Online, the photo is the product. A buyer cannot touch the fabric or turn the box around, so they judge from your pictures. The good news: product photography with a phone is enough for most Indian sellers, if you follow a few simple habits.
10 easy tips
- Use window light. Place the product near a window in daylight. Light matters more than the camera. Avoid direct harsh sun; a thin white curtain softens it.
- Turn off the flash. Flash makes hard shadows and shiny spots, especially on jewellery and bottles.
- Wipe the lens. A small smudge from your finger makes every photo look hazy.
- Use a plain background. A white chart paper or a clean bedsheet works. Curve it from the wall to the table so there is no line behind the product.
- Do not zoom. Digital zoom lowers quality. Move the phone closer instead.
- Tap to focus. Tap on the product every time, then lower the brightness slightly if white areas look too bright.
- Shoot 4–5 angles. Front, back, side, a close-up of the detail, and one showing the size — in a hand or next to a common object.
- Keep colours true. Do not use strong filters. A saree that looks maroon online and arrives brown will come back.
- Keep the same setup. Same spot, same time of day, same background. Your store will look neat and consistent.
- Save a big, clear file. Around 2000 pixels wide is ideal for zoom. Most platforms ask for at least 1000 × 1000.
A budget setup under ₹3,000
- A phone from the last few years
- A small tripod or phone stand
- White chart paper or a white sheet
- A white thermocol sheet to bounce light onto the dark side
- Optional: one LED light for evening shoots
You do not need umbrellas, flashes or a costly photo kit to start.
Tips by category
- Clothes: show the full piece, then close-ups of fabric, border and print. One photo on a person helps buyers imagine the fit.
- Jewellery: soft light, a dark or velvet background, and a close-up of the work.
- Food and sweets: natural light, the actual pack, and one photo of the product outside the pack.
- Electronics: the box, the product, the ports and what comes inside.
Before you upload
Crop so the product fills most of the frame. Name the file with the product name, like red-banarasi-saree.jpg, not IMG_2034.jpg. Clear names and photos help search engines understand your page too.
Good photos also cut returns, because buyers get what they expected. On our stores, each product page can hold several photos with its own title and description, and the pages are built to load fast on mobile. See online store plans from a one-time ₹4,990, or read how to write product titles that rank.
Sources: 2026 seller guides on mobile product photography and marketplace image rules.
FAQs
Can I take product photos for my online store with a phone?
Yes. A recent phone, daylight from a window and a plain white background are enough for clean product photos for most small sellers.
What is the best light for product photos at home?
Soft daylight from a window. Avoid flash and direct harsh sun; use a thin curtain to soften the light and a white sheet to fill shadows.
What size should product photos be?
Around 2000 pixels wide is ideal for zoom. Most platforms ask for at least 1000 × 1000 pixels.
How many photos should each product have?
Four to five: front, back, side, a close-up of details, and one that shows the size.
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