How to Take Good Product Photos With Just a Phone

Photos are often the first thing a customer judges. A clear, honest picture can make a plain product look trustworthy, while a dark, cluttered picture can make a good product look doubtful. The good news is that a modern phone camera is enough. What matters is light, background and a few habits.

Use daylight

Natural light shows true colours. Place the product near a window in the daytime, with the light coming from the side or in front of the item, not from behind it. Avoid direct harsh sunlight that creates strong shadows or bright patches. Turn off the flash, because it flattens the image and washes out colour.

Choose a plain background

A white or light plain surface, such as a sheet of paper, a clean cloth or a table, keeps the eye on the product. Remove clutter. If the product is white, use a slightly darker background so its edges stand out.

Clean the lens and hold steady

• Wipe the camera lens with a soft cloth before shooting.
• Rest your elbows on a table or lean the phone on something to avoid blur.
• Use the phone's grid lines to keep the product straight.
• Tap the screen on the product so the focus lands where you want it.

Take more than one angle

One photo is rarely enough. Take the front, the back, a side, a close-up of a detail such as a zip, stitching or label, and a picture showing scale next to a common object or a hand. If there are colour or size variations, photograph each one.

Show the real product

The picture must match what the customer will receive. Do not use another seller's photos or a heavily edited image. Mismatch is a top cause of refusals, as described in how to reduce cancellations in cash on delivery. Using someone else's pictures may also breach their rights.

Light editing only

Cropping, straightening and a small brightness adjustment are fine. Heavy filters change colours and cause disappointment. Keep the file reasonably small so pages load quickly on slow mobile data.

A quick checklist

1. Daylight, no flash.
2. Plain, tidy background.
3. Clean lens, steady hands.
4. Front, back, side, detail and scale.
5. Colours true to life.
6. Your own photos only.

Once your photos are ready, write the matching text with how to write product descriptions that sell. If you run a local shop, how to list your shop's products online shows how photos fit into a full listing.