Product and e-commerce photography in a studio

Why shoot products in a studio

• Controlled light: with full blackout, the first and the hundredth product are lit the same way.
• A clean background: a white cyclorama gives a seamless backdrop for anything from jewellery tables to furniture.
• Space: lifestyle sets, models wearing the product and flat lays can all happen in one day.

Plan the catalogue

1. 1List every product and the angles each needs (front, side, detail, scale).
2. 2Agree the formats your shop and marketplaces require.
3. 3Group products by size and finish — shiny, matte and transparent items need different light.
4. 4Prepare products: clean, steamed, labelled and in shooting order.

Lighting by material

• Matte items: soft, broad light from one side with fill.
• Shiny items (glass, metal, cosmetics): large diffused sources and careful reflections.
• Clothing: even light for colour accuracy; on a model, the cyc gives a clean full-length frame.

How long to book

A small batch can fit the 2-hour minimum at EGP 300 per hour. A full catalogue usually needs a half day (5 hours, EGP 1,200) or a full day (10 hours, EGP 2,200). Big seasonal launches can book several days in a row.

Keep it consistent

Write down camera height, lens, distance and light positions for your hero setup and photograph a reference card at the start. Next season you can rebuild the same look, and your shop will look like one brand.

The shots most online shops need

• A clean front view on white for the listing thumbnail.
• Side and back views, and a detail shot of texture, label or stitching.
• A scale shot in a hand or on a model so customers understand the size.
• A lifestyle image for banners and social media.
• A short video or turntable clip if your platform supports it.

After the shoot

Name files with the product code and angle, keep the raw files backed up in two places, and agree retouching rules once — background clean-up, colour correction, shadow — so every image in the catalogue is finished the same way.

Styling and props

Small props make products feel real: a hand, a plant, a coffee cup, a fabric texture. Keep them neutral so the product stays the hero, and bring more than you think you need. A steamer, cleaning cloths, gloves for jewellery and glass, and tape for hidden fixes save a lot of retouching later.