Online, your photos do the job a shop assistant would do in person. Shoppers can't touch the fabric or turn the product over in their hands, so the photos have to show them. The good news: modern phones take excellent product photos, and with a few simple tricks you can get results close to a professional shoot.

Light is everything

Natural daylight from a large window is the best free light source there is. Shoot during the day, with the window to the side of the product, and avoid harsh direct sunlight. A white foam board or sheet of card on the opposite side bounces light back and softens shadows.

Avoid mixing daylight with yellow room lights. It muddles the colours.

Keep the background simple

A plain white or light grey background works for most main product images and keeps your store looking consistent. A sheet of chart paper curved from the wall to the table (a "sweep") removes the line where the two meet.

Use your phone properly

• Clean the lens. Seriously.
• Use the main camera, not the ultra-wide.
• Tap to focus on the product and lock exposure.
• Avoid digital zoom; move closer instead.
• Use a small tripod or rest the phone on something steady.

Shoot the angles people need

Front, back, side, detail close-ups (texture, stitching, finish), and anything that shows scale: worn on a person, held in a hand, placed beside a familiar object. Think about the questions customers ask and answer them with photos.

Add lifestyle shots

Beyond clean main images, a few photos of the product in use help people imagine owning it: jewellery with an outfit, tea being poured, a bag on a shoulder. These work well further down the product page and on social media.

Be consistent

Use the same background, lighting and aspect ratio (square or 4:5, for example) across your catalogue. Consistent grids look professional and load without shifting.

Edit lightly

Straighten, crop, adjust brightness and make sure colours match the real product. Over-editing leads to returns when the product arrives looking different.

Prepare for the web

Resize and compress before uploading, name files descriptively and add alt text. Our image optimisation guide explains exactly how.

When to hire a professional

For hero banners, campaigns and premium products, a professional shoot is often worth it. Many brands use a pro for key images and shoot everyday catalogue additions in-house.

Great photos deserve a great product page. See our product page checklist, or ask us about building a store that shows your products at their best.