Product Photography Lighting: Simple Setups That Work

The one-light setup

Place a softbox or a window at about 45 degrees to the side of the product and slightly above it. Put a sheet of white foam board or card on the opposite side to bounce light back into the shadow. This simple setup, recommended in the Neewer and vFlat World guides, gives soft, even light that shows the shape of most products. If the shadow side is still too dark, move the card closer; if you want more depth, move it away.

Size, distance and bounce

Three things change how light looks. A bigger light gives softer shadows. A closer light is also softer, because it is bigger compared to the product; Neewer suggests starting about 60 cm away. Bounce, from white cards or walls, fills the shadows. Before you buy another light, try changing these three.

Window light works too

A large window on an overcast day is a free softbox. Put the table side-on to the window and the white card on the other side. Avoid direct sun, which gives hard shadows, or hang a thin white curtain or baking paper over the glass. Turn off room lights so they do not mix a different color into the photo.

Lighting shiny products

• Use the biggest, most diffused light you have: shiny surfaces reflect the light itself, and a big soft light makes a clean, smooth highlight.
• Place white cards around the product to add long, even highlights on glass and metal.
• Use a black card to add a dark edge that shows the shape of clear or chrome items.
• Watch for the camera, the room and yourself in the reflection; a card with a hole for the lens hides them.

Adding a second light

A second light is useful when one is not enough: a backlight or rim light behind the product separates it from a dark backdrop, and a light aimed at the backdrop turns it pure white for marketplace photos. PetaPixel's single-softbox examples show how far one light goes first, so add the second only when you see a problem it solves.

Camera settings to start from

• Use a tripod, so you can use a low ISO and keep every shot in the same frame.
• Aperture f/8 to f/11 keeps the whole product in focus.
• ISO 100 to 400 keeps the photo clean; raise the light, not the ISO.
• Set the white balance to match your light, or shoot a white card first and correct to it.
• Turn off the camera or phone flash, which gives a flat, harsh light.

When AI helps

If the light was not right, AI tools can clean a background, brighten a photo or place the product in a new scene. They work best on a photo that is already sharp and evenly lit. Check that the product's color and details still match the real item before you publish.