Clothing, shoes, a bag and a camera laid out neatly on a plain gray background

Taking Good Listing Photos With Your Phone: A Simple Guide

ByDorothy Kemp

When you sell something online, the photo does most of the talking. Shoppers can’t pick the item up, turn it over or check for chips. Your pictures do that job for them. The good news is that you don’t need a fancy camera. The phone in your pocket is plenty.

Better photos won’t guarantee a sale, but they can help an item sell faster and closer to your asking price. Over a few months, a handful of sales might help toward a bill like a $15 streaming plan. That’s an estimate, and results vary.

The tips below are drawn largely from eBay’s own photo guidance, as of October 2026. They work just as well for Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, Etsy and other sites.

Before you start: clean and gather

Wipe off dust, iron or steam clothing, and polish silver or glass. Gather everything that comes with the item: lids, cords, instruction booklets, the original box. Shoppers like to see that it’s complete.

Pick a plain background

eBay suggests an uncluttered spot with a plain, neutral backdrop. White works well for most things. A sheet of white poster board from a drugstore is cheap and easy to move around. For shiny things like jewelry or silverware, eBay notes that a darker background can work better.

Clear the area around the item. A kitchen counter with a toaster and mail in the corner of the picture distracts the eye.

Use soft, natural light

Window light is your best friend. Set up near a window on a bright day, but out of harsh direct sun. eBay recommends avoiding the camera flash and overhead lights, because they cause glare and shadows.

Morning or early afternoon light is often the softest. If one side of the item looks dark, prop a piece of white paper or cardboard on that side to bounce a little light back.

Hold the phone steady

Blurry photos are the most common problem. eBay suggests a small tripod if you have one. If not, rest the phone on a stack of books or a flat surface and use the phone’s self-timer so your finger doesn’t shake the picture.

Using the self-timer, step by step

  1. Open your phone’s camera app.
  2. Look for a small clock or timer symbol near the top or in the settings of the camera screen.
  3. Choose 3 or 10 seconds.
  4. Line up your photo, tap the round button, and let go of the phone.

Every phone is a bit different. If you can’t find the timer, a grandchild or a quick look at your phone’s help pages can point the way.

Which photos to take

eBay lets you add up to 24 photos to a listing, and you must include at least one. You don’t need that many, but more angles help. Aim for:

  • A main photo showing the whole item from the front. eBay says this first photo should show the full item, face on.
  • The back, sides, top and bottom
  • Close-ups of labels, maker’s marks, signatures or brand tags
  • Any flaws, such as a chip, scratch, stain or missing button
  • A coin, ruler or tape measure next to the item if its size isn’t obvious
  • For a bundle, one photo of every piece together

Showing flaws clearly might feel like a mistake, but it builds trust and helps avoid unhappy buyers and returns later.

What not to do

  • Don’t add words, logos or borders on top of your photos. eBay says these can hurt how your listing shows up in search.
  • Don’t use a stock photo from the internet for a used item. eBay doesn’t allow catalog photos for used items, and buyers want to see the real thing.
  • Don’t crop so tightly that part of the item is cut off.

Size and shape

Today’s phones take photos far larger than most sites need. eBay asks for at least 500 by 500 pixels, recommends about 1600 by 1600, and accepts files up to 12 MB. Square or wide photos tend to look best. If your phone has a “square” setting, it’s a handy choice.

A simple photo routine

  1. Clean the item and set it on your plain background near a window.
  2. Rest your phone on something steady and turn on the self-timer.
  3. Take the front photo first, then work around the item.
  4. Take close-ups of marks, tags and any flaws.
  5. Look at each photo on your screen, zooming in to check it’s sharp. Retake any blurry ones.

After a few listings, this becomes second nature, and it often takes just a few minutes per item.

A word on taxes

Online marketplaces and payment apps report certain payments to the IRS on Form 1099-K. The IRS says income from things you sell, including personal items like clothing or furniture sold at a gain, should be reported. Rules change, so check the IRS page on Form 1099-K or ask a tax professional about your own situation.

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