How to Take Product Photos for Amazon Step by Step (2026)

Amazon product photography has more rules than any other ecommerce platform. The main image must be on pure white. The product must fill 85% of the frame. No props, no text, no models on the main image. This step-by-step guide covers how to meet every requirement without a professional studio.

Updated: April 2026

What Amazon Product Photography Requires

Amazon listing images must meet specific technical and compliance requirements before they go live. The main image has the strictest rules — secondary images have more flexibility. Understanding which rules apply where prevents the most common upload failures.

The Problem

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Most sellers take a product photo, upload it, and discover it fails compliance after the listing goes live. Off-white backgrounds, products too small in frame, shadows on the background — each triggers a compliance warning or suppression.

Who This Is For

New Amazon sellers setting up their first product listings. DIY photographers whose images keep failing Amazon's compliance requirements.

Step-by-Step Setup

Step 1 — Prepare your background. Large white foam board or seamless white paper. Not white fabric — it wrinkles and creates shadows. Tape it to a wall so it curves at the bottom, eliminating the seam between vertical and horizontal surfaces.

Step 2 — Set up two light sources. Position one light at 45 degrees on each side of the product. Equal intensity from both sides eliminates shadows. Daylight-balanced bulbs (5500K) produce neutral white light that doesn't color-shift your background.

Step 3 — Set your camera. Shoot in RAW if available. Set white balance manually using the white background as reference. Higher aperture (f/8–f/11) keeps the entire product in focus.

Step 4 — Position and shoot. Product centered, filling 85%+ of frame. Check corners — if background appears gray or off-white in corners, add more light. Shoot 10–15 frames and select the sharpest.

Step 5 — Edit. Correct white balance until background reads RGB 255,255,255. Remove any remaining shadows. Export as JPEG, 2000×2000px, sRGB colorspace.

What Each Image Slot Needs

GreenOnion tip: Tools like GreenOnion generate compliant white-background and lifestyle shots from a single product photo — no studio or photographer needed.

FAQ

Can I use a phone for Amazon product photography? Yes. iPhone 13 Pro and later, Samsung Galaxy S22 and later produce listing-quality images in good light. The limiting factor is always lighting, not the camera.

How do I achieve true white without Photoshop? Shoot in RAW and adjust white balance in Lightroom Mobile (free). The whites slider and temperature adjustment can correct most off-white backgrounds without Photoshop.

What if my product is white? White products on white backgrounds are genuinely difficult. Use subtle shadows to define the product edge, or shoot on a very light gray and brighten to near-white in editing.