The quality of product images is often the last barrier between a visitor and a purchase. For a pet shop or e-commerce site selling pet accessories, clean, detailed, and brand-consistent photos increase trust, clicks, and sales. This practical guide offers tips on angles, lighting, styling, editing, and SEO optimization for images that convert. 🎯
💡 Why product photography matters
- ✅ Increase conversion rate and reduce returns.
- ✅ Makes your online store more professional and reliable.
- ✅ Works best in social campaigns and ads.
- ✅ Optimized images can be indexed on Google Images.
Keywords to use on the page: pet shop product photography, e-commerce dog product photos.
🧰 Recommended equipment (including smartphones)
- Camera: mirrorless or entry-level reflex (e.g. Canon M50, Sony A6000).
- Lens: 35–50mm for standard shots; 85mm for details.
- Tripod: stability and consistency.
- Light: Softbox or diffused natural light; for smartphones, use a window with a curtain.
- Still life table: neutral surface (light wood or white background) and reflective panels.
- Smartphone: use “pro” mode if available (low ISO, controlled exposure).
🔦 Light setup and angles that convert
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Lighting: Use diffused lighting to avoid harsh shadows; add a side light for texture and depth. Balance the white balance for accurate colors.
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Essential angles:
• Front — whole product on neutral background (catalogue).
• 3/4 — shows volume and shape.
• Detail — macro on seams, labels, engravings.
• Contextualized / lifestyle — dog wearing harness or using bowl.
• Flat lay — from above for matching accessory sets.
🎨 Styling and composition
- Maintain color consistency with your brand palette (2–3 colors).
- Use simple and consistent props (neutral mat, cloths, wooden bones).
- Avoid overloading: leave “breathing” space around the product.
- For bulk orders, also show pack size and quantity (e.g., 12-pack) to give an idea of your stock. 📦
🔧 Quick technical settings
- ISO: 100–400 (as low as possible).
- Aperture: f/5.6–f/11 for greater depth of field on full-frame products.
- Shutter speed: Use a tripod if necessary.
- Format: RAW for cameras; high-quality JPEG for smartphones.
🖥️ Web editing and optimization
- Recommended workflow: import → selection → light/color correction → cropping → compressed export.
- Apps: Lightroom, Photoshop, Snapseed (mobile).
- Formats: Prefer WebP or optimized JPEG. Long side ~1200px for product pages, balanced compression (70–80% JPEG or WebP equivalent).
- Aim for files between ~80–200 KB depending on resolution (quality/speed balance).
🔎 Image SEO: Filename, Alt Text, and Markup
- Descriptive filename with keywords: e.g. personalized-silicone-bowl-pink-dogmoda.jpg
- Descriptive and helpful alt text (examples below).
- Use structured data products whenever possible to leverage Google.
Examples of optimized alt text:
• Customized Blue Silicone Collapsible Dog Bowl - Dogmoda
• Branded dog harness with engraved tag - detail
• Pet shop accessory set: water bottle, collar and mat - product photo
📝 Quick checklist before publishing
- Shoot: front, 3/4, detail, lifestyle, packaging.
- Check exposure and colors on a calibrated monitor.
- Crop according to use (1:1 for Instagram, 4:3 for catalog, etc.).
- Rename files with keywords.
- Write descriptive alt text.
- Compress without losing quality (target 80–200 KB).
- Upload and add Product schema if possible.
📷 Suggested shot list
- Photo 1: front on neutral background.
- Photo 2: logo/label detail.
- Photo 3: 3/4 in form and function.
- Photo 4: contextualized with dog (lifestyle).
- Photo 5: Packaging for bulk orders.
- Photo 6: Socially optimized version (1:1 for Instagram).
📲 Variants for social media and ads
- Instagram feed: 1:1 with lifestyle and CTA.
- Stories / Reels: 9:16 vertical with video or timelapse.
- Facebook / Ads: 1200×628 (landscape).
- Pinterest: 2:3 verticals for greater engagement.
📱 Low-budget shots with smartphone
- Use diffused natural light near a window.
- Useful apps: Lightroom Mobile or ProCam for ISO/exposure control.
- Smartphone tripod or improvised stand.
- Shoot many variations and select the best one in post-production.
🔗 Dogmoda Services
If you need professional photos or support in creating your product catalog (still life, in-store shooting, images for social media), contact us: https://www.dogmoda.it/contatti 💬
We offer photography packages designed for pet shops and grooming salons, as well as editing and e-commerce optimization assistance.
✅ Conclusion
Product photography is an investment that pays off: it improves brand perception, increases sales, and facilitates customer communication. With the right lighting, well-chosen angles, consistent editing, and SEO optimization, you can transform your pet shop catalog into a powerful sales tool. ✨