Imported from halt-catch-fire/mutiny (guides/photo/product-photography/SKILL.md). Install upstream with npx skills add halt-catch-fire/mutiny --skill product-photography. Copyright stays with the author.

Install the belt CLI skill: npx skills add belt-sh/cli

Product Photography

Create professional product images with AI via inference.sh CLI.

Quick Start

Requires inference.sh CLI (belt). Install instructions

belt login

# Clean studio packshot
belt app run bytedance/seedream-4-5 --input '{
  "prompt": "professional product photography, single premium wireless headphone on clean white background, soft studio lighting with subtle shadow, commercial e-commerce style, sharp focus, 4K quality",
  "size": "2K"
}'

Shot Types

1. Hero Shot (Primary Image)

The main image customers see first. Clean, focused, aspirational.

belt app run bytedance/seedream-4-5 --input '{
  "prompt": "hero product shot, premium smartwatch floating at slight angle, clean gradient background transitioning from white to light grey, dramatic rim lighting, subtle reflection below, commercial photography, magazine quality, sharp details",
  "size": "2K"
}'

Rule	Why
Product fills 80% of frame	Maximizes visual impact
Slight angle (15-30 degrees)	Adds dimension vs flat front-on
One hero light + fill	Creates depth without harsh shadows
Neutral or brand-color background	Keeps focus on product

2. Packshot (E-Commerce White Background)

Amazon, Shopify, and most marketplaces require pure white backgrounds.

# Pure white background packshot
belt app run bytedance/seedream-4-5 --input '{
  "prompt": "product packshot, leather wallet standing upright at slight angle on pure white background #FFFFFF, soft even studio lighting, no shadows, e-commerce product photography, Amazon listing style, clean sharp focus",
  "size": "2K"
}'

Amazon Requirements:

Pure white background (RGB 255, 255, 255)
Product fills 85%+ of frame
No props, text, logos, or watermarks
Minimum 1000px on longest side (1600px+ recommended for zoom)
JPEG or PNG, sRGB color

3. Lifestyle Shot

Product in context — shows how it's used or where it belongs.

belt app run bytedance/seedream-4-5 --input '{
  "prompt": "lifestyle product photography, premium coffee mug on rustic wooden table beside an open book and reading glasses, morning sunlight streaming through window, cozy home atmosphere, shallow depth of field, warm tones, editorial style",
  "size": "2K"
}'

4. Scale Shot

Shows product size relative to familiar objects or human hands.

belt app run falai/flux-dev-lora --input '{
  "prompt": "product scale photography, compact portable speaker held in one hand, person showing how small and portable it is, clean blurred background, natural lighting, lifestyle tech photography",
  "width": 1024,
  "height": 1024
}'

5. Detail / Close-Up Shot

Highlights texture, material quality, or specific features.

belt app run bytedance/seedream-4-5 --input '{
  "prompt": "extreme close-up product detail, premium leather bag stitching and grain texture, macro photography, shallow depth of field, soft directional lighting highlighting texture, luxury product photography, editorial quality",
  "size": "2K"
}'

6. Group / Collection Shot

Multiple products or variants together.

belt app run bytedance/seedream-4-5 --input '{
  "prompt": "product collection flat lay photography, three skincare bottles arranged in triangular composition on marble surface, minimal props, soft overhead lighting, beauty product photography, editorial style, coordinated brand aesthetic",
  "size": "2K"
}'

Camera Angles

Angle	Best For	Prompt Keyword
Eye level	Most products, relatable	"eye level shot", "straight on"
Slight above (30°)	Flat lay, food, cosmetics	"overhead angle", "45 degree angle"
Bird's eye (90°)	Flat lay compositions	"flat lay", "top down", "overhead"
Low angle	Making products look powerful/premium	"low angle", "looking up at product"
3/4 angle	Most versatile, shows depth	"three-quarter view", "slight angle"

Lighting Setups

Setup	Look	Prompt Keywords
Soft box (diffused)	Even, minimal shadows	"soft studio lighting", "diffused light"
Rim/edge lighting	Dramatic outline glow	"rim lighting", "edge light", "backlit"
Natural window	Warm, authentic, lifestyle	"natural window light", "golden hour"
Hard directional	Strong shadows, editorial	"dramatic directional lighting", "hard shadow"
Flat/even	E-commerce, no shadows	"even lighting", "no shadows", "flat light"

Shadow Types

Shadow	Effect	When to Use
No shadow	Clean, floating	Amazon/e-commerce requirements
Contact shadow	Tiny shadow where product meets surface	Grounded but clean
Drop shadow	Soft shadow below product	Adds depth, professional
Dramatic shadow	Long, directional shadow	Editorial, luxury, mood
Reflection	Mirror-like surface below	Tech, luxury, premium feel

Background Guide

Background	Best For	Prompt Keywords
Pure white (#FFFFFF)	E-commerce, marketplaces	"pure white background"
Light grey gradient	Hero shots, premium	"gradient background white to grey"
Marble/stone	Luxury, beauty, jewelry	"marble surface"
Wood/rustic	Artisan, food, natural products	"rustic wooden table"
Colored (brand)	Brand consistency	"background color [hex]"
Lifestyle environment	Context shots	"kitchen counter", "desk", "bathroom shelf"

Composition Rules

Rule	Application
Rule of thirds	Place product at intersection points for lifestyle shots
Center dominant	E-commerce/packshots — product dead center
Negative space	Leave room for text overlay if marketing use
Leading lines	Use table edges, shadows to draw eye to product
Odd numbers	Groups of 3 or 5 products look better than 2 or 4
Triangle composition	Arrange 3 items in a triangle for balance

E-Commerce Image Set

A complete product listing needs 7-9 images in this order:

Position	Image Type	Purpose
1	Hero / packshot	Primary listing image, white background
2	Lifestyle	Product in use/context
3	Feature callout	Key feature highlighted
4	Scale reference	Size in hand or next to known object
5	Detail close-up	Material quality, craftsmanship
6	Alternate angle	Back or side view
7	Infographic	Dimensions, specs, what's included
8	Packaging	Unboxing experience
9	Social proof	Rating overlay or lifestyle with caption

# Generate a complete e-commerce set
# 1. Hero packshot
belt app run bytedance/seedream-4-5 --input '{
  "prompt": "product packshot, premium bluetooth speaker on pure white background, slight angle, soft studio lighting, subtle contact shadow, e-commerce photography, sharp, 4K",
  "size": "2K"
}' --no-wait

# 2. Lifestyle
belt app run bytedance/seedream-4-5 --input '{
  "prompt": "lifestyle product photography, bluetooth speaker on poolside table, summer setting, sunglasses and drink nearby, warm natural light, vacation vibes, editorial style",
  "size": "2K"
}' --no-wait

# 3. Detail
belt app run bytedance/seedream-4-5 --input '{
  "prompt": "extreme close-up of speaker grille texture and premium materials, macro product photography, soft lighting, showing build quality, sharp detail",
  "size": "2K"
}' --no-wait

# 4. Scale
belt app run falai/flux-dev-lora --input '{
  "prompt": "person holding compact bluetooth speaker in one hand, showing portable size, clean blurred background, natural light, lifestyle tech photography",
  "width": 1024,
  "height": 1024
}' --no-wait

Product Categories

Food & Beverage

Key: overhead angles, natural light, visible texture, steam/freshness cues
Prompt add: "food photography, appetizing, fresh, natural daylight, shallow depth of field"
Avoid: artificial-looking colors, perfectly symmetrical plating (looks fake)

Jewelry & Accessories

Key: macro detail, reflective surfaces, black or gradient backgrounds
Prompt add: "jewelry photography, macro, sparkle, reflective surface, luxury"
Avoid: flat lighting (kills sparkle), busy backgrounds

Electronics & Tech

Key: clean lines, dark or gradient backgrounds, rim lighting
Prompt add: "tech product photography, sleek, modern, rim lighting, premium"
Avoid: warm/rustic backgrounds (wrong aesthetic)

Cosmetics & Beauty

Key: flat lay or slight angle, marble/clean surfaces, soft pastels
Prompt add: "beauty product photography, clean, minimal, soft light, editorial"
Avoid: harsh shadows, dark moody lighting (unless luxury/niche)

Apparel & Fashion

Key: on model or flat lay, lifestyle context, brand mood
Prompt add: "fashion photography, editorial, styled, natural pose"
Avoid: pure white background for lifestyle (save for e-commerce only)

Image Editing Workflow

# Generate base product image
belt app run bytedance/seedream-4-5 --input '{
  "prompt": "premium headphones on white background, studio product photography",
  "size": "2K"
}'

# Edit: change background to lifestyle
belt app run bytedance/seededit-3-0-i2i --input '{
  "prompt": "change the background to a modern minimalist desk setup with warm afternoon light, keep the headphones exactly the same",
  "image": "headphones-white.png"
}'

# Upscale for print
belt app run falai/topaz-image-upscaler --input '{
  "image": "headphones-lifestyle.png"
}'

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Problem	Fix
Busy backgrounds	Product gets lost	Clean, simple backgrounds — product is the star
Flat front-on angle	Looks like a mugshot	Slight 15-30° angle adds dimension
Wrong lighting for category	Tech on rustic wood, food in cold light	Match lighting to product category conventions
Too many props	Distracts from product	Max 2-3 supporting props for lifestyle shots
Inconsistent style across set	Looks unprofessional	Same lighting setup, same background family
No scale reference	Customers can't judge size	Include at least one shot with hands or known objects
Low resolution	Can't zoom, looks amateur	Generate at 2K+ and upscale if needed
Perfectly centered everything	Static, boring layout	Use rule of thirds for lifestyle, center only for packshots

Related Skills

npx skills add inference-sh/skills@ai-image-generation
npx skills add inference-sh/skills@flux-image
npx skills add inference-sh/skills@prompt-engineering

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