Styling Your Product Photos: How to Create Engaging Lifestyle Shots

By Audrey Daniels

1/20/2025

Styling Your Product Photos: How to Create Engaging Lifestyle Shots

As an eCommerce business owner, one of the most powerful tools at your disposal to boost sales is high-quality product photography. But it's not just about snapping a simple photo of your products. You need to create images that tell a story, connect with your audience, and encourage them to make a purchase. One of the most effective ways to do this is by styling your product photos and incorporating lifestyle shots that show your products in action.

In this blog post, we will dive into how you can elevate your eCommerce photography game by creating engaging lifestyle shots. We’ll also explore some practical tips for photoshoots, how to select the right backdrops for product photos, and the importance of social media marketing images. Plus, we’ll look at how innovative AI tools, like Deggie.ai, are transforming the photography process for small business owners.

Why Lifestyle Shots Matter

Lifestyle shots are a crucial part of product photography. While plain white background images are effective for showing your product’s details, lifestyle images provide a context that resonates emotionally with your customers. They show how your product fits into their lives, making it more relatable and desirable.

When your customers can envision themselves using your product in a real-world setting, they’re more likely to make a purchase. A lifestyle shot could be as simple as a coffee mug on a cozy table or a dress worn at a beautiful outdoor event. These types of images help bridge the gap between a customer’s expectations and their potential experience with your product.

Tips for Photoshoots

Before you jump into your next product photoshoot, there are a few essential tips that will help you get the best results.

1. Plan Your Shot List

Think about the narrative you want to convey through your photos. Create a shot list with the different types of images you want to capture. This could include close-up shots, wide-angle shots, and specific action shots of people interacting with the product. Planning your shots ahead of time will save you a lot of time and make your photoshoot more efficient.

2. Lighting is Key

Good lighting can make or break your product photos. Natural light is always preferred, but if that’s not an option, make sure to use artificial lighting that mimics natural light. Invest in a ring light or softbox to create flattering and even lighting on your products. This is especially important when shooting lifestyle photos because shadows or harsh lighting can ruin the overall feel of the image.

3. Use Models to Humanize Your Brand

Including people in your product photos creates an immediate connection with your audience. By having a model interact with your product, you can showcase how it fits into a person’s daily life. If you don’t want to hire professional models, consider using friends, family members, or employees.

Choosing the Right Product Photo Backdrop

The backdrop is just as important as the product itself. A well-thought-out backdrop can enhance the aesthetic of your photos and create the perfect setting for your product to shine. When selecting backdrops for product photos, keep these tips in mind:

1. Keep It Simple

You want the focus of the photo to be on the product, not the backdrop. A simple, neutral background allows your product to stand out. However, don’t be afraid to use textures like wood, stone, or fabric to add a layer of depth without overwhelming the product.

2. Match the Backdrop to the Product

Ensure that your backdrop complements your product’s vibe. For example, if you’re selling outdoor gear, a natural, rustic backdrop like grass or rocks could work perfectly. On the other hand, sleek, minimalist backdrops might be better suited for modern tech gadgets.

3. Consider Your Brand’s Aesthetic

Your backdrops should align with your brand’s overall aesthetic. If your brand has a rustic, cozy vibe, opt for soft textures and warm tones. If your brand is sleek and modern, consider clean lines and minimalistic backdrops that let your products shine.

The Power of Social Media Marketing Images

In today’s eCommerce landscape, product photos are not just for your website—they’re essential for your social media marketing strategy. High-quality images on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and other platforms help drive traffic to your online store and engage potential customers.

When creating social media marketing images, it’s important to keep your visuals consistent. This means using a similar color scheme, style, and tone in all of your product photos. For lifestyle shots, make sure the images align with the platform’s audience. For instance, Instagram users love aesthetically pleasing, lifestyle-oriented photos, while Facebook may favor more direct product shots with calls to action.

Product Photo Editing: A Key Step for Perfection

Product photo editing is another critical part of the process. Even with great lighting and backdrops, your product photos can benefit from some post-production work. This could include color correction, cropping, removing blemishes, and adjusting exposure levels.

However, editing can be time-consuming, especially for small business owners who are juggling multiple tasks. That's where innovative tools like AI product photography can step in. With AI-powered editing tools, you can speed up the process, make your photos look professional, and focus more on growing your business rather than spending hours in Photoshop.

Brand Activation Using AI

AI is changing the way small business owners approach product photography. One area where AI is making waves is in creating background images for product photos. For example, Deggie.ai is an AI tool that helps generate stunning backgrounds for your product photos based on a simple text prompt. This is a game-changer for businesses that want high-quality, cost-effective product images without the need for complex editing software or expensive photoshoots.

With Deggie.ai, you can quickly and easily create engaging lifestyle shots, even without the need for traditional backdrops or large sets. Simply input a description of the desired background, and the AI generates it automatically. This tool is perfect for small business owners who want to stay within budget while achieving professional-quality images.

The Future of Product Photography with AI

As the demand for high-quality eCommerce photography grows, small business owners are looking for ways to streamline the process without sacrificing quality. AI tools like Deggie.ai are helping bridge that gap. By eliminating the need for costly photo shoots and complex editing, AI product photography makes it easier for small business owners to create stunning, professional product images quickly and affordably.

AI-driven photoshoot generators can also help entrepreneurs create visually appealing social media marketing images, as well as improve their website and online store visuals. With tools like these, business owners can focus on scaling their business while letting AI handle the complex aspects of product photography.

Conclusion: Streamlining Your Product Photography with AI Tools

Styling your product photos and creating engaging lifestyle shots is crucial for connecting with your audience and driving sales. By using thoughtful backdrops, capturing the perfect lighting, and incorporating real people into your images, you can elevate your eCommerce store and make your products stand out. Additionally, leveraging social media marketing images and optimizing your photos with editing tools can help improve your brand presence across platforms.

However, the rise of AI tools like Deggie.ai takes product photography to a new level. With the ability to generate stunning backgrounds from a simple text prompt, these tools make it easier than ever for small business owners to create professional-quality product photos without the time or cost typically associated with traditional photography.

Investing in AI-driven photography solutions can not only improve the visual appeal of your product images but also save you time and money. As a result, you can focus more on growing your business while letting AI handle the creative process.