Do I need a DSLR camera for Amazon photos?

No. Modern smartphones (iPhone 13+, Samsung S21+) have sensors capable of capturing high-resolution images suitable for Amazon. The lighting is far more important than the camera.

What is the best background for product photos?

For the main image, Amazon requires a pure white background (RGB 255, 255, 255). For lifestyle images, use real-world settings (e.g., a kitchen counter for a blender) to show scale and context.

How do I avoid reflections on shiny products?

Use a polarizing filter or 'diffused' light. Never point a direct light source at a glass or metal object. Bounce the light off a white foam board to soften it.

Product Photography on a Budget: How to Take Pro Photos with a Phone

In e-commerce, the customer cannot touch, smell, or hold your product. They buy with their eyes.

Bad photos scream "cheap," "untrustworthy," and "counterfeit." Great photos justify a premium price.

Professional photographers charge $50-$100 per image. For a new seller, that budget is impossible. The good news? You have a $1,000 camera in your pocket right now. With a $10 setup and some knowledge of physics, you can take photos that look like they cost thousands.

In this guide, we will build a DIY studio and teach you the exact settings to use on your phone.

The $10 Studio Setup (The "Infinity Curve")

You do not need a fancy "light box" from Amazon. Those often create harsh reflections. You need a seamless background.

Shopping List:

White Poster Board ($5): Get the biggest sheet you can find at a craft store. Matte finish, not glossy.
Tape ($2): Painter's tape or masking tape.
White Foam Core Board ($3): To use as a reflector card.

The Setup:

Find a table near a large window.
Tape the top edge of the poster board to the wall.
Let the board curve down onto the table. Do not crease it. This creates a seamless "horizonless" background.
Place your product in the center of the curve.

Lighting: The Secret Sauce

Cameras capture light. If your light is bad, your photo is bad.

Rule 1: Turn off the room lights. Ceiling bulbs are usually yellow (warm) or green (fluorescent). Mixing them with blue window light ruins the color balance.

Rule 2: Indirect Natural Light.
Do not shoot in direct sunlight. It creates harsh, black shadows.
Shoot on a cloudy day, or cover your window with a sheer white curtain (or even parchment paper) to diffuse the light. Soft light = Professional look.

Rule 3: Fill the Shadows.
The side of the product facing the window will be bright. The other side will be dark. Place your White Foam Board on the dark side to bounce light back onto the product. This lifts the shadows instantly.

Phone Camera Settings (iPhone & Android)

Stop using "Auto Mode." It makes white backgrounds look gray.

1. Use the Telephoto Lens (2x or 3x)

Never use the standard "Wide" lens (1x) or the "Ultra Wide" (0.5x) for product shots. Wide lenses distort the shape of the object (making it look bulbous).

Step back physically, and zoom in optically (2x). This compresses the image and makes lines look straight and professional.

2. Lock Focus & Exposure

Tap and Hold on your product on the screen until "AE/AF Lock" appears.
Drag the Sun Icon UP. Brighten the image until the white background looks almost pure white, but stop before you lose detail on the product itself.

3. Use the Grid

Turn on "Grid Lines" in your settings. Ensure your product is perfectly vertical. A tilted bottle looks amateur.

Editing: The Final Polish

You took the shot. Now you need to make it Amazon-compliant (Pure White Background).

Free Tools

Lightroom Mobile (Free): Best for color correction. Use the "White Balance" dropper to click on the background. This instantly removes any yellow/blue tint. Increase "Clarity" slightly to make textures pop.
Snapseed (Free): Use the "Selective" tool. Tap the background and increase brightness. Tap the product and increase structure.

AI Tools (The Cheat Code)

If you want speed, use AI.

Photoroom (App): Take a photo of your product anywhere. It automatically removes the background and replaces it with white, or generates a professional "countertop" scene using AI. It handles shadows realistically.

Lifestyle Photography on a Budget

White background photos show what the product is. Lifestyle photos show how it feels.

You don't need models. Use "Hand Models" (your own hands).

Context: If you sell a coffee mug, shoot it being held near a laptop or a book.
Scale: If you sell earrings, show them being worn (or next to a coin) so customers understand the size.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Digital Zoom: Don't pinch to zoom (unless you have a dedicated telephoto lens). It degrades quality. Crop later instead.
Flash: Never use the phone's LED flash. It creates ugly hotspots.
Dirty Lens: Wipe your phone lens! Fingerprint grease creates a blurry "glow" effect.

FAQ

What size should my images be?

For Amazon, aim for at least 2000 x 2000 pixels. This allows the "Zoom on Hover" feature to work, which increases conversion rates. Square (1:1) aspect ratio is standard for mobile optimization.

Can I use stock photos?

Only for generic lifestyle backgrounds. Never use a stock photo of the product itself. If the customer receives something that looks different from the photo, you will get a return and a "Item Not As Described" violation.

Should I hire a pro eventually?

Yes. Once you are doing $10k/month, hire a pro for your "Hero Image." A pro knows how to light reflective surfaces (glass/metal) in ways a phone simply cannot. But for starting out, DIY is perfect.

Conclusion

Photography is high-leverage work. You take the photo once, and it sells for you 24/7 for years.

Don't rush it. Spend a Saturday morning setting up your window studio. Take 100 photos to get 1 good one. That one good photo is the difference between a scroll and a click.

Action Step: Go buy a white poster board today ($5). Find your best window. Take a test shot of your product using the "Exposure Lock" trick. Compare it to your current listing. The difference will shock you.

Product Photography on a Budget: Taking Pro Photos with a Phone