Camera Settings for eCommerce Photography: A Complete Professional Guide
Introduction
In today’s competitive online market, high-quality product images are critical. A customer’s buying decision depends significantly on what they see. Blurry, poorly lit, or color-inaccurate photos can destroy trust instantly, while clean, crisp, and professionally lit photos increase perceived value and conversion rates.
This guide will teach you everything you need about camera settings for eCommerce photography – from the basics of exposure to advanced tips used by professional product photographers worldwide.
- Understanding the Basics: Exposure Triangle
Before diving into exact settings, you must understand the exposure triangle:
Aperture (f-stop)
Shutter Speed
ISO
These three work together to control how bright or dark your image is. Mastering them ensures consistent and professional results.
1.1 Aperture
Definition: Aperture controls how much light enters through the lens. It is measured in f-stops (e.g., f/2.8, f/8, f/11).
Effect: A lower f-number (e.g. f/2.8) means a wide opening, creating a shallow depth of field (blurry background). A higher f-number (e.g. f/11) narrows the opening, creating greater depth of field (sharp from front to back).
Recommended Setting:
For eCommerce product photography, use f/8 to f/11 to ensure the entire product remains in focus, especially for flat lays, apparel, and products with depth like shoes or bags.
For jewellery macro shots, you might go up to f/16 for maximum sharpness.
1.2 Shutter Speed
Definition: Shutter speed is how long the camera’s sensor is exposed to light, measured in seconds or fractions of seconds (e.g., 1/125s).
Effect: Slow shutter speed can introduce blur from camera shake or subject movement, while faster shutter freezes action.
Recommended Setting:
Because products don’t move, and you will use a tripod, a shutter speed of 1/125 to 1/200 seconds is ideal to avoid micro-blur. If you use flash, sync your shutter speed with your flash system’s sync speed (often 1/200 or lower).
1.3 ISO
Definition: ISO controls the sensor’s sensitivity to light.
Effect: Higher ISO makes images brighter but introduces noise, making images look grainy and unprofessional.
Recommended Setting:
Always use the lowest ISO possible, ideally ISO 100 or 200. Increase ISO only if you cannot achieve correct exposure with your light setup, but ensure noise levels remain minimal.
- Recommended Camera Modes
Manual Mode (M): Full control over all settings. Essential for consistent product photos.
Aperture Priority (Av/A): You set the aperture, the camera sets shutter speed. Useful if light conditions change, but Manual is preferable in studio setups.
For eCommerce photography, always use Manual mode to keep settings identical across the shoot for consistent exposure and color.
- White Balance Settings
Color accuracy is critical for online shopping, especially for apparel, cosmetics, and jewellery.
Auto White Balance (AWB) often results in inconsistent colors.
Recommended: Use a Custom White Balance setting.
How to set it:
Place a grey card under your lights.
Use your camera’s custom white balance function to measure it.
Set it as your white balance reference for the shoot.
Alternatively, if you shoot in RAW, you can adjust white balance later during post-processing with no quality loss. However, using custom white balance in-camera saves time and ensures accuracy.
- Focus Settings
Sharp focus is non-negotiable in eCommerce photography. Blurry images destroy professionalism instantly.
Recommended Focus Mode:
Manual Focus: Ideal for static products on a tripod. You can focus precisely on the front edge or the most important detail.
Single-point Auto focus (AF-S or One Shot AF): Useful if you want the camera to focus automatically on a specific point.
Tip: Always zoom in on your camera’s LCD to check focus before shooting an entire series.
- Image Format: RAW vs JPEG
RAW
Maximum editing flexibility
Better dynamic range and color data
Larger file sizes
JPEG
Smaller files
Less post-processing flexibility
Compresses data, losing quality
Recommended: Always shoot RAW for eCommerce photography. You can export to JPEG later after retouching and color correction.
- Lens Selection
Your lens choice directly impacts the sharpness, distortion, and framing of product photos.
Best Lens Options:
50mm prime lens (full frame): Excellent for general product photography; minimal distortion.
24-70mm zoom lens: Versatile for larger items or different compositions without changing lenses.
100mm macro lens: Perfect for jewellery, watches, cosmetics close-ups, and small intricate items.
Tip: Avoid ultra-wide lenses, as they introduce distortion, making products look unnatural.
- Tripod Use
Using a tripod is crucial for eCommerce photography because:
Keeps camera stable
Maintains framing consistency
Allows lower shutter speeds without blur
Makes batch shooting faster and more precise
Always use a sturdy tripod, especially for higher-end cameras and lenses.
- Lighting and Camera Settings Integration
Camera settings alone cannot produce professional results without good lighting.
Lighting Tips:
Use soft diffused lighting to eliminate harsh shadows.
Two soft-boxes at 45-degree angles create even illumination.
A white backdrop ensures easy background removal and consistency.
For jewellery, add a small LED or reflector for highlights to enhance shine.
Adjust camera settings based on your lighting power:
Increase light output if images are underexposed at ISO 100 and f/8.
Never compromise by raising ISO too much, as it reduces image quality.
- Advanced Camera Settings for eCommerce Photography
9.1 Histogram Check
Enable the histogram view on your camera LCD to check exposure:
Avoid peaks on the left (underexposed) or right (overexposed).
For white backgrounds, peaks towards the right are normal, but ensure product details remain visible.
9.2 Tethered Shooting
Connect your camera to a laptop using software like Capture One, Lightroom, or your camera’s native software. Benefits include:
Immediate preview on a larger screen
Faster workflow and direct import
Easier focus and exposure adjustments
9.3 Mirror Lock-Up (DSLR)
Enable mirror lock-up if you use a DSLR to reduce vibrations caused by mirror movement during exposure. For mirror less cameras, this is unnecessary.
9.4 Remote Shutter Release
Use a remote shutter or camera timer to prevent camera shake from pressing the shutter button.
- Recommended Settings Summary Table
Setting Recommended Value Purpose
Mode Manual Full control
Aperture f/8 – f/11 Depth of field
Shutter Speed 1/125 – 1/200 Freeze motion
ISO 100 – 200 Reduce noise
White Balance Custom Accurate colors
Focus Mode Manual or AF-S Sharp focus
Image Format RAW Editing flexibility
Lens 50mm, 24-70mm, 100mm macro Sharpness & framing - Common Mistakes to Avoid
✅ Relying on Auto Mode: Produces inconsistent results
✅ Using High ISO unnecessarily: Introduces noise
✅ Shooting handheld: Causes micro-blur
✅ Ignoring white balance: Leads to inaccurate colors
✅ Using wide apertures (f/2.8) unnecessarily: Results in shallow depth, parts of product out of focus
✅ Incorrect focus point: Blurry product shots
✅ Using wide-angle lenses for standard products: Distortion and unnatural proportions - Editing and Post-Processing
Although camera settings lay the foundation, professional editing polishes your images for final use. Recommended post-processing includes:
Background removal or whitening
Color correction to match actual product color
Sharpening (only if needed)
Dust and scratch removal (especially for jewellery)
Shadow creation for natural aesthetics
Tip: Maintain consistent editing styles for all products to strengthen your brand’s visual identity.
- Investing in Gear vs Skill
While good gear helps, skills in settings, lighting, and styling matter more. Even entry-level DSLRs or mirrors cameras can produce eCommerce-ready images when used correctly. Invest time to master:
Camera controls
Lighting setup
Composition and styling
Post-processing workflows
- Future-Proofing Your Photography
As your business grows, consider:
Upgrading lenses before cameras for sharper images
Adding macro lighting kits for jewellery and small products
Learning advanced lighting techniques (e.g. gradient lighting for bottles)
Conclusion
Professional eCommerce photography is not about simply clicking a button; it is about understanding how each camera setting influences your final image. Using this detailed guide, you can:
✔️ Capture products with clarity and accuracy
✔️ Maintain brand consistency across images
✔️ Increase customer trust and conversion rates
Mastering these camera settings combined with proper lighting and editing will position your eCommerce business ahead of competitors with stunning visuals that speak for your product quality and brand reputation.