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Tutorials·Feb 26, 2026·4 min read
Render or photograph? A decision tree for furniture brands
Sometimes the answer is photography. Most of the time, in 2026, it isn't. Here's how to choose.
The right answer depends on three variables: how many SKUs you have, how many configurations per SKU, and how often the catalogue refreshes.
When to photograph
If you have 5 SKUs, one configuration each, refreshed every 5 years — photograph. The break-even doesn't favour CGI.
When to render
Anything else. 12+ SKUs with multiple configurations and seasonal refreshes? CGI is 4–8× cheaper across the SKU's lifecycle, and AI variations make the calculus even more lopsided.
The hidden cost most brands miss
Photography requires a sample, a studio, a stylist, and a re-shoot every time the product gets revised. CGI requires the model once. Every revision is a 30-minute texture swap.
