How to photograph your listings with just a phone

    You do not need a good camera to make a listing look trustworthy — you need to use the phone you already have correctly.

    How to photograph your listings with just a phone
    TradingBy the Near Dee Trust & Safety teamLast updated: 4 min read

    1. Light matters more than anything else

    Shoot in daylight near a window with natural light coming in. Diffused daylight renders true colour far better than indoor bulbs, which usually cast a yellow or orange tint. Never use the phone's built-in flash — it creates harsh shadows and washes out colour.

    If you must shoot at night, turn on every light in the room and keep the item away from a single light source to reduce shadows, or simply wait until daylight if you can.

    2. A plain background makes the item stand out

    Use a solid, uncluttered background — a white or grey tablecloth, a wooden floor, a bare wall. Keep scattered objects out of the frame. A messy background pulls attention away from the item and looks unprofessional even when the item itself is in great condition.

    3. The angles every listing needs

    • A clear front-on shot of the whole item — use this as the cover photo.
    • The back and both sides.
    • A close-up of any label, model number, or serial number.
    • The accessories included: box, cable, receipt.
    • Every visible flaw, shot close and well lit.

    4. Photograph defects clearly — it does not hurt sales

    Scratches, dents, stains, or cracked parts should be shot close-up with slightly angled light to make shallow marks visible. Showing defects clearly does not make an item harder to sell; it filters for serious buyers and cuts the chance of a deal collapsing at the meeting.

    5. How many photos is enough

    Six to ten photos is enough for most items. Something with more detail, like a car or a camera, may need 12-15. Too few photos leaves buyers unsure; too many repeated angles just slow down loading.

    6. A short video closes deals faster

    For appliances, electronics, or anything with moving parts, a 15-30 second video showing it power on, run, and sound normal answers more questions than a stack of still photos and reduces buyer hesitation.

    7. Common mistakes

    • Using a manufacturer's stock photo instead of a photo of the actual item for sale.
    • Cropping one photo into several instead of actually shooting multiple angles.
    • Lighting so dark the true colour is not visible.
    • Personal items or documents with private information visible in the background.
    • Odd angles that make the item look larger or smaller than it really is.

    8. Category-specific shooting tips

    • Phones and tablets: shoot the screen powered on to prove it works, plus a shot of the battery health or device info screen.
    • Clothing: hang it or lay it flat so the shape is clear; photograph the size tag and fabric close up, and any fading or pilling separately.
    • Furniture: shoot in a well-lit room and place a familiar object like a mug or a book next to it so buyers can judge the real size.
    • Cars and motorbikes: shoot the whole vehicle outdoors in daylight, plus the odometer, tyres, interior, every scratch or dent, and the registration book with the plate number covered.
    • Toys and appliances: shoot them running, or use a short video instead of stills.

    9. Photo order and choosing the cover shot

    The cover photo is the only image shown in the feed, so it should be the brightest, clearest full view of the item with nothing distracting in the frame. Order the rest from overview to detail: front, back, sides, label, accessories, and defects last.

    Placing defect photos at the end is not hiding them — it lets the buyer see the whole picture first and then weigh the flaws in context. Buyers who scroll through the entire set are usually the most serious ones.

    10. Editing and filters: where the line is

    Adjusting brightness slightly to match reality is normal, but filters that change colour, sharpening that erases scratches, or editing out a defect is misrepresentation. If the buyer arrives and the item looks different from the photos, the deal usually collapses and a negative review may follow.

    A simple rule: edit only to make the photo match the real item more accurately, never to make it look better than reality. If the colour came out wrong because of the lighting, correct it towards what your eyes actually see — not towards what looks prettier.

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