16 Best Product Photography Background Ideas & Colors

An ideal product photography background instantly builds engagement between the product and the shopper.

Instead of distracting, Product photography background instantly catches attention and highlights products. Choosing a good product photography background is important to:

• Organize your products to look good
• Increase CTR and engagement with the image
• Offer a user-friendly customer experience
• Elevates the overall product photography
• Create a consistent product presentation

Now, to ensure you are equipped to choose the best product photography background, we share this one-stop guide with you.

In this article, you’ll learn about:

• 10 Best Product Photography Background Ideas
• 6 Background Color Ideas for Product Photography
• 4 Tips on Selecting Product Photography Background

With more time, let’s get started right away.

10 Best Product Photography Background Ideas

1. Ceramic Flooring Tile

The best pick for DIY product photography background is a large square of ceramic or porcelain tile for a magazine-worthy look.

You can find these at any local home store. These are inexpensive, look great, are easy to clean, and are durable if handled with care.

Ceramic tiles work great, especially if you’re dealing with some sprays and liquids, as these are wipeable.

Just be sure that the tile you pick isn’t too shiny and that the color is something that goes well with everything, like grey, white, or black.

For product photography background, don’t choose colors that are hard to overshadow the product itself.

Go for the Neutral colors. They elevate the look of products and still-life subjects.

2. Painted wooden backdrops

You must’ve seen many custom-made painted product photography backdrops for still life and product photography.

However, painting some by yourself can be a great and cheap option. It doesn’t require extraordinary skills; the more rustic it looks, the better.

Just be sure that the paints that you use are non-glossy. Use matter colors. You can use the wooden board as massive as you desire for your eCommerce product photography background that shows off your products.

To create one of your own, you may:

• Buy a thin sheet of plywood from any local home improvement store
• Choose two to three colors in a similar color family and pour them one by one on top of each other at the center of the board.
• Use a large sponge to spread the color all over the board to blend and create a subtle effect.
• You may choose to finish with the last coat of water-resistant sealer.

3. Painted canvas for photography backdrops

It could be costly to buy professional canvas backdrops, but you can create one for yourself at a fraction of the retail price.

Buy a canvas painter’s drop cloth from your local hardware store. These are the same clothes you use to protect the floor when painting the walls of your home.

These clothes are usually large in size, so you can cut them into the desired lengths to get multiple backdrops.

Purchase paint samples for each of your product photography backdrops. Be sure you’re buying primer along with it, as canvas tends to soak up a lot of paint.

Use a roller to create a smooth finish. If trying to add some texture, use a sponge and dab it onto the canvas randomly to create a rough effect.

This will help you elevate the look of your whole still-life photography and eCommerce product photography and make it unique from any other.

4. Satin or silk

Good quality satan or an already available silk piece at your home can be a fantastic choice to create a dreamy, chic, and sophisticated product photography background for your eCommerce product photography.

These are perfect if you’re shooting cosmetic and skincare product photos. They are also an excellent match for model photo editing. Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest users are crazy about such product photography.

Social media is the best place to gain engagement from viewers and promote your photography skills or boost eCommerce sales if you want to sell products online.

You can simply ruffle the satin or silk cloth to give it a wavy effect. Use it as your DIY product photography background. Place the product in the center with one of the edges slightly covered with the satin cloth.

5. Use linens

Possessing a wide variety of linens will make your life much easier as a still-life photographer. This DIY photo backdrop idea is fantastic for having unique photography backgrounds always without spending much.

These are portable and can be used in a variety of ways. Being fabric, you can scrunch it, create waves, use it plain, or even paint it with the colors of your choice.

You can choose the fabric as the entire photography backdrop or use two materials and overlap them to have 2 DIY product photography background behind your product or still life subject.

Also, place another layer of fabric underneath when covering your complete base with a piece of linen or tablecloth. This will plump up the surface and make it look more captivating.

Again, when picking your colors, stick to nudes and neutrals. Shades of deep, dark blues also look appealing, especially in the dark, moody, and profound images. This is more common with still-life photography.

However, if you’re to sell products online, then light neutrals in the shades of peach and brown can work best as your DIY photography backdrops for products.

You need to be mindful that your DIY photography backdrops are not stealing the wind from your actual subject. This means that your DIY photography backdrops shall not overpower your subject, so your topic has to fight for attention.

6. Colored papers

Colored sheets of paper can easily be available at any craft or stationery shop. Crafts and construction papers are the most inexpensive DIY proudct photography background material.

Along with being cheap, these are super easy to store. These come in almost all kinds of colors and sizes. Keep these in the background of your products; no one can ever guess if it’s your wall, product image editing technique, or a piece of paper for real.

Product photography has to be of superb quality to improve online sales, but it need not be too expensive to leave a mark.

Hence, such cheap backdrop ideas are best to balance the expenses.

You may opt for bulk editing for a product photo editing service if you have too many images.

7. Vintage tray

Think before you dispose of your old junk. Especially the old and vintage trays you may have kicking around. They can be an excellent source for your DIY photography backdrops.

You may get them from backyard sales, antique or second hand stores at affordable prices if you don’t have any. Like any DIY product photography backdrop material, it shouldn’t be reflective.

These are better for still-life photography. However, you may do flat lay product photography keeping it as your photography backdrop.

8. Old trunks

Do you have any old, worn-out leather or wooden trunks lying in your garage or attic? Because old trucks can be the perfect DIYproduct photography background if you want to add some rustic, theatrical effect to your lifestyle and product photography.

They write great, complimenting stories for your products and still-life subjects. Not necessarily you must use it only when you’re shooting some defined products that you think will mingle well with this DIY photography backdrop.

You can use it to capture digital products, gadgets, cameras and lenses, and many more.

Using such photography backdrop materials is excellent for quickly catching online shoppers’ attention. However, using old and worn-out things may not look appealing as you desire. The best way to combat this demerit is to perform product photo retouching.

Social media is a great place to showcase eCommerce product photography to sell products online successfully.

9. Wooden cutting boards

Wooden cutting boards can be found easily in every home. Depending on the size, you can use it for still life and eCommerce product photography background. Try keeping your product and some complimenting props for flat lays.

For example, if it’s natural, you may use small leaves or organic solids. In the same way, if it’s made with specific significant ingredients like a lemon face wash or a coffee soap bar, you may mount some powder next to it.

If you don’t like your wooden board’s tint, you may color it with the shade you desire. Be careful with a warm, orange, or yellowish tinge if you buy one. These shouldn’t mess with the look of your products.

Choose the contrasting one, so it pops your product rather than blending it in. Go for the boards like pine or panels in deep espresso for darker shots.

To be an evergreen choice – paint it in crisp white or matte, gun-metal black. This DIY photography backdrop is ever-lasting and used for all purposes. You can also distress it with sandpaper.

10. Rusted metal trays

I can’t say enough about the rusted metal trays. They are cheap backdrop ideas that create the most aesthetic looks on your still life and product photography.

Most people simply throw away these nifty elements that can play a remarkable role in the background.

If you think the one you possess is no good, I’d suggest considering the product photo editing. You can adjust your DIY photography backdrop using software like Adobe Photoshop.

As rust, there are meager chances that these DIY product photography backgrounds would reflect. They add a silent yet dramatic effect to your product and don’t cost you a penny to use it.

Use it as your surface for flat lays or as a backdrop for lifestyle and eCommerce product photography.

6 Background Color Ideas for Product Photography

Pure White

A pure white background (Hex #FFFFFF) is among the best colors for product photography. It highlights the product details, showcase them in the best possible manner.

Even if a brand wants to have multiple product backgrounds for different platforms, a white background can be easily removed, with highest accuracy.

It ensures consistency while seamlessly fitting across various platforms like marketplaces like Amazon.

On the other hand, if you are using white color for the background, it provides a clean, professional look that highlights the product without distractions.

Even for a brand’s eCommerce, white color for product photography background enhances color accuracy and detail. This indeed helps in presenting the product in its true form.

White backgrounds create a sense of space, making products appear the center of attention. These boost the product’s visual appeal and marketability.

White Smoke

White Smoke is a slightly gray shade of pure white color. Various brands prefer to use this shade for product backgrounds as it stands out on the website without a distinct color of its own.

White Smoke is also hard to find in fabric and other materials. This makes it a perfect background for products since product color will be highlighted.

Compared to Pure white background, more brands are now using White Smoke background as it makes the image stand out more easily, while ensuring products take the center stage.

Light Gray

Grey, precisely its lighter shade, is also the best product photography background as it is not too loud and does not steal the attention of the actual product.

There are commonly two shades of Light Gray background that are very popular. These are Hex #E7E7E7 and #EEEEEE. While both look similar, each has a different tone in the way they highlight the product.

Even many clients at PixelPhant, prefer to go with light gray and white smoke background for eCommerce product background removal and replacement.

This helps in enhancing product presentation while creating a cohesive customer experience for shoppers. 

Black

Though black is the darkest background for photography, it works amazingly for many products.

It’s best for products that are shiny, white, silver, golden, etc. Black is best to catch the eyes at the very first instance.

In the case of jewelry, a black background makes a lot of difference by making the diamonds and other metals shine brighter, resulting in a presentable and attractive product image.

Black background is most used for editorial product photography. This is to make sure that when the customer is considering buying the product, they can see it thoroughly.

Dark background might not be as effective as the light background when it comes to evoking trust among customers.

Pastel Colors

More and more fashion and eCommerce brands are experimenting with pastel color backgrounds. While they aren’t super bright, they do grab attention—while highlighting the product.

Even for your eCommerce, you can try pastel color background for product photography. 

Depending on your brand’s style, you can use one pastel shade for all your product images, or use different shades for different products.

4 Tips on How To Select Product Photography Background?

1. Avoid Busy Background

The most significant element of product photography has to be your product. The use of a busy background will divert the attention and overshadow the product itself.

When you are selecting a product photography background, always avoid a busy background. Even if it is lifestyle product photography, the background must not take away the attention from the products.

Your background for the product shall elevate the details and make it easy for customers to see what they are purchasing.

2. Align with Brand Identity

Consistent brand identity is a vital element in product photography. Your product photography backdrop must be consistent with other elements of the brand, and create association with their audience.

When choosing a product photography background, be consistent with the color, texture, and overall presentation of the brand.

Deviating from these elements may create inconsistency, making it brand recognition an effort for the viewers.

3. Follow Platform’s Guideline

When you photograph products for selling on a third-party platform and marketplaces, ensure you are thorough with their guidelines.

To create a consistent customer experience, the platform requires you to have a specific background for the product.

For example, Amazon image specification requires the Main image of all the products to have a pure white background.

It is best practice to ensure you follow platform guidelines, and align your product photography background with what is suggested.

4. Create Professional Consistency

Even when selling different product types, a consistent product photography background creates a cohesive experience.

It makes it easy to browse through the products and compare their details. Having a consistent background for product photography also eliminates unwanted environmental effects on the product image.

For customers, this means they are able to make informed decisions and know exactly what they are buying from your online store.

Now Do This

Above we have shared a detailed guide on product photography background. From how to select the background to the best product photography background.

With that said, it is important to ensure that your product photography background is consistent across images.

To ensure the same, you can use professional product photo editing services by PixelPhant.

We ensure your product images are retouched along with a clean and consistent background. Additionally, you can take a trial of our services for free.

Update your product photography background today.