Short answer: Preparing an e-commerce product photo comes down to three main steps: shooting the product on a simple surface in soft light, moving the photo onto a white background and cropping it to a square format, then building a consistent image set that shows the product from different angles. Planning these three steps from the start reduces both marketplace rejections and the cost of re-shooting every page.
Why is e-commerce product photography important?
An e-commerce product photo is the most concrete evidence a customer has to evaluate a product in an environment where they cannot physically touch it. Customers read the body, texture, colour and scale only from the image; that is why the product photo is the layer that decisions are made on before the product description.
A good product image has three functions: to introduce the product clearly, not to create false expectations about how the product actually looks, and to answer the customer's open questions with different angles. Images shot in bad light, with a cluttered background or that do not comply with platform rules, on the other hand, damage the customer's trust in the product; unclear visual information is one of the leading factors behind higher return and cart-abandonment rates.
An important detail: a product photo does not only have to be "pretty", it has to be consistent. Shooting every product in the same store with similar light, similar framing and a similar surface makes the store come across as professional.
What are the marketplaces' product photo requirements?
Marketplaces generally want a square-format main image on a single-colour (mostly white) background at high resolution. The table below summarises the typical expectations you will commonly encounter; always verify the current and binding values in the relevant marketplace's seller panel, because these rules can change over time.
| Marketplace | Typical recommended image size | Main image background | What to watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trendyol | 1000x1000 pixels and above, square | White | The product should fill most of the frame |
| Hepsiburada | Around 1200x1200 pixels, square | White | No empty space left at the edges |
| Amazon | 2000x2000 pixels and above | Pure white (RGB 255,255,255) | No text, logo or watermark on the main image |
| Etsy / n11 | Square or vertical, high resolution | Background flexible, product must be sharp | Lifestyle images can be used as supporting visuals |
The common rules are these: the main image must not contain text, borders, promotional wording or a watermark; the image must not be artificially upscaled; the product must not be cropped; and the file format must be one the platform accepts (usually JPG or PNG).
How do you shoot professional product photos at home?
It is possible to shoot product photos suitable for marketplaces even without a studio at home; what is decisive is not expensive equipment but controlling the light and the surface. The order to follow is this:
- Prepare the product. Clean off dust, fingerprints, label residue and creases. Smooth fabric products with a steam iron; a tidy product shortens the editing time.
- Simplify the surface and background. Place a matte white or light grey backing card on the table; curve part of the card towards the wall to get a seamless surface. This prevents a horizon line from forming in the background.
- Soften the light. Instead of direct sun, prefer indirect daylight coming through a window. If hard shadows form, place a white card as a reflector on the shaded side of the product.
- Stabilise the camera. Rest your phone or camera on a tripod, or otherwise on a fixed surface. A shooting angle close to the product's height will not make the product look bigger or smaller than it is.
- Move closer instead of zooming. Digital zoom degrades the image; move the camera towards or away from the product to adjust the framing.
- Shoot a separate frame for each angle. Shoot the front, 45 degrees, side, back, top and a detail shot separately. Also add a frame where you place a hand or an object of known size next to the product for a sense of scale.
- Shoot with backups. Shoot the same angle at least twice; if the focus slips or the shot is shaky, you still have a spare frame.
In camera settings, raising the ISO when the light is insufficient adds grain (noise) to the image; so increasing the light first and using ISO only as a last resort gives better results. For sharpness, focus on the product's most critical area (for example the toe of a shoe, the label on a cosmetic).
How do you change a product photo's background to white?
To change the background to white, you first need to separate the background from the product, then turn the surface into a single colour, and finally resize and compress. The order matters: steps done in the wrong order leave traces on the product's edges.
- Remove the background. Clean up the surface while preserving the product's edge lines. On difficult edges such as hair, fur or transparent surfaces, check the result with manual retouching.
- Complete the surface in white. Place the product on pure white or the white value the platform requires; if you want to leave a shadow, add a subtle, natural-looking shadow under the product.
- Crop to square format. Centre the product in the frame instead of pushing it against one edge; the product should fill most of the square but not overflow the edges.
- Adjust the size per platform. Export the same image at different sizes for each marketplace.
- Compress the file. High-quality JPG (around 80-90% quality) is enough in most cases; excessive compression creates blurring at the edges.
If you want to do these steps without dealing with them one by one, you can use the E-commerce Image Pro (AI bg + preset) tool for the background removal and completing to a white surface step. If you have no photo at all, or you want to present the product in a new scene, you can also use the AI Product Photo tool.
From which angles and how many frames should a product be shot?
5-8 frames are enough for most products; what matters is not the number of frames but that each frame answers one of the customer's questions. A typical image set consists of the following angles:
- **Front image:** The frame showing the whole product, to be used as the main image.
- **45-degree angle:** Shows the product's volume and depth.
- **Side and back view:** Reveals the surfaces that stay hidden.
- **Detail shot:** Quality indicators such as stitching, texture, joints or labels.
- **Scale frame:** The frame that communicates the product's real size.
- **Usage/lifestyle frame:** Shows how the product is used; used in supporting visuals, not the main image.
If you are not sure which angles to emphasise, the AI Product Shot Suggestions tool, where you can briefly describe the product and get shooting angle suggestions, shortens the planning time, especially in stores with many products.
What else should be prepared on the product page besides the product photo?
A product photo alone is not enough; alongside the image, the title, description and technical specifications should be of the same quality. The image brings the customer to the page, while the text clarifies the decision.
For this reason, as you prepare your image set, also plan the product title, keywords and bullet-point feature list. To enter the product features and get marketplace-ready, SEO-focused description and keyword suggestions, you can use the E-Commerce SEO Copywriter tool. During campaign periods, the Product Poster Maker tool is useful for turning the product photo into a promotional visual.
Frequently asked questions
Is it enough to shoot the product photo with a phone?
Yes, today's smartphones can shoot at a resolution that meets marketplace requirements. What is decisive is not the camera model but that the light is soft, the surface is kept simple and the photo is shot from a fixed point.
Is it mandatory to make the background white?
Most marketplaces expect a white background on the main image, so a white background is the safe choice for the main image. Different backgrounds can be used in lifestyle and detail images; however, you need to verify the relevant marketplace's current rules in the seller panel.
How many product photos should I upload?
The general approach is 5-8 frames. The aim is not to fill a number but to give the product's front, side, back, detail and scale information completely.
Can I use a watermark or brand logo in the photo?
Watermarks, logos and promotional text are generally not accepted on the main image; such elements can lead to the product being rejected. Achieving brand visibility in supporting visuals or a packaging image is safer.
At how many pixels should I save the product photo?
The most practical method is to save at high resolution and export at different sizes for each marketplace. Since enlarging a small image afterwards causes a loss of sharpness, shoot at the highest resolution possible.