Essential Tips for Product Photography With a Smartphone

Taking photos of products with a smartphone

Let’s be real– product smartphone photography is not as simple as we imagine it to be. Your smartphone might have an incredible camera resolution, yet the photos might fall flat. Does that mean you either have to invest in a professional camera or compromise on quality? Not at all! A few small adjustments and the right techniques can make all the difference. 

We’ve gathered all the practical tips you need to turn your smartphone into a professional photography tool. Let’s dive into this guide about how you can create stunning, high-quality images of your products using just your smartphone. 

Setting up the Background

Backdrop and Props

A crucial part of product photography is having a clean background. A background that complements the vibe of your product will drastically enhance the quality of your images. A neutral backdrop, especially one that aligns with the color theme will keep the focus toward the product. You can then build on the backdrop with the help of props.

Strategically placed props can add to the visual interest of your photos by adding dimension to the image. Let’s say you’re photographing a scented candle–don’t just place it on a flat surface. You can arrange flowers around it to suggest its fragrance or a matchbox to indicate its use. A neutral backdrop with minimal props is always an optimal choice.

Create Depth

A major difference between images taken from a smartphone camera vs a DSLR is the perception of depth of field (DoF). Most smartphone cameras do not offer much control over the aperture, making the images appear flat. An easy fix to this problem lies in how you set up your background.

We recommend placing your background a bit far away from where the product is positioned. This way you can manually create a sense of depth. The same technique can be used in the foreground by slightly placing an object in front of the lens to create a blur effect. 

Enhanced Lighting

Lighting has a huge impact on the quality of photos. In low-light conditions, your phone camera compensates by increasing the ISO, resulting in unwanted noise and graininess. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure your shooting environment is well-lit. 

Invest in Lighting equipment

It is wise to invest in some lighting tools such as a lightbox that can be easily moved around. A simple lightbox costs anywhere from 40 to 100$ or can be easily DIY-ed for even less. A lightbox can not only be used for increased lighting but also for artistic effects like backlighting

Use Diffusers

Diffusers help reduce harsh lighting by distributing even lighting on the surface, with fewer reflections, and shadows. You don’t necessarily need to buy a diffuser, a plain white sheet will do the job. 

Avoid Using Camera Flash

As important as it is to increase the light sources, we recommend not using the phone camera flash. The flash on your phone is a direct source of light that only moves in one direction– that is towards your subject. This creates washed-out backgrounds and the light just bounces back awkwardly leaving unflattering shadows. 

Set the Right Exposure

We know by now that proper exposure is crucial so the details of your product are not lost in the highlights or shadows. While some adjustments can be made during the editing process it is best to ensure the images are not overexposed or dull during the shoot.

Photography Compositions

What separates smartphone photography from that of a professional camera, is the ability to focus particularly on the product. While it can be difficult to achieve the same effect of emphasis with a smartphone, proper photography composition can help direct the viewer’s attention to the object. 

Techniques like the rule of thirds, leading lines, and symmetry can make your subject stand out and eliminate distractions. To learn more about these techniques, check out our guide on photography compositions to learn how to frame your shots effectively.

Image Quality

You can nail image composition and backgrounds but the key to producing professional-looking images mainly lies in the image quality. Here are a few things you can do to enhance the quality of your photographs. 

Increase Resolution

Phone cameras are often set to medium resolution to save space. To improve image quality, go to camera settings and set the camera to shoot in the highest resolution available. If your phone does not include this option, you can try shooting in HDR or portrait mode for improved results. 

Avoid Zooming in

Instead of optically magnifying an image a smartphone camera simply crops and enlarges it resulting in reduced image quality. Try moving closer to the subject rather than zooming in to maintain the sharpness of the image. Alternatively, you can consider investing in a clip-on zooming lens for enhanced clarity.

Make Sure the Lens is Clean

As obvious as it may seem, this crucial step is very easy to forget. Tiny undetectable dust particles on your lens may add unwanted haze which can reduce image quality. Always give your lens a quick wipe before you start shooting. 

Ensure the Camera is Stable

Lastly, we emphasize the importance of having a stabilized setup. Invest in a tripod to eliminate slight camera movements that may detract from the quality of your photos. Alternatively, you can rest your phone on a flat surface, however it may limit your movement.

Final Thoughts

Product photography with a smartphone is not only possible but highly effective with the use of the right techniques and equipment. When experimenting with these techniques, we recommend you look at the images before shooting more. Check for the compositions, lighting, and angles and ensure the props complement the vibe of the product.

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