One photo is not enough, and twenty similar ones do not help either. The right number of product photos is however many it takes to answer every question a buyer would ask if they were holding the product in a shop. For most products, that lands somewhere between five and eight.
I photograph products for brands in Liverpool, and this is how I help clients work out how many product photos they need, and which ones.
The short version
- Aim for five to eight images per product for most listings.
- Every image should answer a different question.
- Marketplaces have their own minimums and maximums.
- Variants (colours, sizes) may need their own images.
- Plan the shot list before the shoot to keep costs predictable.
The seven shots that cover most products
Hero
The main imageClean, centred, instantly clear. Your thumbnail.
Angles
Back and sideWhat it looks like all the way round.
Detail
Close upTexture, finish, materials, the quality that justifies the price.
Scale
In hand or in placeHow big it really is.
Lifestyle
In useThe product in its natural setting.
Contents
What is in the boxPackaging, accessories, the gift experience.
Options
Colours and sizesEvery variant a buyer can choose.
By platform
Your website
Five to eight per product, plus lifestyle images for category and home pages.
Amazon
Use the available slots: a white background main image plus secondary images and infographic style shots. See Amazon requirements.
Etsy
Fill as many slots as you can, plus a short video. See Etsy product photos.
TikTok Shop
At least five images, up to nine. See TikTok Shop photos.
Variants
If a product comes in several colours, buyers expect to see each one, at least as a hero image. Details and lifestyle shots can often be shared across variants to save time and budget. Plan this before the shoot so every colour is covered without shooting everything six times.
Why more is not always better
Eight images that each show something new beat fifteen that repeat themselves. Buyers stop swiping when images stop giving them new information. Quality and variety matter more than quantity.
Plan it to control cost
Product photography is often priced by the number of final images or by time, so knowing your shot list keeps quotes clear. A simple spreadsheet of products, variants and the shots each needs makes the shoot fast and the price predictable. See what product photography costs and packshot, flat lay or lifestyle.
Questions sellers ask
How many product photos should a listing have?
For most products, five to eight images that each show something different: hero, angles, detail, scale, lifestyle, contents and options.
Do I need separate photos for every colour?
Buyers expect to see every colour, at least as a main image. Detail and lifestyle shots can often be shared across variants.
What is the most important product photo?
The hero or main image, because it becomes the thumbnail in search results and decides whether someone clicks.
Are more product photos always better?
No. Images that repeat themselves do not help. Each photo should answer a new question a buyer might have.
More product guides: jewellery photography, clothing photo styles and preparing products for a shoot.
Planning a product shoot?
Let’s build the shot list together
Product photography in Liverpool, planned product by product so every listing is covered.