Free printable cheat sheet

The AI Product Photography Cheat Sheet

Every background, light, angle and style that sells a product, on one page. Copy the prompts, swap in your product, ship the listing. Works in Midjourney, FLUX, DALL-E, Stable Diffusion and Nano Banana.

Tip: press Ctrl+D to bookmark, or Ctrl+P to print it.

Every card below has a plain-English when to use and a ready prompt. Replace [product] with your item (be specific: "a matte black ceramic coffee mug", not "a mug"). Keep the light soft and the product accurate unless a card says otherwise.

Backgrounds

Seamless whiteAmazon-ready

When: main listing images and clean catalogs. Isolates the product, zero distractions, true color.
a product photograph of [product] on a seamless pure white background, soft even studio lighting, subtle contact shadow, centered, catalog style, sharp focus, high detail

Marble surfacePremium

When: skincare, jewelry, cosmetics, food. A quiet luxe base that lifts perceived value.
a product photograph of [product] on a polished white marble surface, soft diffused light, gentle reflection, shallow depth of field, luxury catalog style, crisp detail

Wood or naturalHandmade

When: artisanal, rustic, organic goods, coffee, candles. Adds warmth and a craft story.
a product photograph of [product] on a warm reclaimed wood table, soft window light from the left, natural shadows, cozy artisanal mood, shallow depth of field, 85mm

Gradient backdropDTC brand

When: bold direct-to-consumer, tech, beauty, paid ads. A color pop matched to your brand palette.
a product photograph of [product] on a smooth [brand color] gradient background, studio softbox lighting, floating with a soft drop shadow, modern minimalist, vibrant, clean, sharp

Lifestyle sceneIn context

When: showing scale, use and desire. Best for hero banners, Instagram and Shopify.
a lifestyle product photograph of [product] on a styled kitchen counter beside fresh ingredients, soft morning window light, natural props, warm inviting mood, shallow depth of field, editorial

Lighting

Soft three-pointSafe default

When: almost any product. Even, flattering, no harsh shadows. Start here if unsure.
studio product photograph of [product], soft three-point lighting, softbox key light, gentle fill, subtle rim light, even exposure, soft shadows, professional, sharp

Single hard keyEditorial

When: bold and dramatic. Strong shadows reveal texture and shape. Watches, bottles, sneakers.
product photograph of [product], single hard key light from upper right, deep directional shadows, high contrast, dramatic editorial mood, textured, crisp

Window lightNatural

When: honest and believable. Soft daylight for artisanal, food, skincare and Etsy shops.
product photograph of [product] beside a large window, soft diffused daylight, gentle falloff, natural soft shadows, airy lifestyle mood, shallow depth of field

Rim and backlightGlow

When: glass, drinks, perfume, anything translucent. Glowing edges separate product from background.
product photograph of [translucent product], backlit rim lighting, glowing edges, dark gradient background, refracted highlights, dramatic, luxury, sharp

Angles

Eye-level heroMain shot

When: the money shot. The product as a customer sees it on the shelf. Use as the listing thumbnail.
eye-level hero product photograph of [product], centered, seamless background, soft studio light, contact shadow, catalog style, ultra sharp, high detail

45-degree three-quarterDepth

When: shows front and top at once for shape and volume. Packaging, boxes, bottles, gadgets.
three-quarter 45-degree angle product photograph of [product], soft studio lighting, subtle shadow, showing the front and top faces, clean background, crisp detail

Top-down flat-layStory

When: sets, multiples, stationery, cosmetics, food, apparel. Arrange props to tell a story.
top-down flat-lay product photograph of [product] arranged with complementary props, soft even overhead light, styled composition, negative space, editorial, sharp

Macro detailTrust

When: texture, stitching, material and quality proof. Builds trust and shows craftsmanship.
extreme macro product photograph of [product detail], fine texture and material, shallow depth of field, soft directional light, razor sharp, high detail

Styles

CatalogConverts

When: clean listings that sell. White or neutral, product first, no distractions. Amazon and Shopify.
clean catalog product photograph of [product], seamless white background, soft even lighting, centered, accurate color, sharp focus, commercial, high detail

LuxuryPremium

When: higher price points and premium positioning. Dark, moody, reflective, refined.
luxury product photograph of [product], dark reflective surface, dramatic rim light, deep shadows, elegant minimal composition, premium mood, crisp, refined

Pinterest lifestyleSaves

When: soft, aspirational and styled. Warm and human, drives saves and social traffic.
Pinterest-style lifestyle product photograph of [product] in a cozy styled setting, soft warm natural light, muted pastel palette, airy negative space, inviting, editorial

MinimalistModern

When: modern DTC, tech and beauty. One product, lots of space, calm and confident.
minimalist product photograph of [product], single subject, large empty space, soft gradient background, gentle shadow, calm modern aesthetic, clean, sharp

Shoot it for the platform

PlatformBest shotBackgroundWatch out for
AmazonEye-level heroPure white (required on the main image)Product fills about 85% of the frame, no props, text or logos on the main image
ShopifyHero plus a lifestyle mixWhite or a brand gradientKeep one angle and light across the whole catalog, export square 1:1
EtsyLifestyle plus macroWood, natural, in-contextShow scale and the handmade detail, keep it warm and human
InstagramLifestyle or flat-layStyled scene, marble or gradientShoot 4:5 or square, lead with color and mood to stop the thumb

The fill-in-the-blank formula

[shot type] product photograph of [product], on [background], [lighting], [angle], [style], [detail words], [mood]
Weak prompt
a photo of a candle
Same idea, cheat-sheet formula
eye-level hero product photograph of an amber soy candle in a frosted glass jar, on a warm reclaimed wood table, soft window light from the left, three-quarter angle, cozy artisanal style, fine wax texture, warm and inviting

Copy-paste modifiers

Surfaces

seamless white, matte black, polished marble, reclaimed wood, brushed concrete, linen cloth, acrylic riser, mirror reflection, sand, slate

Lighting

soft three-point, single hard key, soft window light, backlit rim, studio softbox, overhead flat-lay light, gradient glow, gentle contact shadow, high-key, low-key

Camera and lens

85mm f/1.8, 50mm, 100mm macro, shallow depth of field, deep focus for full product, straight-on, floating with drop shadow, product turntable look

Style and mood

catalog, commercial, luxury, minimalist, Pinterest lifestyle, editorial, scandinavian, warm and cozy, clean and premium, fresh and bright

Detail and quality

accurate color, true to product, razor sharp, high detail, fine texture, clean edges, no distortion, studio quality, crisp, photorealistic

Props for context

fresh ingredients, dried flowers, coffee beans, linen napkin, marble tray, wooden board, soft shadows of leaves, water droplets, folded fabric

Quick rules

Keep the real product accurateDescribe the true shape, color and material. For a listing, the photo has to match what ships or you get returns.
One hero, then variationsLock your hero shot first, then reuse the same product line and change only background, angle or props for the rest of the set.
AI struggles with tiny label textGenerate the product clean, then add the real logo, label and legal text in Canva or Photoshop so it is crisp and correct.

Want these as a printable download plus 5 ready product prompts?

Grab the free pack and I will send you this cheat sheet plus five hand-tuned product photography prompts that already nail the background, lighting, angle and style.

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Questions

Is this cheat sheet free?
Yes, free to read, save, print and share, no signup to view. For a downloadable copy plus five ready-made product prompts, grab the free pack.
Which AI tools do these product prompts work for?
They work across Midjourney, FLUX, Stable Diffusion, DALL-E and Nano Banana. FLUX and Nano Banana tend to hold product shape and packaging text best.
Can I use AI product photos on Amazon or Shopify?
Yes, but follow each platform rules. Amazon wants a pure white main image with the product filling most of the frame and no added props or text. Always show the real product accurately.