Product photography with a phone: a practical guide

Good product photos sell products. Customers cannot touch or try what they see online, so the photo has to answer their questions: what does it look like, how big is it, what is it made of, and is it worth the price?

The good news is that a modern smartphone is capable of excellent product photos. The difference between an average photo and a great one is rarely the camera. It is light, background, composition and a little careful editing.

1. Start with light

Light matters more than anything else in product photography.

Use soft, natural light. Set up next to a large window during the day, with the window to the side of your product. Avoid direct sunlight, which creates harsh shadows and bright spots. If the sun is shining straight in, hang a thin white curtain or a sheet of baking paper over the window to soften it.

Fill in the shadows. Place a sheet of white card or foam board on the side opposite the window. It bounces light back onto the product and lightens dark shadows. This simple reflector makes a remarkable difference.

Turn off other lights. Mixing daylight with indoor bulbs gives your photo uneven colours. Use one type of light at a time.

2. Keep the background simple

For catalogue photos, a plain white or light-grey background lets the product stand out and keeps your shop looking consistent. A large sheet of paper or card curved from the wall down onto the table creates a seamless background with no visible corner, often called a sweep.

For lifestyle photos, which show the product in use, choose backgrounds that suit the product and do not compete with it: a wooden table for kitchenware, a clean desk for stationery, natural textures for handmade goods.

3. Hold the phone steady

Small movements blur photos, especially indoors. Use a small tripod or rest the phone on a stack of books. Use the phone's timer so that pressing the button does not shake it.

Clean the lens before you start. Phone lenses collect fingerprints, and a smudge makes every photo look hazy.

4. Use the right camera settings

• Avoid digital zoom. Move the phone closer instead, or use the phone's dedicated telephoto lens if it has one. A slightly longer lens also reduces distortion on close-up products.
• Tap to focus on the product, then adjust the exposure slider so whites look white without losing detail.
• Turn off the flash. Built-in flash creates flat, harsh light and reflections.
• Shoot in good resolution and keep the original files, so you can crop later without losing quality.

5. Take a complete set of photos

Customers want to see a product from every side. For each product, aim for:

1. A clear front view on a plain background
2. Side and back views
3. Close-ups of details, textures, labels and materials
4. A photo that shows scale, such as the product in a hand or next to a familiar object
5. A lifestyle photo showing the product in use
6. Photos of any flaws, if the item is used or second-hand

Keep the same lighting, background and angle style across all your products. A consistent shop looks more professional and more trustworthy.

6. Edit lightly

Editing should make the photo accurate, not different. Use a simple editing app to:

• Straighten and crop the image
• Adjust brightness and contrast
• Correct the white balance so whites look neutral, not blue or yellow
• Remove dust and small distractions from the background

Avoid heavy filters. If the product arrives looking different from the photo, customers lose trust and may return it.

7. Check the photos where customers will see them

Most customers will look at your photos on a phone. Before you publish, view them on a small screen. Is the product clear? Do the colours look right? Can you see the important details? If not, reshoot. It is far quicker than answering questions or handling returns later.

When to call a studio

A phone and a window can carry a small shop a long way. When you need a large catalogue, consistent images for a brand launch, or advertising photos, a professional setup saves time and raises the standard. SUM STUDIOS offers product photography, editing and retouching for businesses of every size. Get in touch at hello@sum.lk.