for your products, white tissue paper or thin fabric, white poster board for the backdrop, and tape. Optionally add desk lamps with daylight bulbs.
Cut large windows in three sides of the box (left, right, top), leaving frames for structure. Cover windows with tissue paper to diffuse light. Insert curved white poster board as a seamless backdrop. Position lamps outside each window.
This simple setup produces professional results for small to medium products. Adjust lamp positions to control shadow intensity and direction.
Lighting Setups
Natural Window Light
North-facing windows provide soft, consistent light throughout the day. Position your product near the window with a reflector opposite to fill shadows. This free lighting source rivals expensive studio setups for many products.
Two-Light Setup
Position one light as your main source at roughly 45 degrees to your product. Add a second light or reflector opposite to fill shadows. Adjust the fill intensity for desired contrast.
Avoiding Harsh Shadows
Diffusion softens light and shadows. Shoot through white fabric, use a lightbox, or position products in shaded areas with reflected light. Direct undiffused light creates unflattering hard shadows.
Backgrounds and Props
White backgrounds dominate e-commerce because they’re clean, consistent, and focus attention on products. Amazon and most marketplaces require or prefer white backgrounds.
Lifestyle contexts tell stories. A coffee mug photographed on a wooden table beside an open book communicates differently than the same mug on white. Choose contexts matching your brand or client’s positioning.
Props should complement, not compete. Select items that suggest use cases without distracting from the featured product.
Basic Editing for Products
Background cleanup creates professional presentation. Even careful shooting leaves dust specks or uneven tones requiring correction.
Colour accuracy matters enormously for e-commerce. Customers who receive products looking different from photographs return items and leave negative reviews. Calibrate your monitor and verify colours before delivery.
Consistency across product lines maintains brand presentation. Develop editing presets ensuring all products from a shoot share identical treatment.
For comprehensive training in photography techniques and business skills, explore the Certificate in Photography.
Learn professional photography skills at Australian Photography School.
