Ecommerce Product Photography Tips: All You Need to Know

Beyond the Shutter: What 8 Years in Jaipur Taught Me About Selling Products Online

By Adarsh Nareda

Eight years ago,  I spent a lot of time capturing images of beautiful objects, such as intricate jewelry, flowing ethnic clothes, and handcrafted goods. However, I quickly came to the essential understanding that a great photograph is about trust as much as art.

Your customer is taking a risk when they shop online. They are unable to see the sparkle of a ring or feel the material of that kurta. All they have are pictures of you.

Here is my personal advice on how to make your products speak for themselves if you want to close the gap between "just browsing" and "add to cart."

ask yourself "Who is this for?" before you even pick up a camera. I've noticed during my work in fashion that an image of a dress hanging on a wall appears "cold." But that same dress on a model strolling through the Pink City's sun-drenched streets? That's a way of life.

Advice: Strike a balance between your lifestyle photos (the "emotion" shots) and your crisp, white-background shots (the "logic" shots). Customers purchase products based on how they feel about them.

2. Lighting is a Conversation

Light is the "makeup" of photography, I always tell my clients.

Natural light is lovely and gentle, but it's erratic.

Studio Light: This is where e-commerce magic happens. After working in the studio for years, I've discovered that the objective is to create soft shadows that convey texture rather than just making things bright. You've won if your client can "feel" the silk's softness or the leather's grain through the screen.

3. The "Truth" in the Details

One of the biggest mistakes I see is over-editing. We’ve all seen photos where the product looks like plastic because it’s been retouched too much. In my 8 years behind the lens, I’ve learned that authenticity sells. * Use a macro lens to show the "soul" of the product—the stitching, the buttons, the raw edges.

• Keep colors real. There is nothing worse for a brand’s reputation than a customer opening a package and seeing a different shade of blue than what was on their phone.

4. Be Obsessively Consistent

Scroll through any top-tier brand’s website. You’ll notice that every photo has the same "eye level" and the same spacing. This isn't an accident; it creates a sense of calm and professionalism. When your gallery is messy, your brand feels messy.

5. Why "Human Touch" Continues to Win

Given the abundance of AI tools available today, you might assume that professional photography only involves "the gear." It isn't. It involves knowing how to angle a product to capture the ideal amount of light or how to pose a model to make them appear confident.

I've learned from experience that a picture should convey to the client, "I am exactly what you've been looking for."