How to do Amazon product photography with your smartphone

Did you decide to start selling on Amazon? Awesome! You’re one of the other 2.4 million Amazon sellers in the world. Sounds a bit intimidating, right? We know it can be.

This is why you need to learn all the tricks right from the start, and we’re here to help.

Today, we want to share some tips to help you stand out on Amazon without breaking your budget by hiring a professional photography team.

Even if everyone is familiar with the basic smartphone photography technique, “point and shoot,” the objective is to create professional Amazon product images and help you sell more.

In today’s digital era, high-quality product photography is crucial in attracting customers and boosting sales on Amazon. While professional equipment and elaborate setups can yield impressive results, you don’t necessarily need an expensive camera to create compelling product images. In this article, we will guide you through the process of capturing captivating Amazon product photography using just your smartphone.

Why do you need good Amazon product images?

For most people, the first thing they notice when they shop online is the product image. The image can influence purchase decisions and draw (or push away) customers.

Remember that your product should stand out from many others of your competitors. They should catch your customer’s attention and offer them a clear idea about your product.

Amazon allows you to use white background product shots, lifestyle images, and infographics. Learn more about that and other technical requirements of Amazon here. 

How to take amazing product shots with your smartphone

Prepare Your Workspace:

Before you begin, set up a clean and well-lit workspace. Choose a clutter-free area with ample natural light or use artificial lighting to ensure optimal visibility and accurate color representation.

Gather Essential Tools: 

To capture professional-looking product photos, consider using the following tools:

• A tripod: Stabilize your smartphone to avoid blurry shots and achieve consistency.
• A backdrop: Use a clean, neutral-colored background to highlight your product and minimize distractions.
• Reflectors: Utilize white foam boards or reflector discs to bounce light and reduce shadows.

Optimize Camera Settings: 

Most smartphone cameras offer manual controls or third-party apps that allow you to adjust settings. Optimize the following parameters for better results:

• Focus: Tap on your product to ensure it’s in sharp focus.
• Exposure: Adjust the exposure to achieve the desired brightness level.
• White Balance: Set the white balance based on the lighting conditions to ensure accurate colors.

Lighting Techniques: 

Lighting plays a crucial role in product photography. Experiment with these techniques:

• Natural light: Utilize soft, diffused natural light by positioning your setup near a large window or shoot outdoors on an overcast day.
• Artificial light: Use a combination of artificial lights, such as softboxes or LED panels, to create a well-lit environment.

Composition and Framing: 

Follow these composition tips to showcase your product effectively:

• Rule of thirds: Divide the frame into a grid of nine equal parts and place your subject along the intersecting lines or points.
• Negative space: Leave some empty space around your product to draw attention to it and create a visually pleasing composition.
• Angles: Experiment with different angles to highlight your product’s unique features and details.

Product Styling:

Enhance your product’s visual appeal by considering these styling techniques:

• Props and accessories: Use relevant props or accessories that complement your product and help tell a story.
• Lifestyle shots: Capture your product in a real-life setting or being used by someone to demonstrate its benefits.

Editing and Enhancements: 

After capturing your product photos, use photo editing apps or software to refine and enhance the images. Some key editing steps include:

• Crop and straighten: Remove unwanted elements and ensure the product is properly aligned.
• Adjust exposure and contrast: Fine-tune the brightness, contrast, and saturation levels to achieve a balanced look.
• Remove imperfections: Utilize the healing or cloning tool to remove any blemishes or dust particles.

Test and Iterate: 

Don’t settle for the first set of photos you capture. Continuously evaluate and refine your images based on customer feedback, sales performance, and your own critical eye. Experiment with different styles, backgrounds, and lighting setups to find what works best for your products.

Checklist for amazing mobile photography:

✅ Most smartphones in 2021 have a great camera embedded, which offers 12 pixels or higher quality, so make sure you select the highest resolution your phone can handle before shooting.

✅For mobile product photography, a tripod, some photography lights, or a lightbox will be handy. If you don’t have access to photography lights, daylight is your best friend.

✅Then, figure out which is the best angle to showcase your product. This is different depending on the development and industry. Some products look great from eye level, some from a flat-lay perspective, and some from the side.

Experiment and see which one puts your product in the best light.

✅Make sure you photograph your product from more angles to give users a better idea of the look and feel of the item. 

✅Consider shooting with a model (a friend or a family member) to get some lifestyle Amazon product images. This helps people understand how the product will look like in real life.

Here, the face recognition option will come in handy and avoid having a model with a blurry face.

✅A product image with the original packaging also helps grow credibility and sets customer expectations on point.

✅ Most smartphones offer some control over focus and exposure. If you have the option to select the focus manually, this usually works by tapping on the screen and selecting the area that you want in the main focus.

✅Ajust the exposure (the amount of light allowed in the frame). This is usually automatic, but if you’re working in Manual mode, you can drag to adjust the exposure to your lighting conditions.

✅ Keep the lens clean! It might sound obvious, but you would be surprised how often people overlook doing this. Natural oils from your skin, dust particles from your pocket, or food all leave a mark on the lens and create a flaring in your images. Give the lens a clean to ensure your Amazon product images look sharp.

✅ If you want to shoot details or try a wide angle on your products, you can consider an extra lens. These come in a large variety for all budgets and can help boost creativity in your photo shoot.

Image retouching for smartphone product photos

After you’re done shooting, it’s time for image retouching. Add some editing apps in the mix to offer your image a flawless look before uploading them on your Amazon profile.

Add filters, adjust white balance, contrast, exposure, saturation, straighten, and crop images to fit the requirements.

You don’t need any photoshopping skills because today’s editing apps make it very easy and intuitive to get the image retouching on point.

Adobe Photoshop Express Editor, Canva, VSCO, Snapseed, and Lightroom for mobile are just a few cool apps that will help you load.

Closing argument:

By following these guidelines and harnessing the capabilities of your smartphone, you can create high-quality product images that captivate Amazon shoppers and drive sales. 

Remember to invest time in preparation, optimize camera settings, leverage lighting techniques, focus on composition, and experiment with styling. 

With practice and attention to detail, your Amazon product photography can elevate your brand’s online presence and help you stand out in a competitive marketplace.

Need more info on Amazon Product Photography best practices in 2023? This article will help you.

Sounds overwhelming? Outsource your Amazon product photography

If this sounds like a lot to handle, you can hire a professional photographer or image editing professional.

Even if this requires an investment, you will measure the results in the long run, as customers can tell an amateur product photo from a professional one.

Need help? Let us take photos of your products and edit them for you! Just email us at office@webfuturestudio.com, and we’ll get in touch soon. 

If you want to know what we do, check out our professional photo editing services here.