Great product photos with your phone

Where do you find the best light for product photos?

Daylight is free and easy to get. The German classifieds platform Kleinanzeigen writes in its photo tips that daylight is the best light for a listing photo because it looks the most natural. So take your photos during the day and put the item on a table or the floor close to a window.

Pay attention to where the light comes from. Samsung's camera guide calls the amount of indirect light the most important element of any photo, and explains that a light shining straight at the camera can leave parts of the same picture too dark and others washed out. Let the light fall on the item from the side or the front, and don't put the window behind it. If the sun shines straight in and throws hard shadows, wait a little or draw a thin curtain.

Kleinanzeigen also advises that the light shouldn't come from several directions and that its colour should stay either warm or cool. In practice, that means switching off the ceiling lamp when you're shooting by the window.

eBay's photo tips say to avoid flash. On shiny surfaces such as a screen, glass or lacquer, its reflection can hide exactly the detail you want to show. On an iPhone, the Flash control above the camera frame switches between Auto, On and Off; set it to Off.

Finally, wipe the lens: Samsung warns that a dirty or smudged lens can ruin an otherwise well-composed photo. Apple suggests cleaning the front and back camera lenses with a microfiber cloth if a photo looks blurry, and Samsung recommends a soft, dry microfiber cloth for fingerprints, smudges and dust. Google's Pixel help adds that some cases and accessories can block the lens, so take a bulky case off if it gets in the way.

What background makes your item stand out?

The background should disappear so the item is the only thing buyers look at. eBay recommends photographing items in an uncluttered space against a white or neutral background, and Kleinanzeigen calls a neutral background important so buyers can see right away what you're offering. You don't need a studio for that:

• a plain light wall or door,
• a bedsheet or tablecloth without a pattern,
• a large sheet of paper or card for small items,
• a light, empty floor for shoes, bags or toys,
• the tidied room itself for furniture that's too big to move.

Before you press the shutter, look at the whole frame: other items, cables, laundry, dishes and family photos don't belong in it. Anything in the picture can make buyers wonder whether it's included in the price. eBay also advises centring the item, filling the frame as much as possible and photographing each item you sell individually.

Which angles and details should you photograph?

Buyers can't pick the item up, so your photos have to do that for them. eBay's tips suggest showing all sides, a full view and close-ups of tags, labels and other key details. With 8 photos per listing on Afër, this checklist fits comfortably:

• ✓The front with the whole item in view, your likely cover photo.
• ✓The back and, where it shows wear, the underside: furniture legs, shoe soles, the base of a lamp.
• ✓Both sides and, on devices, the ports and buttons.
• ✓The label, rating plate or model number, so buyers can look up the exact model.
• ✓Everything that's included, such as charger, cable, remote, manual or box, together in one photo.
• ✓Something that shows the size: the item in use, next to a familiar object or with a tape measure.

A photo against a plain background says little about size. Kleinanzeigen recommends showing the item at least once in full against a neutral background and once in use, to give an idea of its proportions. For furniture, write the exact dimensions in the description as well.

Why should you photograph scratches and defects?

Because buyers will see them anyway, at the latest when you meet. eBay advises including close-ups of blemishes, damage and wear, and notes that buyers are more likely to be happy with their purchase when the photos show all the details. A scratch that's already in the photos is also no reason to reopen the price at the meeting.

• Turn the item until the light catches the scratch or dent; seen straight on, small marks can be hard to see.
• Get close, but not too close. Samsung notes that its standard lens works best when the subject is at least 12 inches (about 30 cm) away, so step back a little rather than getting too close.
• Put a coin or your finger next to small marks so buyers can judge their size.
• Show stains, missing parts and cracked screens just as openly; never edit them out.

Mention every flaw in the description too, so text and photos tell the same story. How to write the rest of your listing is explained in A listing that sells.

Which camera settings on your phone help?

You don't need a pro mode. A few basics matter more, and their names and places differ between brands, models and software versions, so treat the labels below as examples.

• Tap to focus: tap the item on the screen. On an iPhone, touching and holding the focus area until AE/AF Lock appears keeps focus and exposure for the next shots; Pixel phones also let you tap the subject to focus.
• Main camera instead of digital zoom: stay on 1x; on the iPhone, Apple calls this the Main camera. Rather than pinching far in from across the room, move closer, just not closer than the camera can focus. Samsung explains that digital zoom crops and enlarges the image, which can cost detail.
• HDR: it helps in high-contrast scenes, for example when a large piece of furniture can only be photographed with a bright window behind it. According to Apple, iPhones use HDR automatically when it's most effective; on iPhone 11 models, the iPhone SE (2nd generation) and the iPhone 12 you can switch Smart HDR off under Settings › Camera and control HDR yourself. On Android phones, check the camera settings.
• No filters: eBay advises against adding filters. On an iPhone 12 or earlier, set the filter to Original; on newer iPhones, a Photographic Style applies to every photo until you change it or close the camera.
• Hold still: Samsung recommends holding the phone as still as possible with the subject well lit. Resting your elbows on the table helps.

Leave RAW off for listing photos: Afër doesn't accept RAW files, and Apple notes that ProRAW photos have larger file sizes. Your phone's normal photo format is the right one.

How do photos work on Afër?

When you post a listing, the "Photos" step lets you add up to 8 photos, and at least one is required. The first photo carries the "Cover" badge and appears on your listing card in the search results. You set the order before publishing: "Cover" makes a photo the first one, and the "Move left" arrow moves it one place forward. The photos are uploaded when you tap "Publish listing", and after that their order can't be changed.

Afër accepts JPG, PNG, WebP or HEIC photos up to 8 MB each. Before uploading, it prepares each photo on your device, and you'll see "Preparing photo 1…". After that, Afër shows your photos in sizes that suit each screen, and its terms say uploaded images may be converted, compressed or resized. You don't need to make photos smaller yourself, as long as each file stays under 8 MB. If your device can't read an iPhone HEIC photo, Afër suggests choosing Settings › Camera › Formats › Most Compatible on the iPhone and then exporting the photo as JPG. According to Apple, all new photos then use JPEG, so you can also simply take the photo again.

Choose carefully rather than uploading everything: each photo counts toward a limit of 80 stored photos per account, and photos of sold or deleted listings keep counting.

Check every photo for personal data before you upload it: letters or parcels with your address, documents and bank cards, other people's faces, a house number, a car's licence plate when it isn't needed for the sale, and notifications on a switched-on screen. Look at reflections in mirrors, glass and screens as well. Afër's terms ask users not to put personal data in images where publishing it isn't necessary.