Product images have stricter rules than most AI art: the product has to look exactly like the real one, the lighting has to be believable, and there usually needs to be room for copy. This guide shows how to photograph a reference, which shots a store needs, prompt templates for each, how the setup changes by product category, what marketplaces expect, and how to budget credits for a whole catalog in the image studio.
Credit prices and upload limits are the ones the NanoBananas studio uses on November 9, 2026.
Photograph the reference properly
The reference photo sets the ceiling for every result. A phone is enough if you follow a few rules.
- Shoot on a plain, light background near a window, with the light falling evenly across the product.
- Keep packaging text in focus and facing the camera. Shoot straight on, not from a steep angle.
- Crop so the product fills most of the frame. Clutter in the reference leaks into the result.
- Use a sharp, uncompressed file: JPG, PNG or WebP up to 10 MB.
- For products with two important sides, shoot both. You can upload up to four images per run, for example front, back and a close-up of the label.
For multi-angle or multi-product sets, the character and product consistency guide explains how to keep the same item stable across a series.
The seven shots most stores need
| Shot | Where it is used | What to specify | Aspect ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean packshot | Marketplace main image, catalog | Pure white or light gray background, centered, soft shadow | 1:1 |
| Lifestyle | Product pages, social | A real setting, props that suggest use, natural light | 4:5 or 3:2 |
| Detail | Texture, material, features | Macro framing, raking light across the surface | 1:1 or 4:5 |
| Scale | Size and context | Product held in a hand or beside a familiar object | 4:5 |
| Flat lay | Social, bundles, kits | Top-down view, arranged items, even light | 1:1 or 4:5 |
| On model | Apparel, jewelry, accessories | A person wearing or using the product | 4:5 or 2:3 |
| Banner | Hero sections, ads | Wide framing with empty space for headline text | 16:9 or 21:9 |
Prompt templates
Clean packshot
Keep the exact product from the reference image, including the label text and colors. Place it centered on a seamless light gray background with a soft natural shadow underneath. Even studio lighting, sharp focus, ecommerce packshot.
Lifestyle scene
Keep the exact product from the reference image. Place it on a sunlit marble bathroom counter beside a folded white towel and a small green plant. Soft morning light from a window on the left, shallow depth of field, natural lifestyle photography.
Texture detail
Keep the exact product from the reference image. Extreme close-up of the surface texture and stitching, low raking light from the side to show the material, very shallow depth of field, macro product photography.
Flat lay
Keep the exact product from the reference image. Top-down flat lay on a pale linen surface, arranged with a notebook, sunglasses and a coffee cup, even soft daylight, neat spacing, natural shadows.
On model
Keep the exact bag from the reference image, including the hardware and stitching. A woman in a cream trench coat carries it on her shoulder on a quiet city street, waist-up framing, overcast soft light, fashion catalog photography.
Wide banner with copy space
Keep the exact product from the reference image. Place it on the right third of a wide 16:9 frame on a warm sand-colored surface, with a clean, softly lit empty area on the left for headline text. Calm, premium product photography.
How the setup changes by category
| Category | Surface and setting | Light | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skincare and cosmetics | Marble, stone, water droplets, botanicals | Soft diffused light, gentle highlights | Small ingredient text on labels |
| Apparel | On model, hanging, or folded flat lay | Soft overcast or window light | Fabric texture, print alignment, color accuracy |
| Food and beverage | Wooden tables, linen, natural props | Warm side light, backlight for drinks | Condensation and liquid levels looking real |
| Electronics | Dark or clean light surfaces | Controlled reflections, rim light | Logos, ports and button placement |
| Jewelry | Velvet, stone, skin | Small hard highlights for sparkle | Stone count, prong shape, scale |
| Furniture and home | A furnished room at realistic scale | Daylight from windows | Proportions against the room |
Lighting words that change the result
| Term | Effect | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Soft window light | Gentle shadows, natural look | Lifestyle shots |
| Even studio lighting | Flat and clean, little shadow | Marketplace packshots |
| Golden hour backlight | Warm glow and rim light | Beverages, glass, outdoor products |
| Raking side light | Shows surface texture | Fabric, leather, wood |
| Hard midday sun | Crisp, high-contrast shadows | Bold summer campaigns |
| Rim light on a dark background | Bright outline, premium feel | Electronics, fragrance, spirits |
What marketplaces expect
Main images on most marketplaces follow stricter rules than the rest of your gallery. Many, including Amazon, require a pure white background for the main image and do not allow added text, badges or watermarks on it. Check each marketplace's current image rules before you upload.
- Main image: packshot on pure white, product filling most of the frame, no props that are not included in the sale.
- Secondary images: lifestyle, scale, detail and on-model shots are where AI images help most.
- Accuracy: the image must show the product as it is sold. Do not let the model add features, colors or accessories the real product lacks.
- Size: generate at 2K or 4K so marketplace zoom works; resize with the resize or compress tools if a platform limits file size.
Budgeting credits for a catalog
Product work is repetitive, so a fixed recipe per product keeps costs predictable. One recipe that works well for many stores:
| Step | Model and resolution | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 4 background and composition drafts | Nano Banana 2 at 1K | 12 |
| Final packshot | Nano Banana 2.1 at 2K | 8 |
| Final lifestyle shot | Nano Banana 2.1 at 2K | 8 |
| Final banner | Nano Banana 2.1 at 2K | 8 |
| Total per product | 36 |
Write one fixed style sentence for the whole catalog (background, light, framing) and change only the product reference. That keeps every listing visually consistent.
Which model for product work
| Model | Best for | Credits (1K / 2K / 4K) |
|---|---|---|
| Nano Banana 2.1 | Legible labels, packaging text, multi-product scenes | 6 / 8 / 16 |
| Nano Banana Pro | Moody hero images, rich texture and atmosphere | 8 / 12 / 20 |
| Nano Banana 2 | Fast, cheap background tests | 3 / 4 / 8 |
Use 4K when the image will be printed or shown as a large hero, and 2K for web pages and social posts. Want the product to move? See the image to video guide.
Before you publish
- Label wording matches the real product, letter by letter.
- Colors match the real item under neutral light.
- Proportions and size are believable next to props and hands.
- Logo position and shape are unchanged.
- No extra features, accessories or variants the product does not have.
- The file meets the marketplace's size and background rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can Nano Banana keep my product label readable?
Usually, when you start from a sharp reference photo and tell it to keep the label. Nano Banana 2.1 at 2K or 4K gives the best odds for small text. Always check the wording before publishing.
What resolution should I use for product photos?
Use 1K to explore, 2K for web pages and social posts, and 4K for print, large hero banners and marketplace zoom.
Can I put several products in one image?
Yes. Upload each product as a separate reference (up to four) and name them in the prompt, for example "the bottle from the first image beside the jar from the second image".
Can I use AI images as my marketplace main image?
Only if the image shows the product accurately and meets the marketplace's rules, which often require a pure white background and no added text. Check each marketplace's current policy.
How much does a set of product photos cost?
A typical recipe of four drafts on Nano Banana 2 and three finals on Nano Banana 2.1 at 2K costs about 36 credits per product.
Which model is best for product photography?
Nano Banana 2.1 when labels and packaging text must stay legible, Nano Banana Pro for atmospheric hero images, and Nano Banana 2 for cheap tests.
Can I use the images commercially?
Images you generate can be used commercially, subject to our Terms of Service and the policies of the model providers.