A product photo checklist for AI video
By Drizzle team
3 min read
Your product photo is the reference the rest of the creative has to follow. Before generating a character or video, spend a minute checking whether that image clearly shows the item you intend to sell.
Give the product room in the frame
Avoid a crop that cuts through a sleeve, shoe, bag strap, or the bottom of a dress. The missing part leaves room for an invented detail. Use a view that shows the complete outline with a little space around it.
A simple background makes it easier to distinguish the product's edges. If you use an on-model photo, choose one where arms and hair don't hide the garment's construction. For a bag, show how the handle connects to the body.
Remove unrelated products from the brief. A collage containing several colourways may leave the intended version ambiguous, so identify the exact one you want or upload a single-product image.
Check colour before you check resolution
A large file can still give a poor reference if a filter changes the fabric colour. Compare the photo with the actual item or an approved listing image. Look for a heavy warm cast, clipped highlights, and dark areas that hide texture.
Zoom in on details a customer would recognise. Can you read the pattern? Can you distinguish the buttons from the fabric? If compression has turned those areas into blocks, use an earlier export or a clearer source.
Don't add a logo or pattern that isn't on the real product just to make the reference look cleaner. The useful target is an accurate item, including its less glamorous details.
Add another view when the shot needs it
A front photo can't explain a back print. If your planned video includes a turn, supply a back or side view and describe what that image shows.
Name the files by purpose, such as “shirt-front” and “shirt-back-detail,” and explain which view should guide each part of the creative. Keep the colourway consistent across references. Two photos of slightly different products create a decision the generator shouldn't have to make.
For a first attempt with only one reference, ask for modest movement that keeps the known view visible. A simpler shot is also easier to compare with the original.
Keep the source photo beside the result
Review the generated still before asking for a finished video. Compare the silhouette, placement of details, and proportions side by side. A realistic person doesn't make an inaccurate garment acceptable.
Write the correction around the mismatch: “The reference has two chest pockets; keep both” or “Keep the original ankle-length hem.” After the change, check the whole image again because correcting one area can affect another.
When the product is ready, follow the first video walkthrough. If the brief depends on a specific turn or pose, read the motion reference guide before choosing the clip.