Product photos and descriptions that sell: a phone-first guide for Instagram sellers

On Instagram, one great photo and a line of caption are enough to make someone tap. On your product page, that same buyer is deciding whether to spend money with an account they found ten minutes ago. They want to see the piece from every side, know exactly what they are getting, and be sure what happens if it does not fit.

Every question your page does not answer becomes a DM — or a buyer who leaves. The good news is that you already know the questions: they are the ones in your inbox every day. This guide turns them into photos and a description.

Caption and product page have different jobs

The caption is a hook. It should make someone stop, feel something, and know where to go next: the price, and 'link in bio'. It can be playful, short, in Hinglish, and full of personality.

The product page is the shop counter. It should be calm and complete: what it is, what it is made of, the size, the price, delivery and returns. Personality still helps, but clarity wins. A buyer should never have to leave the page to ask something basic.

The five-shot photo list (all on a phone)

• The hero: the whole product, straight on, on a plain background — this is the one buyers see in the grid
• The back or the other side: buyers want to know there are no surprises
• The detail: a close-up of the fabric weave, the stone setting, the stitching or the texture
• In use: worn, held, on a table, in a room — so buyers understand how it looks in real life
• The scale shot: next to a hand, a coin or a ruler, or worn by someone whose height you mention

Phone photography that looks professional

• Shoot near a window in daylight, with the light coming from the side. Turn the flash off.
• Use the same background for every product: a white sheet, a wooden board, a plain wall. Consistency makes a small catalogue look like a brand.
• Clean the lens on your shirt before every session. Smudges cause most 'soft' photos.
• Tap the screen on the product to focus, then lower the exposure slightly so whites do not blow out.
• Do not filter colours. If a buyer receives a maroon kurta that looked red online, that is a return. Show the real colour, and say so in the description if screens vary.
• A short video — five to ten seconds of fabric moving or a piece turning in the light — often does more than another photo. You can add videos to the product gallery alongside photos.

A description template that answers the DMs

Write descriptions in this order. Buyers skim, so put the decision-making facts first and keep each part short.

1. 1.One line on what it is and who it is for: 'A hand-block printed cotton kurta for everyday office wear.'
2. 2.What it is made of: fabric, metal, stone, wood, ingredients. Be specific — 'pure cotton, 60s count' beats 'premium fabric'.
3. 3.Size and fit: measurements, how it fits ('relaxed, size down if between sizes'), and the model's height and size if worn.
4. 4.Care: 'gentle hand wash, dry in shade', 'avoid perfume on plating'.
5. 5.What is in the box: 'kurta only, dupatta not included' prevents a lot of disappointed messages.
6. 6.Delivery time and returns, in one line each: 'Ships in 2 days. Exchange for size within 7 days of delivery.'
7. 7.For made-to-order pieces: the lead time and what details you need from the buyer.

Before and after: one kurta

Before

Beautiful kurta 😍 premium quality, must have! DM for details.

After

Indigo hand-block printed kurta in pure cotton. Straight cut, falls just below the knee. Model is 5'5" and wears S. Hand wash cold, dry in shade. Kurta only. Ships in 2 days; size exchanges within 7 days of delivery.

The second version answers six questions the first one turns into DMs.

Names that people search for

Name products the way a buyer would search for them: 'Indigo block print cotton kurta', not 'Neela #7' or 'Drop 3 piece 4'. You can keep a playful collection name, but put the plain description in the product name. It helps buyers scanning your store and helps Google understand what the page sells.

Variants and photos that match

When a product comes in several colours, add a photo for each colour so the image changes when the buyer picks one. Nothing causes more 'is this the green one?' messages than a colour picker that shows only the blue photo.

On Slaby, sizes and colours are variants of one product, each with its own price and stock, and colour options can carry their own photos. A store-wide size chart can open from every product page, so you write it once.

Help with writing is coming Where AI product drafts are enabled on Slaby, you can upload 1–4 photos and your caption and get a draft name, description, category and tags. It never sets prices, and the product is saved inactive so you review and edit it before it goes live. Either way, the template above takes about five minutes per product, and you only write it once.

Captions that send people to the page

• Start with the hook, not the hashtags: what is new, why it is special, who it is for.
• Put the price in the caption or on the last carousel slide.
• End with one clear instruction: 'Tap the link in bio → New arrivals'.
• In stories, use the link sticker to send people straight to the product, not just the store.
• Reply to 'details?' comments with the price and where to find the product, so the next reader learns it too.

Common questions

How long should a product description be?

As long as it takes to answer the usual questions, and no longer — often 60 to 150 words. Short, factual lines beat long paragraphs of adjectives.

Can I copy my Instagram caption into the description?

Use it as a starting point, then add the facts captions skip: material, measurements, care, what is included, delivery and returns.

Should I write in English or Hindi?

Write in the language your buyers use. Product names and descriptions are whatever you type; the store's own buttons and labels can be shown in English or Hindi.

Do I need a professional photographer?

Not to start. A recent phone, daylight and a consistent background are enough. Invest in a photographer for your bestsellers once you know which they are.

Can I bring my Instagram posts into the store automatically?

Not yet. Today you upload photos to each product yourself; the ones you already post are fine to start with.

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