360° Product Photography & Video for Perth Brands [2025 Guide]

When customers can’t touch a product before buying, the next best thing is being able to spin, rotate, and examine it from every angle. 360° product photography and video give online shoppers the confidence of an in-store experience—reducing purchase anxiety and cart abandonment.

For Perth e-commerce brands competing nationally and globally, interactive product imagery isn’t just premium—it’s increasingly expected. This guide covers everything from basic concepts to implementation strategies.

Understanding 360° Product Photography

What Is 360° Product Photography?

360° product photography captures your product from all angles—typically every 5° to 15° around a full rotation. These individual frames (usually 24-72 images) combine into an interactive viewer that lets customers spin the product with their mouse or finger.

The experience simulates:

• Picking up a product in-store
• Turning it over to examine all sides
• Checking build quality and details
• Understanding true shape and proportion

Unlike static photography that shows one carefully chosen angle, 360° reveals everything—which builds trust.

360° Photography vs Product Video

Both enhance product pages, but serve different purposes:

The ideal approach: Use 360° photography for detail examination and product video for context, demonstrations, and emotional connection.

The Business Case for 360° Product Imagery

Conversion Rate Impact

Research consistently shows 360° interactive views significantly impact purchasing behaviour:

Source: Various e-commerce studies including Shopify, BigCommerce

Why It Works

360° product imagery addresses key online shopping barriers:

1. The “What’s it really like?” question Static photos can hide imperfections or mislead about proportions. 360° reveals everything, setting accurate expectations.

2. Touch and feel simulation While we can’t replicate texture online, letting customers rotate products mimics the physical examination process.

3. Detail verification Customers can check specific features—logos, closures, finishes—from the angle that matters to them.

4. Reduced uncertainty The more information customers have, the more confident their purchase decision. Confidence correlates with conversion.

Return on Investment Calculation

Consider whether 360° photography is worth the investment:

Example scenario:

• Current conversion rate: 2%
• Monthly product page visits: 5,000
• Average order value: $120
• Current monthly revenue: $12,000

With 360° views (conservative 20% increase):

• New conversion rate: 2.4%
• New monthly revenue: $14,400
• Monthly increase: $2,400

Breakeven: If 360° photography costs $150 per product and you shoot 10 products ($1,500 total), you break even in less than one month—then profit ongoing.

Products That Benefit Most from 360°

Not every product needs 360° photography. Focus investment where impact is highest:

High-Value 360° Candidates

Lower Priority Products

• Flat items (t-shirts laid flat, posters)
• Consumables (food products, unless packaging is featured)
• Simple rectangles (books, basic boxes)
• Products where texture matters more (may need video instead)

For Perth brands, if you’re selling premium homewares or skincare products, 360° adds significant perceived value.

Equipment for 360° Product Photography

The Turntable Setup

The core of 360° photography is consistent rotation:

Manual turntables ($30-100):

• User rotates product manually
• Mark increments (every 10° or 15°)
• Slower but affordable
• Best for small product volumes

Motorised turntables ($150-500):

• Electric rotation with stops
• Consistent timing between frames
• Often includes software integration
• Faster workflow for batches

Professional systems ($1,000-10,000+):

• Integrated camera triggering
• Precise step intervals
• Software automation
• High-volume production

Camera Requirements

360° photography requires consistent exposure across all frames:

Essentials:

• Manual mode control (no auto-exposure shifts)
• Remote triggering capability
• Tethered shooting preferred
• Adequate resolution (24MP+)

Ideal:

• Mirrorless or DSLR camera
• 50mm or 85mm lens for product work
• Locked focus (manual after initial focus)
• Fixed white balance

Acceptable:

• Higher-end smartphone (with app control)
• Compact camera with manual modes
• Consistent artificial lighting essential

Lighting for 360°

Lighting consistency is critical—shadows shouldn’t shift as the product rotates:

Recommended setup:

• Overhead softbox for main light
• Fill lights or reflectors on both sides
• Background light if using seamless
• Diffusion panels for even coverage

Avoid:

• Directional side lighting (creates rotating shadows)
• Single-point sources (harsh shadows)
• Mixed lighting (colour inconsistencies)
• Natural light (changes throughout session)

Backgrounds

White seamless (most common):

• Professional, e-commerce standard
• Easy post-processing
• Works for all product types

Coloured backgrounds:

• Brand-specific colours
• Requires consistent lighting
• Can add visual interest

Transparent/gradient:

• Created in post-processing
• Provides flexibility
• Works with different website backgrounds

The 360° Photography Workflow

Pre-Production

1. Product preparation:

• Clean all products thoroughly
• Remove tags, stickers, price labels
• Steam fabrics
• Polish reflective surfaces
• Check for defects

2. Setup testing:

• Position turntable and camera
• Set lighting for even coverage
• Test full rotation for shadows
• Capture test sequence
• Review and adjust

3. Camera settings:

• Shoot in RAW for flexibility
• Lock exposure settings (manual mode)
• Set fixed white balance (not auto)
• Lock focus after initial setup
• Use remote trigger or timed capture

Capture Process

Standard workflow:

1. Position product on turntable centre
2. Initial focus and lock
3. Test shot and review
4. Capture sequence:
   • 36 frames = 10° increments
   • 72 frames = 5° increments
   • Consistent timing between frames
5. Review sequence for any issues
6. Repeat for next product

Time estimates:

• Simple product: 10-15 minutes
• Complex styling: 20-30 minutes
• Batch shooting: 5-10 minutes per product once setup stable

Post-Production

Per-frame editing:

• White balance consistency
• Exposure matching
• Background cleanup
• Dust and imperfection removal
• Colour matching across frames

Batch processing:

• Apply consistent adjustments to all frames
• Export at required dimensions
• Optimise file sizes (JPEG/WebP, 60-80% quality)
• Consistent naming convention

Assembly:

• Import to 360° viewer software
• Set rotation speed and behaviour
• Test interaction
• Export final viewer or files

File Management

Naming convention: ProductName_Frame01.jpg through ProductName_Frame36.jpg

Organisation:

/360 Photography
  /Product Name
    /Raw Files
    /Edited Frames
    /Final Viewer

File size targets:

• Individual frames: 50-150KB each
• Total sequence: Under 2MB for fast loading
• WebP format preferred for web use

Creating Product Videos

Types of Product Videos

1. Rotation video (automated):

• Product rotates on turntable
• Clean, professional look
• Can be created from 360° frames
• 10-30 seconds typical

2. Demonstration video:

• Shows product in use
• Highlights features and benefits
• More complex production
• 30-90 seconds typical

3. Lifestyle video:

• Product in context/setting
• Emotional connection focus
• Higher production value
• 15-60 seconds typical

4. Unboxing/reveal:

• Packaging to product journey
• Premium brand experience
• Instagram/TikTok friendly
• 15-45 seconds typical

Video Equipment Basics

Camera options:

• Modern smartphones (4K capable)
• Mirrorless cameras for best quality
• Webcams for quick social content
• Action cameras for unique angles

Audio (if needed):

• External microphone preferred
• Reduce background noise
• Consider adding music in post

Accessories:

• Tripod or gimbal for stability
• LED video lights
• Reflectors for fill

Product Video Best Practices

Technical standards:

• 4K resolution when possible (future-proof)
• 30fps minimum, 60fps for smooth motion
• Good lighting (same principles as photo)
• Stable footage (tripod/gimbal mandatory)

Content best practices:

• Hook in first 3 seconds
• Focus on one product per video
• Show scale (hands, common objects)
• Include key details/features
• End with call-to-action

Platform optimisation:

Implementing 360° on Your Website

360° Viewer Options

Hosted solutions (easiest):

• Sirv - Popular, good free tier
• Cloudimage - CDN integration
• Magic360 - WordPress integration
• Spin Studio - Simple setup

Self-hosted solutions:

• ThreeSixty.js - Open source
• jQuery Reel - Lightweight
• SpriteSpin - Feature-rich

E-commerce platform integrations:

• Shopify: Apps available (Sirv, others)
• WooCommerce: Plugins available
• BigCommerce: Built-in support
• Custom: JavaScript implementations

Performance Considerations

Large image sequences can slow your site:

Optimisation strategies:

• Compress individual frames (60-80% JPEG quality)
• Use WebP format where supported
• Lazy load 360° viewers (load on scroll/interaction)
• Preload only first few frames initially
• Cache properly with CDN

Target performance:

• Total sequence under 2MB
• Initial load under 500KB
• Remaining frames on interaction
• Maintain Core Web Vitals standards

Mobile Experience

360° must work well on mobile devices:

Mobile optimisation:

• Touch-friendly rotation controls
• Lower frame count for mobile (24 vs 72)
• Smaller image dimensions
• Prominent interaction prompt (“Spin to explore”)
• Consider pinch-to-zoom capability

DIY vs Professional 360° Photography

When DIY Works

Consider creating 360° photography yourself when:

• Product range is small (under 10 products)
• Budget is severely limited
• Products are simple shapes
• You’re comfortable with technology
• Quick turnaround needed for testing

DIY budget breakdown:

When to Hire Professionals

Consider professional product photography for 360° when:

• High product volume (50+ items)
• Complex products (reflective, intricate)
• Premium brand positioning
• Time is limited
• Consistency across large ranges critical
• Images for major retail channels

Professional advantages:

• Superior lighting and equipment
• Consistent quality across SKUs
• Faster turnaround for bulk work
• Post-production expertise included
• No equipment investment
• Scalable as you grow

Hybrid Approach

Many Perth brands use both:

• Hero products: Professional 360° and video
• Standard products: Professional flat lay or pack shots
• New additions: DIY product shots initially
• Social content: In-house quick content

Advanced 360° Techniques

Multi-Row 360° (Hemispherical)

For products where top and bottom views matter:

Standard 360°: Single horizontal rotation Multi-row: Multiple rotations at different angles

When to use:

• Shoes (top and sole views)
• Bags (standing and laid down)
• Complex electronics
• Premium products where detail justifies cost

Increased complexity:

• Multiple turntable positions
• More frames (72-216+ total)
• Higher production cost
• Larger file sizes

Zoom Functionality

Allow customers to zoom into details:

• Capture at higher resolution
• Implement zoom viewer overlay
• Focus on key detail areas
• Particularly valuable for jewellery, watches

Annotated 360° Views

Add interactive hotspots:

• Clickable points on product
• Pop-up feature descriptions
• Direct links to specifications
• Enhanced education and conversion

Industry Examples and Inspiration

Successfully Using 360°

Fashion and accessories:

• Rotating bag shots showing all pockets
• Shoe 360° with top and sole views
• Jewellery with zoom capability

Electronics:

• Products rotating to show all ports
• Detail hotspots explaining features
• Unboxing sequences as video

Homewares and furniture:

• All-around views for room planning
• Detail focus on craftsmanship
• Scale context with surroundings

Perth Brand Opportunities

For local Perth brands, 360° works especially well for:

• Artisan products: Showcase handcrafted details
• Premium positioning: Elevate perceived value
• Unique designs: Let design speak for itself
• Complex products: Clarify understanding
• Gift-worthy items: Gift hampers where contents matter

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to add 360° photography or product video to your Perth e-commerce store? Our product photography team creates interactive product experiences that increase conversions and reduce returns. Get in touch to discuss your 360° and video needs.