Question 1

How do you photograph a glazed ceramic without harsh reflections?

Accepted Answer

Glazed surfaces mirror the room, so the light has to be diffused and shaped rather than pointed straight at the piece. The briefs below specify soft directional keys and considered surfaces that let a glaze read glossy and rich without the blown hotspots that flatten it.

Question 2

How do you show the texture of a handmade piece in a photo?

Accepted Answer

Texture reads under raking, directional light that catches the surface at a low angle — flat light erases the throw marks, weave, and grain that make it handmade. Several briefs are built around texture, staged so the craft reads clearly.

Question 3

What surface looks best for handmade and decor photography?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the piece and mood. Warm ceramics and wood read richer on travertine, plaster, or linen; cool stoneware and glass sit cleaner on stone, marble, or a neutral ground. The briefs pair each piece with a surface and lighting that flatter it together.

Question 4

Do I need a real camera or a studio to use these?

Accepted Answer

No. Each brief is a photographer’s shoot recipe — the surface, lighting, and camera setup written out in plain terms. You upload a photo of your product, adapt the brief to it, and ioli generates the finished image on its photography-tuned model. No camera, no lightbox, no re-shoot.

Question 5

Can I use these for Shopify, Etsy, or Instagram?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Adapt a brief to your product, then generate a clean centered pack shot for a product page or a moodier editorial frame for social. ioli generates the finished image on its photography-tuned model — no copying into another tool.

Question 6

What is the difference between a hero shot and a four-shot campaign?

Accepted Answer

A hero shot is one polished image — the kind that sits at the top of a product page. A four-shot campaign is four coordinated images that read as one shoot: a clean pack shot plus three styled angles or scenes, consistent in light and mood, ready to roll out across a listing and social.

Handmade & decor product photography.

30 free credits to start.