Lighting Is Everything (Use a Window)
Natural light is free and it's the best light for product photography. Shoot near a large window during the day.
Avoid direct sunlight — it creates harsh shadows. Overcast days or indirect window light give the softest, most flattering results.
If you can only shoot at night, a cheap $15 ring light works. But natural light is better 90% of the time.
Pro tip
Shoot between 10am and 2pm for the best natural light. North-facing windows give the most consistent, diffused light.
Background: Keep It Clean
A white wall, a clean sheet, or a wooden floor — pick one and stick with it.
Cluttered backgrounds distract buyers and make your listing look unprofessional. Flat lays on a clean surface work great for clothing. Hanging items on a hanger against a white wall also looks sharp.
Consistency matters: if all your listings have the same clean background, your shop looks more professional and trustworthy.
Angles: Show Everything
Take more photos than you think you need. Here's the minimum:
- Full front view - Full back view - Close-up of any labels or tags - Close-up of any flaws or wear - Detail shots (texture, hardware, stitching) - Scale reference (wear it, or put it next to a common object)
eBay allows 24 photos, Etsy allows 10, Vinted allows 20. Use as many as the platform allows.
Phone Settings That Matter
Turn off flash — always. Flash creates unflattering, washed-out photos.
Clean your phone lens (seriously, this makes a huge difference). Use the back camera, not the selfie camera.
If your phone has portrait mode, don't use it for product photos — it blurs edges and can make details look soft. Use the standard photo mode.
Tap on the product to focus, and adjust exposure if the image looks too dark or bright.
Quick Edits That Make a Difference
You don't need Photoshop. Your phone's built-in editor is enough.
Brightness: bump it up slightly. Most phone photos are a bit dark. Contrast: increase slightly to make colors pop. Sharpen: a small amount makes details clearer. Crop: center the product and remove distracting edges.
Don't over-filter. Buyers want to see the actual product, not an Instagram-worthy version of it.
From Photo to Listing in 10 Seconds
Once you've taken great photos, the next step is writing the listing. This is where most resellers slow down.
With ILoveListing, your product photo does double duty — the AI analyzes it to generate a complete listing (title, description, tags, pricing) in seconds. One photo, one upload, and you're ready to sell on eBay, Etsy, Vinted, Poshmark, Depop, or Amazon.