Product photography of shoes, in-house
Product photography of shoes works best with a fixed light box that gives even light from all sides. You see the colour and material exactly as they are, for example that it is real leather, and you take the same series of photos of every pair: left, right, front, back and the sole, or a 360° video.
Demo with your own shoes Read the guide
By Birgitta, MagicBOX · Updated 29 October 2026 · 6 min read
In short
- With shoes, colour counts, and buyers need to see what material the shoe is made of, for example leather.
- The usual approach is a series of photos from every side (left, right, front, back and the sole), and more and more often a 360° video.
- Shiny parts, such as a chrome buckle, cause reflections. The door with a hole keeps that under control.
- For shoes, the MagicBOX Square 360° (€1,460) is the most widely used model. For boots, the Large 360° (€2,380) fits, and for bags the Large (€2,065).
- Outsourcing a photo costs €15–€20 on average. With 4 photos per item, that is €60–€80.
Why are shoes difficult to photograph?
Because buyers cannot feel or try on a shoe. The photo therefore has to show the colour and material as they really are.
Shoe webshops and shoe brands launch new collections several times a year, often with many colour variants. They usually photograph from every side, and they increasingly make a 360° video too.
Many companies now do it themselves in a home-made photo studio or a light tent, or they hire a photographer.
- Colour and materialThe colour of the shoe, and seeing that it is leather, decide whether a buyer trusts what they see.
- Many anglesLeft, right, front, back and the sole: a whole series for every pair, and again for every colour variant.
- Shiny detailsA chrome buckle or other metal parts reflect lamps and your surroundings.
How do you take product photos of shoes for your webshop?
Set up one fixed arrangement and photograph every pair the same way, from every side.
- Set up your camera oncePut the camera on a tripod in front of the MagicBOX and set it up properly once. After that, every pair gets the same settings.
- Place the shoe in the MagicBOXPut the shoe in a fixed position so that every pair appears in the frame the same way.
- Photograph from every sideTake photos from the left, right, front, back and of the sole.
- Use the door for reflectionsDo you see reflections on chrome, for example on a buckle? Then photograph through the hole in the door.
- Put the photos onlineAdd them to your webshop and social media. Or make a 360° video with a turntable.
Which background and lighting work best for shoes?
Even light from all sides and a calm, white background.
The MagicBOX lights the shoe from all sides. That means no harsh shadows, the colour and material stay visible, and reflections on shiny parts are reduced. Amazon and Zalando often ask for a white background. The background stays calm and white, so you get a product photo of shoes on a white background and all the attention goes to the shoe. The photos are ready to use straight away, with little to no post-processing. MagicBOX does not remove backgrounds or edit photos; the advantage lies in the even light you start with.
Camera or smartphone: which suits shoes?
Both work: a smartphone is fine for a few pairs of shoes, while a camera on a tripod is better suited to a whole collection.
With a camera, you set up the settings for the MagicBOX once and then get the same photo for every pair. After purchase, you receive tips and tricks for the settings on your camera or smartphone in combination with the MagicBOX; you can also find them on the page Tips & tricks for using the MagicBOX.
Tricky cases
Colour and material
The colour of the shoe, and seeing that it is leather, are often decisive for the buyer. Even light from all sides shows both as they really are.
Shiny parts, such as a buckle
Chrome reflects lamps, you and your camera. The door with a hole for the lens solves this: you photograph through the hole and the reflection disappears. (The smaller MagicBOX models come with a door as standard; for the larger models it can be ordered as an extra.)
Boots and bags
Boots are bigger than an ordinary shoe. Many shoe manufacturers also sell bags. For these larger items, the Large 360° and the Large are the most suitable.
Large or unusual products
If your product does not fit a standard model, a custom build is possible, for example in a different size. We are happy to think along with you about specific requirements; in that case, please contact Ronald.
What do Bol, Amazon and Zalando require from product photos of shoes?
All three mainly ask for a white background. The rest differs per platform, and the requirements change. Check the platform’s partner portal before you start selling.
- Bol: the Dutch and Belgian marketplace asks for a white, neutral background without visible shadows, at least 500 × 500 pixels; the zoom function works from 1200 × 1200 pixels. Bol’s rules
- Amazon: often asks for a white background as well.
- Zalando: white background for the primary packshot, portrait format with a ratio of 1:1.44, at least 762 × 1100 pixels, JPG in sRGB and no more than 20 MB (page updated on 3 March 2025). Zalando’s guidelines
Can you make a 360° video of shoes?
Yes, with a turntable. That way buyers see the shoe from every side. For you it saves time: you do not have to turn the shoe by hand.
The MagicBOX Square 360° and the MagicBOX Large 360° have a built-in turntable. A separate turntable is available as an accessory. A 360° recording takes 1 minute.
You can find more examples on the page 360° product videos.
Examples from the MagicBOX
Bring your own products
We photograph them together in the showroom in Almere (the Netherlands), in English if you like. Prefer an online demo? That is possible too.
Which MagicBOX is the best photo studio for shoes?
For shoes, the MagicBOX Square 360° is the most widely used model.
The inside and outside dimensions of every MagicBOX are listed on the website, so you can check whether your shoes fit and how much space you need. Not sure? Bring your own shoes to the demo.
- Most widely used for shoes, also for 360° video
MagicBOX Square 360° · €1,460 - For boots and larger shoes, also for 360° videoMagicBOX Large 360° · €2,380
- For bags, which many shoe manufacturers also sellMagicBOX Large · €2,065
MagicBOX Square 360° · €1,460
MagicBOX Large 360° · €2,380
MagicBOX Large · €2,065Photograph it yourself or outsource it?
With your own MagicBOX you are much more flexible: you take the photo whenever you want. For social media you want to act straight away, not wait until a photographer has time.
Outsourcing a photo costs €15–€20 on average. With 4 photos per item, that is €60–€80. A MagicBOX Square 360° costs €1,460; as a worked example, it pays for itself after roughly 18 to 24 items. The actual payback time depends on how much you photograph. As the seller, you are also more critical of your own products than a hired photographer: you know what the buyer looks for.
| Your own MagicBOX | External photographer | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | One-off, for example €1,460 for the Square 360° | €15–€20 per photo on average |
| Turnaround | Immediate, at your own location, whenever you want | Scheduling and waiting |
| Consistency | Every pair with the same lighting and angle | Depends on the session |
What do other customers say?
The MagicBOX has a score of 5/5 from 45 reviews. Customers from various industries explain in their own words why they chose a MagicBOX, from flower growers to webshops and parts suppliers. A customer from Belgium wrote on Trustpilot:
“Happy with my MagicBOX. Good explanation and demonstration before buying. Good lighting, a handy turntable, and with the extra tips on camera settings little to no post-processing is needed. So, great!” (translated from Dutch)
Leen Teblick, Belgium · Trustpilot, 8 September 2026 · ★★★★★
Read their experiences on our review page, or see Trustpilot for more reviews.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make sure the colour and leather of a shoe are clearly visible?
With even light from all sides, so the colour is right and you can see that it is leather. Photograph the shoe from every side: left, right, front, back and the sole.
How do you photograph shiny parts such as a buckle without reflections?
With even light from all sides. If you still see reflections on chrome, for example on a buckle, use the door with the hole and photograph through it. That way the lamps, you and your camera are not reflected in the metal.
Which MagicBOX is the best photo studio for shoes?
For shoes, the MagicBOX Square 360° (€1,460) is the most widely used model. For boots, the Large 360° (€2,380) fits, and for bags the Large (€2,065). The inside and outside dimensions are listed on the website.
Can I also show a shoe as a 360° video?
Yes, with the MagicBOX Square 360° or Large 360°, which have a built-in turntable. A separate turntable is available as an accessory. A 360° recording takes 1 minute.
What does it cost to photograph shoes yourself?
Outsourcing a photo costs €15–€20 on average; with 4 photos per item, that is €60–€80. You buy a MagicBOX once, for example the Square 360° for €1,460. The actual payback time depends on how much you photograph.