Samy L.What product photos must show
On an online shop, your customers cannot pick the product up. A professional product photo must show its shape, details, materials and use. It supports an accurate description, but cannot guarantee higher sales on its own.
The 3 styles of product photography
1. The packshot (white background)
The product on its own, on a white or neutral background: the standard format for product pages, catalogues and marketplaces (Amazon, Etsy). Nothing pulls the eye away from the product.
2. In context (lifestyle)
The product where it is used: a dish on the table, a piece of jewellery being worn or furniture in a room. Choose the setting and props to show how it is used and its scale. This shot complements the packshot; it does not replace it on every product page.
3. The flat lay (top-down view)
A composition shot from directly above, common on Instagram. It suits cosmetics, food and stationery, and relies on a balanced layout and a few well-chosen props.
Focus: food photography
In restaurants, customers often choose from a photo. On platforms such as UberEats or TheFork, the picture of the dish is your shop window.
- Natural light: place the dish near a window for soft, flattering light
- Composition: rule of thirds, atmosphere props (cutlery, raw ingredients)
- Organisation: agree an order of service with the kitchen so each dish is shot at the right moment
- Colour: add contrast with fresh herbs, a pinch of spice or a few drops of oil
Lighting and retouching
Lighting
Decide what the image must show: texture, volume, colour or finish. A glossy object and a matt product are not lit the same way. Choose a reference image and say what you like about it, then approve a first test shot before the whole series is produced.
Post-production
Specify the corrections you expect: consistent colour, dust removal, background or cut-outs. Retouching must stay true to the product you sell. Ask for the sizes and crops planned for product pages, the catalogue and social media, then check them where they will actually appear.
Product photography prices
- Capturit benchmark: half-day photo shoot from €690 excl. VAT
- Packshot: specify the products, views per product, background and any cut-outs needed
- Food photography: plan the number of dishes, how quickly they come out and the atmosphere shots
- E-commerce catalogue: variants, retouching and final number of images priced in the quote
At Capturit, the brief sets out the selection, retouching and channels. If the images are for a new website, plan the framing from the product pages and pages to be built. Our photo and website guide explains how we organise both together.
Before asking for a quote, prepare a table listing the products, variants, views per product, preferred background and props. Flag reflective materials, fragile items and must-have details. The number of products alone does not determine the number of final photos.
Plan a consistent series for your products
Look through our product and restaurant photography, then our photography service. Send us the number of products, the materials, the variants and the intended channels so we can define the shots you need: product page, menu, catalogue or social media.
