Simple Photography Tips for Sellers: Make Your Products Shine

Great photos can make the difference between a sale and someone scrolling past. You don’t need fancy equipment or a professional studio to take photos that show your handmade products at their best. With a few simple tips, you can create images that highlight the quality, detail, and personality of your work.

Use Natural Light

The easiest way to improve your photos is to use daylight. Place your product near a window during the day, but avoid harsh direct sunlight. Soft, indirect light makes colours more accurate and avoids strong shadows.

• Photograph in the morning or late afternoon for the most flattering light.
• If it’s too bright, use a thin white curtain or sheet to diffuse the light.
• Always switch off artificial lights nearby to avoid colour casts.

Choose Clean Backgrounds

A busy background distracts from your product. Keep it simple and consistent.

• Use a plain wall, a sheet of white card, or a neutral-coloured fabric.
• Wooden tables, marble tiles, or linen cloths can add warmth without being distracting.
• Stay consistent across all your photos so your shop looks professional.

Style with Intention

Styling helps customers imagine your product in their own lives. Use props carefully:

• For candles: add a book and a mug to suggest relaxation.
• For jewellery: use a neutral dish or a piece of natural stone as a backdrop.
• For textiles: drape them over a chair or fold neatly with complementary colours.

Less is more—keep the product as the hero of the photo.

Focus on Composition

How you arrange your product in the frame makes a big difference:

• Use the “rule of thirds”: place your product slightly off-centre for a balanced look.
• Shoot from different angles: above, straight-on, or close-up for detail.
• Always take a mix: full product shots, close-up details, and lifestyle shots in use.

Edit with Free Tools

You don’t need expensive software—there are plenty of free apps to polish your photos.

• Snapseed (iOS/Android): simple editing with brightness, contrast, and cropping.
• Lightroom Mobile (free version): professional tools with presets for consistent looks.
• Canva: great for resizing images for social media or adding text.

Keep edits natural. Don’t over-saturate colours or add heavy filters—your product should look as true-to-life as possible.

Consistency is Key

Consistency builds trust. Use the same lighting, backgrounds, and editing style across your shop and social media. This helps create a strong brand identity and makes your store look professional at a glance.

Keep it Simple...

Photography doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. By using natural light, clean backgrounds, thoughtful styling, and simple editing, you can create professional-looking product photos that make customers stop, look closer, and buy.