How to take photos of items on your own with your phone
Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to take photos of items on your own with your phone.
We hope they’ll be helpful!
Getting ready to shoot
1
All you need is a phone with a camera. Any smartphone will do.
2
Turn off the automatic flash and wipe the camera lens.
3
It’s best to take photos in cloudy weather on a table near a window — the lighting will be soft and diffused. If the sun is bright outside, move the table into partial shade.
4
Use a clean wooden tabletop or special backdrop, preferably monochrome without any complex patterns.
5
Tableware should be clean, without any chips or stains.
6
Prepare the food in advance, but don’t wait too long before shooting so their appearance doesn’t change.
7
Use a phone tripod or other stand to hold the camera.
Frame the picture
1
The item should be in the exact center of the frame.
2
Place the plate so the main ingredient is in front, and side dishes are in the back.
3
For decoration, you can use a neutral textile napkin without any patterns in the background or next to the main dish.
4
We don’t recommend using other dishes and ingredients as decoration, as the decoration is supposed to complement the item but not be misleading.
5
Anything not included in the item or used as a decoration shouldn’t be in frame.
Select the angle
1
If the background is distracting (for example, if any walls, posters, or windows are visible), take photos from above at a 90-degree angle, as shown in photo 1.
PHOTO 1
2
If the background is fine and you need to take photos of salads, pizzas, soups, shawarma, or desserts, you can shoot from a 45-degree angle, as shown in photo 2.
PHOTO 2
3
SIf you need to take photos of burgers, bottled drinks, or drinks in clear glasses, we recommend shooting at a 0-degree angle, as shown in photos 3 and 4.
PHOTO 3
4
If you have a tripod, use it to position your phone and shoot from the recommended angles.
PHOTO 4
Take photos of food items
1
Make sure the phone is horizontal.
2
t’s best to shoot similar items from the same angle: a 45-degree angle is fine for most items (as shown in the photo on the right).
3
The item, tableware, and decorations must all fit in the frame..
4
The focus needs to be on the main item. To adjust the focus, you usually need to tap in the right place on the screen (as shown in the photo on the right).
5
After you take the photos, we recommend checking that every photo is clear so you can take more photos if needed.
Take photos of drinks
1
You don’t need to use decorations for photos of drinks.
2
Take photos of clear glasses and bottles at a direct 0-degree angle. Make sure the background isn’t distracting (as in photo 1).
3
Take photos of drinks in mugs at a 45-degree angle so the contents are visible (as in photo 2).
4
You can download photos of common drink brands from our database.
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
Check the photos
1
All photos are horizontal, clear, and not blurry.
2
All the items you need have been photographed.
3
There isn’t anything extra in frame.
4
Items in the same category (soups, burgers) are photographed from the same angle.
