What to Check Before You Shoot Product Photos

Product photos help customers decide what they are buying. If the color looks different from the real item, or the size and included pieces are unclear, a polished page still leaves important questions unanswered. Before the shoot, write down the image requirements for each sales channel and the shots customers need to see.

Naver Smart Store recommends a width of 860 pixels for product detail images and allows files up to 20 MB each.(1) Check separately how the main listing image is cropped. Since channels can have different image and background rules, keep a high-quality original and prepare channel-specific versions.

Plan the shot list

• Full view: A clear view of the product and its main features

• Details: Material, stitching, buttons, ports, labels, or other details shoppers may want to inspect

• Scale: The item beside a ruler or familiar object to show its size

• In use: The product being worn or used. Identify staged scenes in the listing.

• What’s included: The product and accessories customers will receive

• Options: Each color or size photographed under consistent conditions

Show each option clearly instead of squeezing every color into one frame. Check that the main image and option photos depict the same product.

Consistent lighting and backgrounds make it easier to compare color options.

Light, color, and permissions

Daylight changes throughout the day. When possible, photograph all options in the same place and under the same light. Keep retouching to simple corrections such as dust or alignment, and compare the edited image with the actual product so you do not overstate its color or texture.

For identifiable people, check that you have the permissions needed to take and publish the photo. Check location terms and any visible brand logos as well. If you cannot confirm the rights, reframe the shot so those elements are not visible.

Review AI-generated try-on images against the actual item. If a virtual person appears to recommend or endorse the product in an advertisement, check the applicable disclosure guidance and make the image’s nature clear to shoppers.(2)

Before you upload

1. Do you have the full view, details, scale, use, and contents shots you need?

2. Are the lighting and background consistent across options?

3. Does the product remain easy to recognize in the listing crop?

4. Do the file size and image width meet the channel’s requirements?(1)

5. Have you confirmed the necessary permissions for people, locations, and logos?

6. Do the photos match the actual product color and included items?

Example: photographing a linen shirt

Imagine a linen shirt sold in ivory and navy. Write the shot list before setting up so you do not miss a view shoppers need.

For the full view, photograph the front of the shirt against a simple background. Capture the cuff, buttons, and care label at the neck as detail shots. If you want to show how sheer the fabric is, photograph the real fabric clearly; make sure the label is readable in its close-up.

For scale, place a ruler beside the shirt and show the 52 cm chest width. If the worn photo is styled, say so in the listing. The contents shot should show only the shirt and packaging customers will receive. Do not include a gift that is not part of the order.

Shoot both colors in the same place and light. Ivory photographed in the morning and navy at dusk may look like different fabrics. Compare each edited image with the real item. Finally, preview the main image in a square listing crop to make sure the shirt is still easy to recognize.

If you hire a photographer, share this shot list along with the actual color, measurements, and included items for each option. The photos and product details should agree so shoppers can make an informed choice.

References

1. Naver Smart Store Help, product detail image size and file limits

2. Korea Fair Trade Commission, guidance on endorsement disclosures