How to Take Product Photos with an iPhone

iPhone camera settings

Before you shoot, configure your camera for product photography:

1. Turn off Portrait mode — depth-of-field blur looks unnatural on product photos and can blur important details
2. Lock exposure and focus: Long-press on your product until you see the AE/AF Lock banner — this prevents the camera from re-exposing when you move slightly
3. Enable the grid (Settings → Camera → Grid) for level, composed shots
4. Turn on ProRAW (iPhone 12 Pro and later) for maximum post-processing flexibility
5. Use the 1× or 2× lens for product photography; the ultra-wide introduces distortion

For iPhone 14 Pro and later, the 48MP main sensor captures exceptional detail — more than enough for any ecommerce platform.

Lighting with iPhone

The iPhone's biggest weakness is its small sensor, which struggles in low light. The solution is simple: use more light.

The best iPhone product photography setup costs nothing extra:

1. Place your product on a white surface next to a large window
2. Position the window light to the side of the product (not directly behind you — that flattens the image)
3. Hold a piece of white foam core or a piece of paper on the opposite side to fill shadows
4. Shoot on an overcast day or in soft indirect window light for the most flattering results

iPhone photography accessories

Accessory	Purpose	Approx cost
Mini tripod	Eliminate camera shake	$15–30
White foam core boards	Free reflectors	$3 each
Portable LED panel	Supplement natural light	$25–50
Backdrop clips	Hold paper backgrounds	$8

A $30 iPhone tripod is the single most impactful purchase for improving your product photos.

Best apps for iPhone product photos

• Halide Mark II — manual controls, ProRAW shooting, histogram
• Adobe Lightroom Mobile — best all-round camera and editor; free tier is generous
• Darkroom — fast batch editing with great presets
• Remove.bg — one-tap background removal
• Snapseed — free, powerful editing with healing brush for removing dust/distractions

Editing iPhone product photos

1. Import into Lightroom Mobile or Darkroom
2. Set white balance first — tap on a white area of the background and it auto-corrects
3. Increase Texture (+20–30) to bring out product surface detail
4. Reduce Highlights if any bright areas are blown out
5. Increase Clarity slightly for crisp edges
6. Export at full resolution (do not reduce size — you want maximum pixels for ecommerce platforms)

After editing, WaffleIQ can take your iPhone product shot and place it in professional studio or lifestyle backgrounds in under 60 seconds.

Try WaffleIQ free →