Electronics are simultaneously the easiest and hardest products to photograph. Easy because they have clean lines and simple shapes. Hard because of screens, LEDs, reflective surfaces, and tiny details that customers need to see.
The Unique Challenges
Screens
A turned-off screen is a black mirror that reflects everything in the room. A turned-on screen creates exposure problems (the screen is much brighter than the product body).
Solution: Photograph with the screen off, then composite a screen image in post-processing. Or photograph in a dark room with only the screen lit.
Reflective Surfaces
Glossy plastic, brushed metal, chrome accents — electronics are full of reflective surfaces that show your lighting setup, your camera, and your room.
Solution: Use diffused lighting (softbox or light tent). For extremely reflective products, a light tent is almost mandatory.
Tiny Details
USB-C ports, button labels, LED indicators — customers need to see these details to make purchase decisions.
Solution: Include at least one macro/close-up shot showing ports and buttons. Shoot at f/8 or higher for maximum depth of field.
LEDs and Indicators
Products with LED lights (speakers, chargers, gaming peripherals) need to show those lights in action.
Solution: One photo in a slightly darkened room with LEDs visible. This shows the product "alive" and functional.
The 7-Shot Electronics Template
- Three-quarter front — Main image, shows the product's face and one side
- Back/ports — Shows all connections (USB, HDMI, power, etc.)
- In-use — Product being used by a person (headphones on head, speaker on desk)
- Scale reference — Product next to a phone, hand, or common object
- Detail close-up — Buttons, ports, build quality details
- Infographic — Specs, features, compatibility information
- What's included — Product + all accessories laid out
Reflective Surface Techniques
The Light Tent Method
A $15 collapsible light tent eliminates reflections on most electronics. Place the product inside, light from outside through the diffusion material.
Best for: Small electronics (earbuds, chargers, small speakers)
The Gradient Background
Instead of pure white, use a gradient from white to light gray. This gives reflective surfaces something neutral to reflect, rather than showing the room.
Best for: Medium electronics (headphones, tablets, keyboards)
The Dark Field Method
Place the product on a black surface with lighting from the sides only. This creates bright edges on a dark background — dramatic and premium-looking.
Best for: Premium electronics (watches, high-end headphones, luxury gadgets)
Post-Processing
Electronics benefit from clean, precise post-processing:
- Background removal with pic1.ai — clean cutout preserving all details
- Subtle shadow — contact shadow for grounding
- No color enhancement — electronics should look exactly as they are
- Sharpening — slightly more than other categories (customers expect crisp tech images)
Screen Compositing
For products with screens (tablets, phones, monitors):
- Photograph the product with the screen off (clean, no reflections)
- Find or create the screen content you want to show
- Use perspective transform to match the screen angle
- Composite the screen content onto the product
- Add a subtle screen glow for realism
This takes 5-10 minutes per product but makes a huge difference. A product with a blank screen looks dead. A product with a vibrant screen looks alive and desirable.
For the lighting setup, check out my budget guide. And for the batch processing workflow, here's the efficiency guide.