As an ecommerce business owner or product photographer, choosing the right background for your product photos is crucial for making your products stand out and look appealing to customers. The background can make or break a photo, so it’s important to put some thought into what will best showcase your products. There are a few key factors to consider when selecting a background for product photography.
Simple or plain backgrounds
One of the most common and effective approaches is to use a simple, plain background that doesn’t distract from the product itself. This puts all the emphasis on the product rather than the environment. Plain white and black backgrounds are classic choices that work for almost any type of product. The high contrast helps the product pop. Other options include gray, beige, or light blue – soft, muted colors that recede into the background.
A plain background can be achieved in different ways:
– Seamless paper backdrops – These are rolls of paper available in various colors that can be draped behind the product. The lack of wrinkles or seams creates a continuous, uninterrupted surface.
– Foam boards – These are rigid sheets typically white or black that can be leaned against a wall behind the product. Foam boards bounce light evenly onto the product.
– Colored poster boards – These are an affordable option for creating a matte, neutral background. Poster boards come in a variety of colors.
– Fabric backdrops – Muslin and canvas fabric provide a more textured, organic background option compared to paper. They can be hung or draped.
– Painted walls – For more permanent studio setups, painting a wall white, black, or grey makes for a good backdrop. The color should be matte to avoid reflections.
Complimentary or contrasting backgrounds
Another option is to select a background color or texture that complements the product itself. This helps the product stand out while still giving it an appropriate visual environment. Some examples:
– Wood background for furniture or wood products
– Marble or stone background for jewelry, cosmetics, or luxury items
– Cloth or linen for clothing items or textile products
– Outdoor nature background for gardening products or outdoor gear
– Kitchen counter or table for appliances, cookware, or food items
Make sure the colors and textures align with the product’s style and branding. A luxurious velvet or leather background could enhance the look of a high-end fashion product, for example. Take the product’s target audience into account as well when selecting an appropriate background.
Lifestyle backgrounds
For some product categories, using a lifestyle setting as the background can help customers visualize the product in real life. This creates more of an in-situ, documentary style photo. Some examples include:
| Product | Lifestyle Background |
|---|---|
| Kitchen appliance | In a kitchen setting on the counter |
| Piece of furniture | In a living room scene |
| Gardening tool | Outdoors in a garden |
| Office supplies | On an office desk |
The key is choosing a background environment that is realistic and relevant to how customers would use the product. Make sure the setting isn’t too distracting or cluttered so the product remains the hero of the photo.
Creative backgrounds
For more creative product shots, consider using an unexpected or unusual background. This can grab customer attention and make the product feel more cutting edge. Some examples include:
– Vibrant patterned wallpaper or fabric
– Weathered or rusted metal surfaces
– Graffiti wall
– Abstract shapes and textures
– Bold colors like neon or pastels
These types of backgrounds work best for products with an edgy, modern, or indie brand image. The unusual background helps tell a story and creates visual interest to the product.
Multiple backgrounds
The best approach is often to photograph a product against a few different backgrounds. This provides flexibility for using the images across different marketing channels. One version may live on a product page, while another looks best in a print ad or social media post.
Consistency across images is still important. Images should feel cohesive even if the background changes. Some ways to achieve this:
– Keep a similar color scheme and aesthetic across backgrounds
– Maintain consistent lighting, angles, and framing
– Use the same props, models, or accessories in the photos
Having photos with multiple background options makes it easier to showcase products in their best light. But limit it to 2-3 backgrounds maximum or the images risk looking too disjointed as a set.
Background size
Make sure the background is large enough to frame the entire product without awkward cropping or edges showing. Scale depends on the product size and how much surrounding space is needed. For smaller items like jewelry, a background the size of a desk or tabletop may suffice. Larger products like furniture require a much bigger backdrop to accommodate the entire piece.
Canvas backdrops for photography come in varying dimensions. Rolls of seamless paper can be continuously extended to custom lengths as needed. For solid colored backgrounds like white, black or grey, even a large piece of cardboard can work if positioned properly.
Consider how the background will look in both portrait and landscape product photos, and size it to fit accordingly. A background that is wide enough but not long enough will limit how products can be shot.
Background portability
Product photographers often need to shoot in various locations, so portability is an important factor when selecting backgrounds. Fabric and paper backdrops are ideal because they’re lightweight and easy to transport in a gear bag. Foam boards and poster boards can get heavy and cumbersome at larger sizes.
There are compact, portable background kits designed specifically for product photography. These contain rolls of collapsible fabric, mini stands and clamps, allowing you to create a shooting area anywhere.
For studio photographers working in a fixed location, large painted walls or permanent sweeping backdrops give the most versatility for swiftly changing up backgrounds. This saves time versus constantly installing and removing backdrop materials.
Wrinkle-free surfaces
No matter what material is used – paper, fabric, vinyl – the background needs to be as smooth and wrinkle-free as possible. Any imperfections will be visible and distracting in product photos. Wrinkles can actually distort the appearance of products, making them seem flawed.
Fabric backgrounds should be neatly pressed and stretched tight on stands to create a seamless, taut surface. Paper backgrounds need to be properly secured top and bottom on the floor and backdrop poles using clamps and tape. Heavier vinyl materials resist wrinkles well if hung properly.
Post-processing can help digitally erase wrinkles in the editing stage. But it’s best to start with as pristine and clean a backdrop as possible to avoid extra work.
Low-reflectivity
Avoid backgrounds that are too glossy or reflective. Shiny surfaces can create unwanted reflections on the product itself which look unappealing. Matte or flat backgrounds better absorb and diffuse light.
If you do need some reflectivity to highlight metallic or glass products, position reflectors carefully to control light rather than using a reflective backdrop. Black glass or plexiglass can add a hint of reflection while still looking dark overall.
Neutral colors
When in doubt, choose a neutral background color like white, black or gray. Neutrals provide a clean, distraction-free surface that complements virtually any product. They won’t compete visually with the product or influence how colors appear.
Start with a mid-tone gray as a base option, then lighten or darken as needed. Add white seamless paper for lighter products, or black for dramatic contrast with bold products.
Printed photo backdrops
There are printable photo backdrops designed for product photography that provide any color or pattern imaginable. These can be highly useful for mimicking real environments. For example, print a backdrop of bookshelves to achieve a bookstore setting without actually shooting on location.
The downside is that printed colors won’t be as vivid as real life. Make sure to color correct images shot on printed backdrops to adjust for this. Also inspect closely for subtle repeating patterns which look obviously fake. Custom photos tend to appear more realistic than generic stock images.
Defined shadows
Well-defined shadows help products stand out from the background and add dimension. A floor surface different from the backdrop color enables clear foreground and background separation. White floors paired with black or colored backdrops create strong shadow lines below products.
If the product and background colors are too similar, shadows disappear into a continuous plane. Position multiple light sources to cast angled shadows for added depth and detail.
Seamless transitions
For studios doing high-volume product photography, seamless backdrop transitions are needed to maximize efficiency. Set up multiple backgrounds in the same space and swiftly swap between them to minimize product reset time.
Durable track systems with multiple backdrop hooks make it easy to slide out one material and slide in another within seconds. Keep extra lighting in consistent spots so relighting isn’t required each time backgrounds change.
Quick background changes are especially useful for photographing similar products in various colors. Grouping products by background savessignificant time versus individual resets.
No competing elements
Any additional elements in the scene – props, models, logos – should complement the product without competing for attention. The product should feel like the obvious focal point at first glance.
Keep additional branding understated and positioned peripherally if needed, like a small logo in a bottom corner. Make sure clothing and hair choices on models feel cohesive with the product style. Any surrounding objects must make sense in context (e.g. a cup and saucer next to dishware).
Visually “quiet” backgrounds support the product as the star without overwhelming it or creating mixed messaging. Exceptions are lifestyle scenes where context is more important. But in general, minimalism wins for pure product shots.
Easy post-processing
Consider how easy (or difficult) the background will be to edit and retouch in post-production. Solid colored backdrops like white, black and gray are simplest – any required editing can be quickly accomplished with layer masks. Heavily patterned or textured backgrounds take more effort to edit around intricate shapes and details.
Also choose background colors that provide enough separation with product colors. A red product on a pink background wouldn’t provide enough contrast for precise masking and selecting during cutouts. Zoom in when previewing images to ensure a clear delineation of edges and outlines.
Background first methodology
To maximize both efficiency and creative options, start with background selection as the foundation for the product shoot. Then build out other elements – lighting, propping, angle – based on that backbone.
Testing backgrounds using the actual product helps visualize the end result. Seeing the product positioned first reveals which backgrounds enhance it best. This “background first” approach prevents locking in other elements that then limit background choice.
Conclusion
The ideal background for product photography depends on variables like product type, brand style, intended use of images, and production practicalities. Overall, opt for plain colored backdrops that don’t compete with the product itself. Complementary textures and lifestyle settings help visualize products in context. Creative backgrounds lend visual interest for edgier brands. Ensure backgrounds are wrinkle-free, matte, and properly sized. Ultimately, an effective product background is one that makes the product look appealing and enticing on its own terms. This provides a quality base for polished, professional images that sell.
