How to Shoot Product Photos for E-Commerce and AI
Jun 9, 2025
Big brands do 400+ photoshoots a year. Don’t have the budget for that?
Let Pixii be your secret weapon.
Get 1 clean photo and turn it into 100+:
Lifestyle shots
How-to graphics
Ads and social posts
Amazon, Shopify, and TikTok Shop listings
This is how David takes on Goliath.
Shoot once. Use everywhere.
What to Get
(Screenshot this. Send it to your photographer.)
Real product, clean and sharp
Full product in frame (no cropping)
Front-facing or ¾ angle
Neutral background: white, beige, or gray
Soft shadow on the surface
Multiple angles (front, back, detail, angled)
High resolution (min 2000 px wide)
No filters, no compression
What to Avoid
Cropped or partial products
Harsh flash, deep shadows, blown highlights
Busy or textured backgrounds
Props in the hero image
Top-down shots
Over-edited or heavily color-shifted images
Deliverables Checklist
1. Hero Shot
Straight-on or slight ¾ angle
Full product, in focus, centered
Plain background, soft shadow
2. Alt Angles
Side and back
Close-up for texture or labels
One wide frame with negative space (good for text overlays or AI crops)
3. Export Specs
2000 px or higher
Full-res JPG or PNG
Consistent lighting across every image
No aggressive compression, no auto color edits
Core Principles
Keep it clean – E-comm buyers trust clarity over creativity
Shoot like a template – Consistency across products shows professionalism
Avoid distractions – Props distract buyers, get flagged by algorithms (esp. Amazon), and confuse AI
Think reusability – One good shoot can power Shopify, Amazon, Meta ads, and more
Photographer Appendix (Tech Reference)
(You probably know this. Including for reference.)
Camera Settings (Ideal)
Shoot RAW for color flexibility
Lens: 50 mm or 85 mm prime (on full-frame)
Aperture: f/8–f/11 for full sharpness
ISO: ≤ 400
Shutter: 1/125 or faster
White balance: lock at 5600K or use gray card
Color profile: neutral/flat (no built-in contrast or sharpness)
Lighting Setup
One soft key light at 45° (LED panel or softbox)
One fill light or bounce board on the opposite side
No mixed lighting temperatures
Keep shadows soft but present. Levitating product confuses algorithms.
Framing & Background
White or neutral paper/foam board
Avoid seamless sweeps (the horizon between floor and wall helps AI understand the product’s physics)
No tilt, no vignette
Leave margin on all sides
Extra Credit
Third rim light for subtle edge separation
360° turntable sequence if needed
Duplicate key shots on light gray as backup
This one shoot should give you 20+ pieces of usable content.
Want to Go Deeper?
📸 How to Take a Great Product Photo With Your Phone
🧾 How to Brief a Photographer for a Shoot
💡 How to Upgrade Your Phone Shoots for $200
Big brands do 400+ photoshoots a year. Don’t have the budget for that?
Let Pixii be your secret weapon.
Get 1 clean photo and turn it into 100+:
Lifestyle shots
How-to graphics
Ads and social posts
Amazon, Shopify, and TikTok Shop listings
This is how David takes on Goliath.
Shoot once. Use everywhere.
What to Get
(Screenshot this. Send it to your photographer.)
Real product, clean and sharp
Full product in frame (no cropping)
Front-facing or ¾ angle
Neutral background: white, beige, or gray
Soft shadow on the surface
Multiple angles (front, back, detail, angled)
High resolution (min 2000 px wide)
No filters, no compression
What to Avoid
Cropped or partial products
Harsh flash, deep shadows, blown highlights
Busy or textured backgrounds
Props in the hero image
Top-down shots
Over-edited or heavily color-shifted images
Deliverables Checklist
1. Hero Shot
Straight-on or slight ¾ angle
Full product, in focus, centered
Plain background, soft shadow
2. Alt Angles
Side and back
Close-up for texture or labels
One wide frame with negative space (good for text overlays or AI crops)
3. Export Specs
2000 px or higher
Full-res JPG or PNG
Consistent lighting across every image
No aggressive compression, no auto color edits
Core Principles
Keep it clean – E-comm buyers trust clarity over creativity
Shoot like a template – Consistency across products shows professionalism
Avoid distractions – Props distract buyers, get flagged by algorithms (esp. Amazon), and confuse AI
Think reusability – One good shoot can power Shopify, Amazon, Meta ads, and more
Photographer Appendix (Tech Reference)
(You probably know this. Including for reference.)
Camera Settings (Ideal)
Shoot RAW for color flexibility
Lens: 50 mm or 85 mm prime (on full-frame)
Aperture: f/8–f/11 for full sharpness
ISO: ≤ 400
Shutter: 1/125 or faster
White balance: lock at 5600K or use gray card
Color profile: neutral/flat (no built-in contrast or sharpness)
Lighting Setup
One soft key light at 45° (LED panel or softbox)
One fill light or bounce board on the opposite side
No mixed lighting temperatures
Keep shadows soft but present. Levitating product confuses algorithms.
Framing & Background
White or neutral paper/foam board
Avoid seamless sweeps (the horizon between floor and wall helps AI understand the product’s physics)
No tilt, no vignette
Leave margin on all sides
Extra Credit
Third rim light for subtle edge separation
360° turntable sequence if needed
Duplicate key shots on light gray as backup
This one shoot should give you 20+ pieces of usable content.
Want to Go Deeper?
📸 How to Take a Great Product Photo With Your Phone
🧾 How to Brief a Photographer for a Shoot
💡 How to Upgrade Your Phone Shoots for $200