Product Photos for Selling Online: A Practical Guide for Small Sellers

If you sell handmade goods, second-hand items or anything online, your photos do most of the selling. Buyers can't touch or try your products, so pictures need to show them clearly and honestly.

Set up a simple photo spot

• Plain background. White, light grey or a neutral surface keeps the focus on the product. A sheet of card, a tablecloth or a clean wall works fine.
• Soft, even light. Place the product near a bright window, out of direct sun. Avoid harsh shadows.
• Stable phone. Prop it on a stack of books or a small tripod so that photos are sharp and consistent.
• A clean product. Dust and fingerprints show up on camera.

Take multiple angles

Buyers expect to see several views:

• Front, back and sides
• Close-ups of details, materials and labels
• Any flaws, for second-hand items
• The item in use or worn, to show scale
• A size reference, such as a coin or a hand

Editing steps

1. Crop so the product fills most of the frame. Use the same shape for all photos of the same listing, and square is common.
2. Straighten the horizon or table edge.
3. Adjust brightness so the background looks clean, but avoid pure white that loses product edges.
4. Correct colour. This is the most important step. If the photo has a yellow or blue cast, correct it so the product's colour is accurate.
5. Sharpen lightly to show texture.
6. Avoid heavy filters. They change the colour of the product.

Colour accuracy

Customers who receive a product that looks different from the photo are likely to be disappointed and ask for a return. Compare the edited photo with the actual product in daylight.

Consistency across a shop

Use the same background, lighting, angle and editing style across all your products, so that the shop looks professional and cohesive.

File size and quality

Marketplaces often have minimum and maximum image sizes and resize automatically. Photos that are too small look blurry, and photos that are too large may load slowly. Check the platform's guidelines and export accordingly.

Honesty

Show flaws clearly, describe them and don't edit them away. Honest listings build trust and reduce disputes.

Collages for comparisons

A collage showing several angles or colour options in one image can be useful for the main listing picture, as long as each view is clear.

Common mistakes

• Cluttered backgrounds with personal items visible.
• Dim, yellow indoor lighting.
• Filters that change colours.
• Blurry, out-of-focus images.

Practice

Photograph one item at three angles, edit each consistently, and compare with the real thing next to a window.

Create clean product photos and collages with Cinexa →