Creative Product Photography Backgrounds and Ideas to Drive More Sales

Check out our favorite creative background ideas for your product photography shoot, including vinyl, foam board, and more.

Liz Giorgi
Liz Giorgi
CEO & Co-Founder
Liz Giorgi
CEO & Co-Founder
June 7, 2024
-
1
min

When it comes to shooting products, backdrops can either kill a photo or make it pop. Whether it’s textures, solids, or patterns (OH MY!)—there’s a lot to consider. Below are different product photography background approaches and ideas, including several budget-friendly and DIY options.

Creative product photography background ideas and themes

Solids

Solids, while minimal, can sometimes make the most powerful statement. The product is the star, demanding the eye’s attention. Nothing says, “I’m so beautiful you must purchase me!” like a solid background with a hard shadow. Nothing. You can even use a combination of two or more solid colors.

Patterns and gradients

Patterns are the wildcard of the photography backdrop realm. 

They're typically made by the product or a secondary prop while using a solid or textured backdrop. They can be linear and straightforward or more complex to appear like you're looking into a kaleidoscope. Patterns make customers stop dead in their social tracks to smash the like button.

You can also use gradients for a fun and whimsical aesthetic. 

Textures

Textures add depth to a photo while giving our eyes a sense of context. A blanket may give off a sense of warmth and welcoming, while gritty concrete says urban jungle. We love to get creative with textures in our studios, using a variety of backdrops, like onyx, wood and textiles.

Contextual surroundings

If you have a lifestyle product, sometimes a natural surrounding lends itself to the best backdrop. If you have a candle, why not showcase it in a living room? Selling appliances? Shooting in a kitchen (like the one we have) is likely the perfect location!

Our virtual platform makes it easy to create fresh & affordable content for your brand. Check out our professional product photography services >

12 ways to create product photography backdrops

There’s an endless amount of background possibilities for your product images. Understanding which is best for your brand is just the first step.

Ready to get started? Here are 12 of our favorite creative background ideas for your product photography shoot.

1. Vinyl backdrops

Vinyl backdrops are one of the most widely-used styles of backgrounds for product (and portrait) photography. You can find different styles of vinyl backgrounds: faux marble, faux wood boards, and solid colors. The list goes on!

Cost: Vinyl backdrops require a bit more investment than paper backdrops, but we think they're worth it. You can use them time and time again without having to worry about wrinkles or damage. The cost per use will decrease dramatically throughout the years that these backdrops will last.

Pros

  • They're thick and durable, so they'll hold up to the test of time. This can be a huge plus if you're using liquids or heavy items for your product images. 
  • Any scuffs or spills can easily be cleaned up with a wet rag. 
  • They also come in a variety of sizes to suit your needs.

Cons

  • You need the right sheen. There are two primary types of finishes you can get: matte and gloss. Gloss can add some nice reflective qualities to your product image, but it can also wash it out if you're not careful with lighting.

2. Foam board

White backgrounds have become the industry standard (thanks largely to Amazon and Shopify), but don't let that fool you into thinking that white foam board is the only way to go.

Cost: Foam board is one of the most affordable backdrop options, so it's not a burden to replace if it gets damaged or if you want to switch up the look with something new!

Pros

  • You can go wild or subtle. There's no end to the creative variations of foam board out there. Faux marble? Velvet? Solid color? Check. Check. And check.

Cons

  • Foam board can be easily damaged. This might not be the ideal backdrop for you if you plan on moving it around from shoot to shoot. It also works better for a smaller product scale.

3. Paper

Seamless paper backdrops are one of the most common choices on the market. They come in a variety of colors and patterns/textures to fit your brand story. We recommend photographing all of your products on a pure white background to get consistency for your website, PDPs, and any marketplace listings. From there, your supplemental images can include colored seamless paper to really make your products pop!

Cost: You get what you pay for with paper backdrops. They're one of the most affordable backdrop options out there, which is good because you might need to replace them more often as they age.

Pros

  • Paper backdrops are great for entry-level and one-time projects. 
  • There's a nearly endless amount of color and pattern options out there. Heck. You can even get creative and use old newspapers and magazines as your backdrop.

Cons

  • They're one of the least durable types of backdrops and will age quickly. Slight damages and imperfections might appear as soon as the first use.

4. The bokeh technique

The bokeh background technique is a fancy way of blurring out the background to make it less of a focal point. All you need is the right lens to make sure you set your f-stop correctly. When you set your f-stop correctly, it blurs the background so much that it becomes inConsequential. 

One great example of this is through jewelry brands. They often use this technique to make sure the image is completely focused on the products.

Cost: This depends on whether or not you'll need to invest in additional camera gear and lenses to get the job done. If you've already got what you need—it's free. You can expect to spend around $200–$1,000+ for a new lens.

Pros

  • The bokeh technique is great for when you don't want to put much effort into getting your background prepped and ready. 

Cons

  • It can be expensive to get the appropriate camera lens if you don’t already have one. 
  • You might also need to focus more on setting appropriate lighting to ensure your image is perfectly exposed.

5. Fabric & cloth backdrops

Fabric and cloth are also commonly used as photo backdrops. They're more durable than paper and aren't as reflective.

Cost: Fabric and cloth backdrops range from free to pricey depending on which variety you go for. Leathers and laces will cost more than cotton or polyester blends.

Pros

  • These backdrops are easy to store and durable.
  • Fabric and cloth can give more depth to your product images. Try folding them, layering them, and playing with all the different textures. It all comes together to help tell your brand story.

Cons

  • Wrinkles, wrinkles, and more wrinkles. Make sure you bring the steamer because all of those little wrinkles will show up in the final image.
  • You also might have fewer color and pattern options than you think in comparison with other backdrops like foam board, colored paper, or faux surfaces.

6. Stone or sand

Consider less conventional backdrop options like stone and sand. These natural elements are versatile and easy to handle which makes them perfect for your next product shoot.

Pros

  • Natural backdrops like stone and sand can provide grit and depth to your product photos.
  • Some of our favorite jewelry product photos use stone and sand backdrops to highlight the luminescence of the products. 

Cons

  • These backdrops are easy to manage, as long as your products are smaller in size. They become more of a challenge to arrange and contain on a larger scale.
  • You can always take your shoot to the beach, but it's another thing entirely to try to bring the beach into your photoshoot space.

7. Foliage

Go green! Literally and metaphorically by incorporating plants and verdant foliage into your product photoshoot backdrops. You can finally put those houseplants to good use!

Cost: Foliage runs mid-range when it comes to budget. It’s a good choice if you’ve got a little wiggle room in the budget. You can save money by buying stems or plants in bulk and do the arranging and styling on set.

Pros

  • Plants bring life to your images and can be a clutch move for environmentally-friendly or eco-Conscious products. There’s a wide variety of flora that you can choose from: live plants, dried florals, and even shrubs, and trees. The choice is yours.
  • Listen up beauty brands: You can use plants to emphasize how your organic/vegan/nontoxic products will help your customers get their glow on. 

Cons

  • Some plants are picky about their environment. This is especially true for some cut flowers. Planning on shooting for a few days (or weeks)? Opt for hardy or artificial plants to keep ’em looking as fresh on day four as they were on day one.

8. Rugs

The very things that provide texture and warmth on cold floors can also serve as the perfect photography backdrops: rugs!

Cost: If you’ve already got the rugs you need, great! You're all in for free, but rugs can be a bit of a splurge if you're just getting started with this backdrop. You can expect to pay anything from $20–$5,000 depending on which one you go with.

Pros

Cons

  • Rugs can be a beast to wrangle. They’re not really that flexible, and they’re heavy to lug around if your shoots are at different locations. 
  • Rugs only come in certain sizes and aren’t very customizable.

9. Decorative tile

Decorative tile can be your product’s best friend. 

Cost: Just head to your local big-box store and you might even score some larger samples for free. You can spend a little, or a lot. The beauty of using tile is that you can tailor your tile choice to fit your budget. Tile is an affordable option for small-scale usage, but it can get more expensive as your backdrop size increases.

Pros

  • Tile can add a whole other dimension to your images. Glossy, satin, matte, and in all sorts of textures and patterns. Maybe your brand is more of a simple subway tile, or go bold with an intricately patterned Moroccan mosaic. The sky’s the limit!

Cons

  • Tile can be heavy and bulky to work with. It won’t necessarily conform to the shape of your background. 
  • Tile is good for flat lays and vertical backdrops, but can be cumbersome otherwise.

10. Smoke

Play a game of smoke and mirrors with your product images. Grab a fog machine and let it rip in your shoot space for that magically mysterious effect.

Cost: Moderately priced, but it should last you a lifetime. It’s a minimal up-front investment with massive returns on the creative deliverables!

Pros

  • Fog machines are super easy to come by, and it doesn’t take much to maintain them or transport them to a new location. Plus, smoke gives this incredible and inimitable ethereal effect that you won’t get from any other backdrop.

Cons

  • You’ll need to create a “container” or space to keep your fog in around your products. It’s liable to spill out to the rest of the photoshoot space if you don’t corral it a bit.

11. Wallpaper and wrapping paper

Wallpaper and wrapping paper come in a wider variety of options than your standard paper or vinyl backdrops.

Cost: One cool thing about these types of backdrops is you can find a wallpaper or wrapping paper backdrop that fits your budget. You don’t need to break the bank unless you want to go all out.

Pros

  • These backdrops are incredibly versatile. They come in virtually endless combinations of colors and patterns. And, you might even get a little texture thrown in there too. You can go crazy and get custom wallpaper made.

Cons

  • Can damage or tear easily. Large sections are difficult to wrangle and require extra mounting equipment (i.e. stands and clamps). 
  • This can be expensive if you go the custom route.

12. Ice

Ice, ice, baby. 🧊 This is one of our favorite types of backdrops because it becomes almost unrecognizable with the right lighting and staging.

Cost: Got a freezer with an ice maker? You're all set. Bags of ice are fairly inexpensive, or you can splurge on custom-molded ice. There's even ultra-clear ice if you're after that crystal vibe.

Pros

  • You can convey that sense of crispness of ice. Don’t be afraid to get creative with it. Freeze your products in it or crush it up and make a bed with it. It'll have a scroll-freezing effect no matter which way you go.

Cons

  • Ice melts. You've gotta work fast with ice or have a backup plan if things start to melt a little too quickly. Probably wouldn't work well for an outdoor shoot in the middle of summer.

Customize your images by changing the background color to fit whatever you sell, wherever you sell. Check out the soona Media Editor >

What to consider when choosing product photography backgrounds

Picking a seamless backdrop can feel like an overwhelming challenge. There are virtually limitless backdrop options, so you're sure to find one that fits your niche perfectly. It’s simply a matter of narrowing down the possibilities. 

Whether you’re looking for images on a plain white background or looking to spice things up with seamless colored backgrounds, here’s what you should consider when you’re weighing your product photography background options:

Which colors are best for your product

How do you know what color is best for your product? Different colors evoke different feelings and impressions. Know your audience, tone, and branding colors. This will be a recurring theme that’ll get you those scroll-stopping product images that you need.

There are no hard and fast rules about which backgrounds are the best. There's even a time and place for a good ol' white background. It ultimately comes down to your brand and your products. What might work for a beauty brand might not work for a fitness apparel brand. And that’s ok!

{{tools-ad="/external-components"}}

Remember, it’s more about finding a color that complements your products. You should steer clear of backdrops that'll steal the show or distract from your products.

Here’s a small sample of the color wheel we use here at soona. Our photographers know just how to pair your products with complementary colors. If you’re feeling lost, don’t be afraid to ask your photographer for their opinion.

When to use natural backgrounds vs. colored backdrops in product photography

Knowing when to use colored backdrops versus natural backgrounds is simply a matter of knowing what mood you’re trying to set. Do you want your product to be the star of the show? Or would you like a few visual accessories to accompany it?

Colored backdrops can create a monochromatic mood or provide a burst of contrast to your products & packaging. Or heck, add in some calming neutrals if that's more your jam.

Natural backgrounds set a scene that can help elevate the image to something more aspirational. The best example of this is lifestyle photography. This style of photography helps your audience envision what their lives would be like once they purchase your product.

Budgeting for product backdrops

Backdrops range in cost from free ninety-nine up to Kardashian-level investments. That's why you should always keep your budget in mind when you're selecting your background.

🚨 spoiler alert 🚨 you don’t need to invest a lot of money to get great product photos with multiple options of backdrops. You might be able to use items that are lying around the house or office. Think: ice, rugs, wooden textures, and even that houseplant you’ve managed to keep alive. Common household props can really add interest to your lifestyle photography.

{{blog-mini-ad-yellow="/background-videos"}}

Let soona handle your product photography so you can handle business

Stone. Foliage. Vinyl. The world is your oyster when it comes to picking a background for your product images. The key to picking the best one for you is to know your audience, your tone, and what mood your brand is trying to communicate.

Still not sure which one is best for your business? Let the pros at soona handle the details of your product shoot and get back to the things that keep your business moving forward.

Change photo backgrounds

Customize your images by changing the background color to fit whatever you sell, wherever you sell with the soona Media Editor.

LEARN MORE

Product photography backgrounds FAQs

What backdrop is best for product photography?

The best backdrop for product photography depends on the product and the desired aesthetic. You might go with plain white for a clean, minimal look; black for a dramatic effect; and textured backdrops like wood, marble, or fabric to add context and interest.

What is the best backdrop for online selling?

White is the best backdrop for online selling. It’s compatible with most marketplace requirements, it creates uniformity, and it makes it easy for the shopper to focus on the product details. 

What is the best backdrop for food photography?

The best backdrop for food photography is one that complements the colors and textures of the food. Popular choices include rustic wooden surfaces, marble slabs, and textured fabrics. Neutral tones and subtle patterns work well to highlight the food without distracting from it.

What is the best backdrop for professional photography?

The best backdrop for professional photography depends on the subject and the style of the shoot. For headshots and portraits, solid colors like white, black, and gray are versatile choices. For more creative or themed shoots, custom backdrops with specific textures, colors, or scenes may be used to enhance the visual narrative.

When it comes to shooting products, backdrops can either kill a photo or make it pop. Whether it’s textures, solids, or patterns (OH MY!)—there’s a lot to consider. Below are different product photography background approaches and ideas, including several budget-friendly and DIY options.

Creative product photography background ideas and themes

Solids

Solids, while minimal, can sometimes make the most powerful statement. The product is the star, demanding the eye’s attention. Nothing says, “I’m so beautiful you must purchase me!” like a solid background with a hard shadow. Nothing. You can even use a combination of two or more solid colors.

Patterns and gradients

Patterns are the wildcard of the photography backdrop realm. 

They're typically made by the product or a secondary prop while using a solid or textured backdrop. They can be linear and straightforward or more complex to appear like you're looking into a kaleidoscope. Patterns make customers stop dead in their social tracks to smash the like button.

You can also use gradients for a fun and whimsical aesthetic. 

Textures

Textures add depth to a photo while giving our eyes a sense of context. A blanket may give off a sense of warmth and welcoming, while gritty concrete says urban jungle. We love to get creative with textures in our studios, using a variety of backdrops, like onyx, wood and textiles.

Contextual surroundings

If you have a lifestyle product, sometimes a natural surrounding lends itself to the best backdrop. If you have a candle, why not showcase it in a living room? Selling appliances? Shooting in a kitchen (like the one we have) is likely the perfect location!

Our virtual platform makes it easy to create fresh & affordable content for your brand. Check out our professional product photography services >

12 ways to create product photography backdrops

There’s an endless amount of background possibilities for your product images. Understanding which is best for your brand is just the first step.

Ready to get started? Here are 12 of our favorite creative background ideas for your product photography shoot.

1. Vinyl backdrops

Vinyl backdrops are one of the most widely-used styles of backgrounds for product (and portrait) photography. You can find different styles of vinyl backgrounds: faux marble, faux wood boards, and solid colors. The list goes on!

Cost: Vinyl backdrops require a bit more investment than paper backdrops, but we think they're worth it. You can use them time and time again without having to worry about wrinkles or damage. The cost per use will decrease dramatically throughout the years that these backdrops will last.

Pros

  • They're thick and durable, so they'll hold up to the test of time. This can be a huge plus if you're using liquids or heavy items for your product images. 
  • Any scuffs or spills can easily be cleaned up with a wet rag. 
  • They also come in a variety of sizes to suit your needs.

Cons

  • You need the right sheen. There are two primary types of finishes you can get: matte and gloss. Gloss can add some nice reflective qualities to your product image, but it can also wash it out if you're not careful with lighting.

2. Foam board

White backgrounds have become the industry standard (thanks largely to Amazon and Shopify), but don't let that fool you into thinking that white foam board is the only way to go.

Cost: Foam board is one of the most affordable backdrop options, so it's not a burden to replace if it gets damaged or if you want to switch up the look with something new!

Pros

  • You can go wild or subtle. There's no end to the creative variations of foam board out there. Faux marble? Velvet? Solid color? Check. Check. And check.

Cons

  • Foam board can be easily damaged. This might not be the ideal backdrop for you if you plan on moving it around from shoot to shoot. It also works better for a smaller product scale.

3. Paper

Seamless paper backdrops are one of the most common choices on the market. They come in a variety of colors and patterns/textures to fit your brand story. We recommend photographing all of your products on a pure white background to get consistency for your website, PDPs, and any marketplace listings. From there, your supplemental images can include colored seamless paper to really make your products pop!

Cost: You get what you pay for with paper backdrops. They're one of the most affordable backdrop options out there, which is good because you might need to replace them more often as they age.

Pros

  • Paper backdrops are great for entry-level and one-time projects. 
  • There's a nearly endless amount of color and pattern options out there. Heck. You can even get creative and use old newspapers and magazines as your backdrop.

Cons

  • They're one of the least durable types of backdrops and will age quickly. Slight damages and imperfections might appear as soon as the first use.

4. The bokeh technique

The bokeh background technique is a fancy way of blurring out the background to make it less of a focal point. All you need is the right lens to make sure you set your f-stop correctly. When you set your f-stop correctly, it blurs the background so much that it becomes inConsequential. 

One great example of this is through jewelry brands. They often use this technique to make sure the image is completely focused on the products.

Cost: This depends on whether or not you'll need to invest in additional camera gear and lenses to get the job done. If you've already got what you need—it's free. You can expect to spend around $200–$1,000+ for a new lens.

Pros

  • The bokeh technique is great for when you don't want to put much effort into getting your background prepped and ready. 

Cons

  • It can be expensive to get the appropriate camera lens if you don’t already have one. 
  • You might also need to focus more on setting appropriate lighting to ensure your image is perfectly exposed.

5. Fabric & cloth backdrops

Fabric and cloth are also commonly used as photo backdrops. They're more durable than paper and aren't as reflective.

Cost: Fabric and cloth backdrops range from free to pricey depending on which variety you go for. Leathers and laces will cost more than cotton or polyester blends.

Pros

  • These backdrops are easy to store and durable.
  • Fabric and cloth can give more depth to your product images. Try folding them, layering them, and playing with all the different textures. It all comes together to help tell your brand story.

Cons

  • Wrinkles, wrinkles, and more wrinkles. Make sure you bring the steamer because all of those little wrinkles will show up in the final image.
  • You also might have fewer color and pattern options than you think in comparison with other backdrops like foam board, colored paper, or faux surfaces.

6. Stone or sand

Consider less conventional backdrop options like stone and sand. These natural elements are versatile and easy to handle which makes them perfect for your next product shoot.

Pros

  • Natural backdrops like stone and sand can provide grit and depth to your product photos.
  • Some of our favorite jewelry product photos use stone and sand backdrops to highlight the luminescence of the products. 

Cons

  • These backdrops are easy to manage, as long as your products are smaller in size. They become more of a challenge to arrange and contain on a larger scale.
  • You can always take your shoot to the beach, but it's another thing entirely to try to bring the beach into your photoshoot space.

7. Foliage

Go green! Literally and metaphorically by incorporating plants and verdant foliage into your product photoshoot backdrops. You can finally put those houseplants to good use!

Cost: Foliage runs mid-range when it comes to budget. It’s a good choice if you’ve got a little wiggle room in the budget. You can save money by buying stems or plants in bulk and do the arranging and styling on set.

Pros

  • Plants bring life to your images and can be a clutch move for environmentally-friendly or eco-Conscious products. There’s a wide variety of flora that you can choose from: live plants, dried florals, and even shrubs, and trees. The choice is yours.
  • Listen up beauty brands: You can use plants to emphasize how your organic/vegan/nontoxic products will help your customers get their glow on. 

Cons

  • Some plants are picky about their environment. This is especially true for some cut flowers. Planning on shooting for a few days (or weeks)? Opt for hardy or artificial plants to keep ’em looking as fresh on day four as they were on day one.

8. Rugs

The very things that provide texture and warmth on cold floors can also serve as the perfect photography backdrops: rugs!

Cost: If you’ve already got the rugs you need, great! You're all in for free, but rugs can be a bit of a splurge if you're just getting started with this backdrop. You can expect to pay anything from $20–$5,000 depending on which one you go with.

Pros

Cons

  • Rugs can be a beast to wrangle. They’re not really that flexible, and they’re heavy to lug around if your shoots are at different locations. 
  • Rugs only come in certain sizes and aren’t very customizable.

9. Decorative tile

Decorative tile can be your product’s best friend. 

Cost: Just head to your local big-box store and you might even score some larger samples for free. You can spend a little, or a lot. The beauty of using tile is that you can tailor your tile choice to fit your budget. Tile is an affordable option for small-scale usage, but it can get more expensive as your backdrop size increases.

Pros

  • Tile can add a whole other dimension to your images. Glossy, satin, matte, and in all sorts of textures and patterns. Maybe your brand is more of a simple subway tile, or go bold with an intricately patterned Moroccan mosaic. The sky’s the limit!

Cons

  • Tile can be heavy and bulky to work with. It won’t necessarily conform to the shape of your background. 
  • Tile is good for flat lays and vertical backdrops, but can be cumbersome otherwise.

10. Smoke

Play a game of smoke and mirrors with your product images. Grab a fog machine and let it rip in your shoot space for that magically mysterious effect.

Cost: Moderately priced, but it should last you a lifetime. It’s a minimal up-front investment with massive returns on the creative deliverables!

Pros

  • Fog machines are super easy to come by, and it doesn’t take much to maintain them or transport them to a new location. Plus, smoke gives this incredible and inimitable ethereal effect that you won’t get from any other backdrop.

Cons

  • You’ll need to create a “container” or space to keep your fog in around your products. It’s liable to spill out to the rest of the photoshoot space if you don’t corral it a bit.

11. Wallpaper and wrapping paper

Wallpaper and wrapping paper come in a wider variety of options than your standard paper or vinyl backdrops.

Cost: One cool thing about these types of backdrops is you can find a wallpaper or wrapping paper backdrop that fits your budget. You don’t need to break the bank unless you want to go all out.

Pros

  • These backdrops are incredibly versatile. They come in virtually endless combinations of colors and patterns. And, you might even get a little texture thrown in there too. You can go crazy and get custom wallpaper made.

Cons

  • Can damage or tear easily. Large sections are difficult to wrangle and require extra mounting equipment (i.e. stands and clamps). 
  • This can be expensive if you go the custom route.

12. Ice

Ice, ice, baby. 🧊 This is one of our favorite types of backdrops because it becomes almost unrecognizable with the right lighting and staging.

Cost: Got a freezer with an ice maker? You're all set. Bags of ice are fairly inexpensive, or you can splurge on custom-molded ice. There's even ultra-clear ice if you're after that crystal vibe.

Pros

  • You can convey that sense of crispness of ice. Don’t be afraid to get creative with it. Freeze your products in it or crush it up and make a bed with it. It'll have a scroll-freezing effect no matter which way you go.

Cons

  • Ice melts. You've gotta work fast with ice or have a backup plan if things start to melt a little too quickly. Probably wouldn't work well for an outdoor shoot in the middle of summer.

Customize your images by changing the background color to fit whatever you sell, wherever you sell. Check out the soona Media Editor >

What to consider when choosing product photography backgrounds

Picking a seamless backdrop can feel like an overwhelming challenge. There are virtually limitless backdrop options, so you're sure to find one that fits your niche perfectly. It’s simply a matter of narrowing down the possibilities. 

Whether you’re looking for images on a plain white background or looking to spice things up with seamless colored backgrounds, here’s what you should consider when you’re weighing your product photography background options:

Which colors are best for your product

How do you know what color is best for your product? Different colors evoke different feelings and impressions. Know your audience, tone, and branding colors. This will be a recurring theme that’ll get you those scroll-stopping product images that you need.

There are no hard and fast rules about which backgrounds are the best. There's even a time and place for a good ol' white background. It ultimately comes down to your brand and your products. What might work for a beauty brand might not work for a fitness apparel brand. And that’s ok!

{{tools-ad="/external-components"}}

Remember, it’s more about finding a color that complements your products. You should steer clear of backdrops that'll steal the show or distract from your products.

Here’s a small sample of the color wheel we use here at soona. Our photographers know just how to pair your products with complementary colors. If you’re feeling lost, don’t be afraid to ask your photographer for their opinion.

When to use natural backgrounds vs. colored backdrops in product photography

Knowing when to use colored backdrops versus natural backgrounds is simply a matter of knowing what mood you’re trying to set. Do you want your product to be the star of the show? Or would you like a few visual accessories to accompany it?

Colored backdrops can create a monochromatic mood or provide a burst of contrast to your products & packaging. Or heck, add in some calming neutrals if that's more your jam.

Natural backgrounds set a scene that can help elevate the image to something more aspirational. The best example of this is lifestyle photography. This style of photography helps your audience envision what their lives would be like once they purchase your product.

Budgeting for product backdrops

Backdrops range in cost from free ninety-nine up to Kardashian-level investments. That's why you should always keep your budget in mind when you're selecting your background.

🚨 spoiler alert 🚨 you don’t need to invest a lot of money to get great product photos with multiple options of backdrops. You might be able to use items that are lying around the house or office. Think: ice, rugs, wooden textures, and even that houseplant you’ve managed to keep alive. Common household props can really add interest to your lifestyle photography.

{{blog-mini-ad-yellow="/background-videos"}}

Let soona handle your product photography so you can handle business

Stone. Foliage. Vinyl. The world is your oyster when it comes to picking a background for your product images. The key to picking the best one for you is to know your audience, your tone, and what mood your brand is trying to communicate.

Still not sure which one is best for your business? Let the pros at soona handle the details of your product shoot and get back to the things that keep your business moving forward.

Change photo backgrounds

Customize your images by changing the background color to fit whatever you sell, wherever you sell with the soona Media Editor.

LEARN MORE

Product photography backgrounds FAQs

What backdrop is best for product photography?

The best backdrop for product photography depends on the product and the desired aesthetic. You might go with plain white for a clean, minimal look; black for a dramatic effect; and textured backdrops like wood, marble, or fabric to add context and interest.

What is the best backdrop for online selling?

White is the best backdrop for online selling. It’s compatible with most marketplace requirements, it creates uniformity, and it makes it easy for the shopper to focus on the product details. 

What is the best backdrop for food photography?

The best backdrop for food photography is one that complements the colors and textures of the food. Popular choices include rustic wooden surfaces, marble slabs, and textured fabrics. Neutral tones and subtle patterns work well to highlight the food without distracting from it.

What is the best backdrop for professional photography?

The best backdrop for professional photography depends on the subject and the style of the shoot. For headshots and portraits, solid colors like white, black, and gray are versatile choices. For more creative or themed shoots, custom backdrops with specific textures, colors, or scenes may be used to enhance the visual narrative.

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