Your Photos Sell Your Products
On every marketplace, your product images are the single biggest factor in whether someone clicks your listing and whether they buy after clicking. You do not need a professional studio — you need good technique and understanding of what each platform requires.
Equipment You Actually Need
A smartphone with a decent camera (anything from the last 3-4 years), a white background (a large sheet of white paper or card works perfectly), natural light from a window (the best lighting is free), and a basic tripod or stack of books to keep your phone steady. Total cost: under £20.
Amazon Main Image Requirements
Amazon requires a pure white background (RGB 255,255,255) for the main image. The product must fill 85% of the frame. No props, text overlays or lifestyle elements. Use your secondary images for lifestyle shots, infographics and size comparisons. Get the main image right because it is effectively your ad that appears in search results.
Etsy Photography Style
Etsy buyers respond to lifestyle photography — your product in context, showing scale and use. The first image should still clearly show the product, but styled attractively. Include detail shots, packaging shots and scale references. Etsy's visual style is warmer and more personal than Amazon's clinical approach.
Editing Basics
For white background shots, use free tools like Remove.bg for background removal or Canva for simple edits. Adjust brightness and contrast so colours are accurate. Do not over-edit — buyers want to see what they are actually getting. Colour accuracy prevents returns.
Common Photography Mistakes
Poor lighting (yellow indoor lighting instead of daylight), cluttered backgrounds, inconsistent style across listings, images that are too small (meaning they cannot be zoomed on Amazon), and not showing scale or the product in use. Each of these directly impacts conversion rates.
Get Your Listings Reviewed
If you are unsure whether your product photography is helping or hurting your sales, I include image assessment in my marketplace audits. Get in touch to discuss a listing review.
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