You don't need a $3,000 DSLR to take great product photos. Modern smartphones — iPhone 15/16, Samsung Galaxy S24/S25, Pixel 9 — have cameras that rival dedicated cameras for e-commerce photography. This guide shows you how to get professional results with the phone in your pocket.

What you need (total cost: $0–$50)

• Your smartphone — Any phone from the last 3–4 years works. Newer = better, but not required.
• A window — Natural light is free and produces beautiful, soft lighting.
• White poster board or foam board — $2–5 from any craft store. Used as backdrop and reflector.
• A tripod or phone stand — $10–20 for a basic phone tripod. Or lean your phone against a stack of books.
• A table — Any flat, stable surface near a window.

Camera settings for product photos

• Use the main lens — Not the ultra-wide or telephoto. The main (1x) lens has the best quality on every phone.
• Turn off flash — Always. Flash creates harsh shadows and uneven lighting. Use natural light instead.
• Lock focus and exposure — Tap and hold on the product to lock focus. This prevents the camera from refocusing between shots.
• Use the 2-second timer — This eliminates camera shake when you press the shutter button.
• Shoot at maximum resolution — Check settings: use the highest megapixel mode available. Marketplaces want at least 1000×1000 px, ideally 2000+ px.
• Keep HDR on — HDR helps capture detail in both bright and dark areas of the product.

Lighting setup (the most important part)

Lighting makes or breaks product photography. Good news: natural window light is the best and cheapest option.

The window light setup

1. Place your table next to a large window (not directly in front of it).
2. Position the product so the window light hits it from the side (not from behind or directly above).
3. Place a white poster board on the opposite side of the window to bounce light back and fill in shadows.
4. If sunlight is too harsh, tape a sheet of white paper or a thin white curtain over the window to diffuse it.

Best time: overcast days give naturally soft, even light. Avoid direct sunlight — it creates hard shadows.

DIY lightbox alternative

For small products (jewelry, electronics, cosmetics), a DIY lightbox costs under $20:

• Cut three sides out of a cardboard box
• Cover the openings with white tissue paper
• Place a desk lamp on each side
• Put white paper inside as a seamless backdrop

For more on lighting, see our budget lighting setup guide.

Angles and composition

Take at least 5–7 photos of each product from different angles:

• Front view — The hero shot. Straight-on at eye level with the product.
• 45-degree angle — Shows depth and dimension. The most natural viewing angle.
• Back view — Shows labels, ports, care instructions.
• Detail shots — Texture, stitching, material quality. Get close (but don't use digital zoom).
• Scale shot — Product next to a common object or being held, so buyers understand the size.
• In-use/lifestyle — Product being used in context. Not required by marketplaces but boosts conversion.

Common smartphone photography mistakes

• Using digital zoom — Destroys quality. Move the phone closer instead, or crop later.
• Shooting in portrait mode — Portrait mode blurs the background artificially, which can blur product edges too. Use the standard photo mode.
• Low battery = more noise — Phones reduce processing power on low battery, producing noisier photos. Charge up first.
• Dirty lens — Wipe your camera lens with a microfiber cloth before shooting. Fingerprints cause haze.
• Inconsistent lighting — Shoot all products in the same session with the same setup. Consistency sells.

Post-processing with AI

Your smartphone photos are the raw material. Post-processing transforms them into marketplace-ready listings:

1. Remove the background — AI handles this in under 2 seconds. No need for a white backdrop during shooting.
2. Add a white background — Instant marketplace compliance.
3. Upscale if needed — If your phone's resolution isn't enough, AI upscaling can double it.
4. Batch process — Upload all photos at once for consistent results.

Smartphone vs DSLR: do you need a real camera?

Verdict: Start with your smartphone. Upgrade to a dedicated camera only when you're selling 1,000+ products and need maximum control over lighting and depth of field.

The complete workflow

1. Set up your table, window light, and reflector
2. Clean your phone lens
3. Position the product and lock focus/exposure
4. Take 5–7 shots per product from different angles
5. Upload to AutoPhotos for background removal and processing
6. Download marketplace-ready images
7. Upload to Amazon, eBay, Shopify, or your store

Total time per product: 5–10 minutes shooting + 30 seconds AI processing. That's it.