Midjourney product photography — the angles, lighting, and surfaces that sell

Commercial product photography engineered for conversion — fill the brackets:

'[hero | 45-degree | flat-lay | macro detail] product shot of [product, with material + color + size context], on a [seamless / marble / wet stone / brushed metal] surface with [subtle reflection | matte finish], [background: gradient studio backdrop / minimal styled set], [lighting: 3:1 key-to-fill ratio, soft box key + rim light + subtle fill], crisp specular highlights, subtle contact shadow, advertising photography, high detail, shot on [camera] 100mm macro lens --ar [4:5 for social | 1:1 for marketplace | 16:9 for hero banner] --style raw --stylize 150 --no hands, clutter, text, watermark'

Example (45-degree e-commerce): '45-degree product shot of a frosted-glass perfume bottle with a brushed-gold cap, on wet black stone with subtle reflection, soft gradient charcoal-to-black backdrop, 3:1 key-to-fill ratio soft box key with a crisp rim light and gentle fill, specular highlights on the gold cap, subtle contact shadow, advertising photography, high detail, shot on Hasselblad 100mm macro lens --ar 4:5 --style raw --stylize 150 --no hands, clutter, text, watermark'

Example (hero shot): 'Hero product shot of matte-black wireless earbuds emerging from their charging case, on a brushed dark metal surface with subtle reflection, deep black gradient backdrop, dramatic single softbox key with a sharp rim light, specular highlights on the case hinge, subtle contact shadow, advertising photography, high detail, shot on Phase One 120mm macro lens --ar 16:9 --style raw --stylize 150 --no hands, clutter, text, watermark'

Why these specific choices sell products:
• 45-DEGREE ANGLE > HERO SHOTS FOR MOST PRODUCTS: E-commerce data consistently shows that a 45° three-quarter view outsells straight-on hero shots for most products. It reveals form, depth, and texture simultaneously. Save hero shots for brand storytelling, not product pages.
• REFLECTION SURFACES = PERCEIVED PREMIUM: A subtle reflection on wet stone or glossy black creates a 'luxury podium' effect. It's the visual shorthand your brain reads as 'expensive.' Matte surfaces read as 'everyday.'
• THE 3:1 LIGHTING RATIO: This is the line between 'product photo' and 'stock photo.' A 3:1 key-to-fill ratio (key light 3x brighter than fill) creates enough shadow to show form and texture, without the flat, overlit look of cheap product photography. Add 'rim light' to separate the product from the background — this alone upgrades the shot dramatically.
• SPECULAR HIGHLIGHTS: 'Crisp specular highlights' creates those tiny bright reflections on shiny surfaces (metal caps, glass edges) that signal high-res, controlled studio lighting.

Post-processing pipeline (after generation):
1. Upscale 4x (Magnific, Topaz, or Midjourney's built-in)
2. Background removal (remove.bg or Photoshop) for marketplace white-background requirements
3. Color-match to your brand palette in Lightroom or Photoshop — AI-generated colors drift from reality
4. Export at platform specs (Amazon: 2000px min, white BG; Shopify: 2048x2048; Social: per platform)

Tips: name the surface AND the background separately for independent control; for transparent products (glass, liquid), add 'backlit' to show the product's interior; generate 3-4 angles of the same product and use them as a product page gallery.