Professional product photography studios charge anywhere from R200 to R1,000 per image. If you're a small seller with 50+ SKUs, that adds up fast. Takealot requires clean, professional product images, and sellers who use white backgrounds on Gumtree and OLX consistently report better engagement. Here's how to do it yourself with remove-bg.io — for free.
What Each Platform Actually Requires
Takealot requires clean, professional product images with white or light backgrounds. Gumtree and OLX recommend clean photos for better engagement.
Takealot
- Clean, professional product images required
- White or light backgrounds strongly recommended
- High resolution preferred — minimum 500x500px
- Product should be the focus of the image
- No text, logos, or watermarks on main image
Gumtree ZA
- No strict background requirement, but clean photos stand out
- Good lighting and clear product shots drive more enquiries
- Multiple photos per listing recommended
OLX South Africa
- Clean, well-lit photos recommended
- Square format works best
- First photo is what shows in search results
Amazon (for SA sellers exporting)
- Main image must have a pure white background (RGB 255, 255, 255)
- Minimum 1000px on longest side; 1600px+ recommended
- Product should fill at least 85% of the frame
The Process: From Phone Camera to Listing-Ready
1. Shoot with removal in mind
You don't need a lightbox or studio. A smartphone camera on a table near a window works. The key is even lighting on the product. Overcast days or indirect light give the most even results.
2. Upload and remove the background
Go to the Background Remover and drop in your photo. The AI isolates the product and strips away everything else.
The Bulk Background Remover lets you process up to 20 at once.
3. Set your background
For Takealot, select white. For secondary images, add a subtle shadow underneath. Download both white-background and transparent PNG versions.
4. Download in HD
No watermarks, no downscaling.
Practical Tips
White products on white backgrounds look odd. Add a subtle drop shadow.
Batch your work. Photograph all products in one session, then batch-process.
Keep your originals. You might want to re-process later for Black Friday promotions or a different marketplace.
File naming matters. Name files descriptively before uploading.
Test lifestyle backgrounds for secondary images. Use the Add Background tool to place products in context.
When to Use White vs. Transparent vs. Lifestyle Backgrounds
| Use Case | Background Type | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Takealot main image | White | Required for professional appearance |
| Gumtree/OLX primary | White or clean | Professional look |
| Amazon main image | Pure white | Required by policy |
| Secondary images | Lifestyle | Shows product in context |
| Social media ads | Custom/branded | Catches attention |
| Your own website | Match your brand | Consistency |
Common Mistakes
Uploading low-res photos. Pixelated input means pixelated output.
Inconsistent lighting across products. Batch your photography sessions.
Ignoring platform guidelines. Check each platform's specific image requirements.