You do not need a professional camera to take photos that sell. The phone in your pocket is enough, if you use it well. Buyers decide in seconds whether to open a listing, and the first photo does most of that work. Here is how to get it right with nothing more than your phone and a bit of daylight.
Light is everything
- Use daylight. Shoot near a window or outdoors in the shade. Avoid harsh midday sun, which causes hard shadows, and a single yellow bulb at night, which turns everything orange.
- Turn off the flash for most items. It flattens colours and causes glare on screens and shiny surfaces.
- Face the light. Stand with the light source behind you or to the side, never behind the item.
Clean the item, clean the background
Wipe off dust and fingerprints. Place the item on a plain surface: a white sheet, a clean table or a plain wall. Remove anything that is not for sale. A clutter-free background makes your item look better cared for and makes the photo easier to read on a small screen.
Tidy your lens
Phone lenses pick up grease from pockets and fingers. Wipe yours with a soft cloth before you start. It is the single quickest fix for blurry, hazy photos.
Show it from every side
- A clear front view as your main photo.
- Back, sides, top and bottom.
- Close-ups of labels, model numbers and ports.
- Any scratches, dents or wear. Honest photos prevent wasted trips and disputes.
- For electronics, the item switched on and working.
Hold steady and fill the frame
Tap the screen on the item to focus, hold the phone with both hands and keep your elbows close to your body. Move closer rather than using digital zoom, which makes photos grainy. Let the item fill most of the frame.
Shoot in landscape for your main photo
Most listing cards show a wide image. A landscape main photo, with the item centred, is less likely to be cropped awkwardly.
Homes and cars need more
For property, photograph every room with the curtains open and lights on, plus the compound and the street outside. For vehicles, shoot all four sides, the interior, the dashboard with the engine running and the engine bay. Our guides for landlords and agents and car dealers go into more detail.
Always use your own photos
Pictures copied from the internet or a manufacturer’s website are easy for buyers to spot, and they make people wonder whether the item exists at all. Real photos of the real item build trust.
Ready to try it? Post a listing with your new photos.
Photo: Fquasie, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
