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.

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!

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.
• 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Pros

• Plants bring life to your images and can be a clutch move for environmentally-friendly or eco-conscious products.

Cons

• Some plants are picky about their environment.

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

• There’s just something magical about using these textural beauts to capture your images.

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.

9. Decorative tile

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.

Pros

• Tile can add a whole other dimension to your images.

Cons

• Tile can be heavy and bulky to work with.

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.

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.

Cons

• You’ll need to create a “container” or space to keep your fog in around your products.

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.

Pros

• These backdrops are incredibly versatile.

Cons

• Can damage or tear easily.

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.

Pros

• You can convey that sense of crispness of ice.

Cons

• Ice melts. You've gotta work fast with ice or have a backup plan if things start to melt a little too quickly.

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.

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.

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.

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.

If you’re ready to take your shoots to the next level, consider working with our styling services to ensure every backdrop, prop, and product is arranged perfectly for your brand.