Product Photography SEO: Shoot, Edit and Optimise for Maximum Traffic

Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Learn more.

Great product photography sells products. Optimised product photography sells products AND drives free traffic from Google Image Search and Google Shopping. This guide covers the complete workflow from shooting to publishing.

Shooting for SEO: Technical Requirements

Requirement	Specification	Why
Resolution	Minimum 2000px on longest side	Google prefers high-resolution images
Aspect ratio (main)	1:1 square or 4:5	Works across all platforms
Background (main image)	White or very light grey	Amazon required; works everywhere else
Format	Shoot RAW, export JPEG	RAW allows editing; JPEG for web delivery

The Complete Product Image Set

For any product, shoot this set:

Hero shot: Product alone, white background, filling 85% of frame
45-degree angle: Shows depth and three-dimensionality
Detail close-up: Texture, material, craftsmanship
Lifestyle image 1: Product in use by target customer
Lifestyle image 2: Different use case or setting
Scale reference: Product held or next to known object
Packaging: What arrives when ordered

Editing for Web Optimisation

Export at 72-96 DPI for web (not 300 DPI which is print quality)
Target under 150KB per product image
Use sRGB colour profile for consistent web display
Sharpen slightly before export — web compression softens images

File Naming Before Upload

Name files before uploading anywhere: [brand]-[product]-[variant]-[angle].jpg

Example: acme-leather-wallet-brown-front.jpg

Alt text for products: Use our free generator to create accurate alt text for all your product images. The AI identifies product details, colours, and context from the actual image — not just the filename.

Recommended Photography Equipment

Good product photography doesn't require expensive gear. Here are affordable essentials that make a real difference:

Equipment	Why You Need It	Price Range
Portable Photo Light Box	Even lighting with white background for product shots	$20–$50
Ring Light with Tripod	Professional-quality lighting for any product	$15–$40
Flexible Phone Tripod	Stable shots from any angle without a DSLR	$10–$25
White Photo Backdrop Roll	Clean backgrounds — required for Amazon main images	$10–$20
Fast 128GB SD Card	Never run out of storage during a shoot	$10–$20

Generate Alt Tags, Titles & Keywords Instantly

Our free AI-powered tool generates complete image metadata in one click. No subscription. No credit card.

Try the Free Tool →