Shooting for E-commerce Platforms: What Actually Works
Producing imagery that meets the published requirements of the marketplaces and platforms it will be listed on.
Imogen Clarke
At a glance
- Common requirements background color, product fill proportion, minimum resolution, file format
- White background a frequent marketplace requirement for the primary image
- Additional images usually permitted to show context and detail
- Zoom platforms often require a minimum resolution to enable zoom
- Restrictions text, watermarks and props are often prohibited on the primary image
Why it matters
Why it matters: Platform requirements are specific and enforced, and imagery that does not meet them is rejected or suppressed rather than merely looking different.
Best practice
- Read the platform specification before the shoot, not before upload
- Shoot at a resolution comfortably above the minimum
- Keep the primary image clean and use secondary images for context
- Frame consistently so the product occupies a similar proportion throughout
- Check listings after upload to confirm nothing was rejected
Common pitfalls
Watch out for:
- Watermarks or text on primary marketplace images
- Shooting to the minimum resolution with no headroom
- Props in the primary image where they are prohibited
- Assuming one platform's requirements apply to another
When to call in a specialist
Bottom line Bring in help when listings are being rejected, when a catalog must serve several platforms, or when imagery must be reshot to a new specification.
Where this comes from
- Shopify Help Center — Product image requirements
- Google Search Central — Product image guidelines
- ISO — Image resolution standards
The figures and practices above come from the sources listed.
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Where to go next
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