How to Take High-Quality Product Photos at Home (A Beginner Setup)

Why Good Product Photos Matter

High-quality photos help your product stand out, build trust, and increase sales. When your images are clear, well-lit, and consistent, customers are more likely to see your product as valuable and credible. The good news? You can get great results using:

✔ Your Smart Phone

✔ Simple lighting

✔ A clean background

✔ A few helpful accessories

Let’s break it down.

Step 1: Set Up a Clean Background

A clean, professional-looking background is critical for online success because it keeps the focus exactly where it belongs—on your product. But don’t let that intimidate you. You don’t need an expensive studio setup; even a simple solid color, clean sheet, or well-chosen material can instantly make your photos look more polished. Nothing screams “unprofessional seller” faster than a product photographed on a cluttered kitchen table with a salt and pepper shaker in the background. A messy scene distracts buyers, makes your product look less valuable, and can make your store seem less credible. In the next section, we’ll look at a few easy background options you can use at home to help your products stand out for all the right reasons.

Option 1: Use a Green Screen

A green screen makes it easy to remove and replace the background later using editing tools. This is perfect if you want a white background or a branded color.

• Make sure the screen is wrinkle-free
• Keep lighting even so there are no shadows
• Avoid wearing green while shooting!

Option 2: No Green Screen? No Problem

If you don’t have one, use a solid-color sheet, tarp, or poster board instead.

Best choices:

✔ White

✔ Light gray

✔ Soft pastel tones

Pro tip: A black background can look fantastic when it’s done well, especially for certain products. However, dark colors can sometimes make things more challenging—particularly if the product itself is dark, the lighting isn’t bright enough, the background shows wrinkles or texture, or the shadows blend into the product. That said, a black tarp or fabric can absolutely create a dramatic, premium look, especially for jewelry, glass, metals, electronics, or anything with strong contrast. It helps the product “pop” and often feels more high-end than white. The key is to avoid busy patterns that distract from the product and stick with solid colors—black included—as long as your product contrasts well and the lighting keeps all the details clear.

Step 2: Use an iPhone/Android Camera Stand

Shaky hands = blurry photos.

A simple iPhone/Android stand or tripod makes a huge difference.

Benefits:

• Keeps your shots steady
• Lets you frame the product perfectly
• Makes it easier to take multiple consistent angles

If your tripod has a tilt feature, even better—you can capture straight-on, angled, and overhead shots effortlessly.

Turn on grid lines in your phone camera settings to help keep everything straight and centered.

Step 3: Get the Lighting Right

Lighting is the MOST important part of product photography.

Natural Light (Free + Beginner-Friendly)

Place your setup near a window with indirect light.

• Avoid harsh direct sunlight—it creates strong shadows
• Shoot during daytime (late morning or early afternoon works great)
• Use a white sheet or curtain as a diffuser if the light is too strong

Artificial Lighting (Budget Setup)

If you want more control, try:

• Two softbox lights
• A ring light
• LED panel lights

Position lights at 45-degree angles from the product to reduce shadows. If shadows are still harsh, add a reflector (a piece of white foam board works perfectly!)

Step 4: Stabilize and Style Your Product

Make sure your product:

✔ Is clean

✔ Has no fingerprints or dust

✔ Is positioned straight

Use props sparingly—your product should stay the star of the photo. Think:

• Stands
• Minimal décor
• Relevant accessories

But don’t overcrowd the frame.

Step 5: Dial In Your Smart Phone Camera Settings

Your Smart Phone is more powerful than you think.

Try this:

• Turn off the flash
• Use Portrait Mode when appropriate
• Tap the product to focus
• Slide up or down to adjust brightness

If your Smart Phone allows it, shoot in HDR or RAW for better editing flexibility.

Step 6: Shoot Multiple Angles

Customers love detail.

Capture:

✔ Front view

✔ Side view

✔ Back view

✔ Close-ups

✔ Lifestyle shot (product in use)

The more context, the better.

Step 7: Edit Lightly (But Don’t Overdo It)

You can use simple apps like:

• Lightroom Mobile
• Snapseed
• Photos app editing tools

Adjust:

✨ Brightness

✨ Contrast

✨ Shadows

✨ White balance

Aim to keep the product looking realistic—don’t change the color or mislead buyers.

Extra Helpful Tools to Consider

Here are a few bonus items that make your life easier:

📌 Lightbox (great for small products)

📌 Reflector board

📌 Cleaning cloths

📌 Bluetooth shutter remote

📌 Leveling app to keep shots straight

📌 Turntable for 360° product views

None of these are required—but they definitely help.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

🚫 Using cluttered backgrounds

🚫 Mixing lighting types (yellow + white light)

🚫 Shooting at night with only ceiling lights

🚫 Cropping too tight

🚫 Only taking one photo

Give yourself options!

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a professional setup to create beautiful product photos. With a simple background, steady phone stand, and good lighting, you can produce clean, high-quality images right at home—even as a beginner.

Start small. Practice. Improve each shoot.

Before long, your photos will look like they came straight from a studio. Stay positive, stay focused 📸 you can do this! 😉