Case Study: Taking Photographs With a Phone

The Problem

When Cynthia Treen opened her Etsy shop, Cynthia Treen Studio, in 2011, she hoped to share the joy of sewing with others. Her shop sells kits for hand-stitched felt animals that can be completed by even beginner sewers in a single evening. Cynthia worked as a photo stylist before opening her Providence, Rhode Island-based Etsy shop, but when it came time to photograph her own products, she was uncomfortable using a high-end camera. “I am ashamed to admit I have never successfully used a DSLR camera,” says Cynthia, who finds the settings on cameras intimidating and confusing. Fortunately for Cynthia, her husband is a photographer, who helps her with her studio shots. But Cynthia also wanted to be able to take more spontaneous photos of her products by herself, so she bought an iPhone.

Photographing with her iPhone was liberating, Cynthia says, but it also posed its own challenges. Cynthia knew that photographs were very important, especially when selling kits. With kits, you’re not just selling the product, you’re selling the promise of the completed project. It’s important to capture all the details and to get high-quality images. But when Cynthia started taking photos with her iPhone, she was frustrated that her images didn't look as clear and professional as she wanted.

The Solution

Invest in good lighting: iPhone photos taken in low-light situations can appear grainy. After buying a trio of soft box lights for about $125, Cynthia realized that good artificial lighting was the missing ingredient in her indoor set-up shots. “The more you practice and play, the better your lighting skills will become,” says Cynthia.

Cynthia studio shot — For her studio shots, Cynthia sets up three lights with a sweep, which is a roll of unwrinkled fabric or paper used to create a seamless backdrop.

Time your shoots around lighting: When shooting outdoors, Cynthia takes photos early in the morning when the light is low or on overcast days when the light is even.

Get up close: When Cynthia is shooting outside, she gets close, lays down, puts her iPhone on the ground, and tilts it up a bit. “I’m in their world, not a giant looking down on them," says Cynthia. "When you get to their scale, that's really helpful." It’s preferable to get physically close to your subject rather than zooming in on a phone camera, which will reduce image quality. To capture details, get close to your product and use a macro lens designed for your phone. A tripod can also help keep photos in focus.

Cynthia's products — Cynthia stages an impromptu scene featuring some of her creatures atop a large moss-covered rock.

Move around your subjects: With a phone, moving around your products is easy, so experiment with your position until the angle is just right. “My goal in photographing an item is to choose its best attributes or best side and convey the most amount of information in a single shot,” says Cynthia.

Embrace spontaneity: Have fun with your iPhone camera and take advantage of its portability. Cynthia takes her products with her on morning walks, snapping photos whenever inspiration strikes.

Edit on your phone: You might be surprised by how much you can improve your photos on your phone itself, without using any additional editing software, says Cynthia. “Use the photo editing and processing settings on your phone to change the exposure, highlights, vibrancy of your photos,” she says.

The Results

Cynthia is happy with her iPhone photos these days and feels they can stand up against the studio shots in her shop. With over 8,000 sales, Cynthia has found a photo formula that works for her by mixing professional studio shots and spontaneous outdoor iPhone photography. While the crisp studio shots in her shop do a great job of capturing essential product detail, the photos Cynthia takes with her phone in natural settings capture the fun personalities of her little felt characters. “I take environmental shots to create a mood, context and story,” says Cynthia.

Cynthia loves the freedom and spontaneity that working with an iPhone gives her. She looks forward to each time she gets a new iPhone because of the promise for better pictures it brings. “With each new version the cameras get better and better,” she says.