White Background Product Photography for a Shoe Brand
Not always do we have the opportunity to rent a photo studio with good lighting. Sometimes there isn’t even enough space to properly shoot your product, which is a common situation when preparing images for marketplaces.
When I started, I used to tell myself: “To take a beautiful photo, I need approximately zero square metres.” And I wasn’t joking. With the right approach, you can shoot great product photography for marketplaces almost anywhere.
That said, I still believe in improving shooting conditions whenever possible — even within tight limitations.
Lighting for Product Photography: Flash or LED for Marketplaces
You don’t need a professional table for still-life photography. Expensive lighting from renowned manufacturers is great, but excessive for simple tasks.
All you need is a table (the bigger, the better), a light background (cardboard, paper, white flexible plastic), and a couple of light sources (continuous light or flashes). This basic product photography setup works perfectly for marketplaces.
LED light is especially convenient because you can even shoot with a smartphone. It’s also useful if you plan to record video. This minimal setup already gives you a strong foundation for clean, consistent white background product photography.
Yes, there are softboxes, umbrellas, snoots, reflectors, and other modifiers. You’ll come to them if you decide to go further — but for images that most marketplaces and aggregators accept, this setup is more than enough.
Backgrounds and Props for Shoe Product Photography
A white background isn’t the only option. In this project, I used tiles, parquet, and stone surfaces — an especially good choice for shoes.
Props help add context and texture without distracting from the product. In product photography for marketplaces, this balance is crucial: the product must stay the hero, while the background supports its character.
I also shot short videos on a rotating platform. It’s a simple solution, but incredibly effective when you need to show a product from all angles and increase trust on marketplace listings.
If that still isn’t enough, I have a separate story (with many photos) about my experience working with a flower shop brand, where visual storytelling played a much bigger role.
You can use your imagination and choose your props. Also, I shot videos on a rotating platform: yes, it’s simple, but it’s exactly what you need to show the product in detail. However, if that’s not enough for you, I have a brief story (accompanied by many photos) about my experience working with a flower shop brand.
