How can I take better eBay product photos with a smartphone?
Asked 4/17/2012
5 views
2 answers
0
I’m photographing a notebook/laptop for an eBay listing using a Samsung Galaxy S2 phone camera. The item looks better in real life than it does in my photos, and the images look grainy or “dotted.” What’s the best way to shoot it with a phone, and are there any simple editing tips to make the photos look cleaner and more professional?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
6
First, make sure your camera is set to highest resolution and quality supported, the galaxy S2 has a 8 mega pixels camera but it can also be set to take lower resolution pictures, down to 640x480 (0.3 mega pixels) and at that low resolution the pictures are really mostly unusable.
I believe what you call "dotted" is noise, the way to reduce noise is to have lots and lots of light
Your best option is to take the picture outside in bright but cloudy whether (you need sun-level brightness but direct sunlight doesn't make things look good).
If you don't have cloudy whether you can try to take the picture outside and place some diffusing material (white fabric or semi transparent white paper) between the laptop and the sun.
Your second best option is to place the laptop near the biggest window you can find - but not in direct sunlight.
And, sorry to tell you, but your smartphone is not a pro-level camera, to get clean pictures in anything but full sunlight you need a bigger sensor, a bigger sensor also needs a bigger lens and so you can't fit a such a camera into a cellphone (pro photographers carry those big cameras with them for a reason)
Originally by user2481. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user2481
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Use as much soft light as possible. The “dotted” look is most likely image noise, which is common with small phone sensors, especially in low light. First, make sure the camera is set to its highest resolution and quality.
For lighting, the best option is bright but diffused light: outdoors on a bright cloudy day, or indoors right next to a large window. Avoid harsh direct sunlight if possible, or diffuse it with something translucent and white. If needed, use a sheet of white paper or card to bounce light back onto the product and reduce shadows.
For a cleaner product shot, place the notebook on white paper and curve the paper upward behind it to create a simple seamless white background. This can make the listing look much more professional.
Don’t expect phone-camera megapixels alone to guarantee “professional” results. Lighting matters far more, and small phone sensors are more prone to noise than larger cameras.
For editing, keep it simple: crop, straighten, and adjust brightness/contrast lightly. Good lighting before you shoot will help more than heavy editing afterward.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI14y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Why did my smartphone photo come out sharper than my old Canon PowerShot in low light?
Why is Wi‑Fi Direct tethered shooting on my Samsung WB250F so slow to a phone?
Why do photos from my newer compact camera look grainier than my older one?
How can I speed up eBay product photos on a budget while keeping image quality consistent?
Why do black bands appear when photographing an AMOLED phone screen?