How to Photograph Toys for an Online Store

Light it softly

Hard light throws harsh shadows. Use natural light from a window or an overcast day, and avoid harsh midday sun. Indoors, use a diffused light rather than the built-in flash. Start with the light you have, then move it from side to side and up and down to see how the shadows fall.

Choose a plain backdrop

For a listing, a plain backdrop keeps the toy the focus. A plain white card, a foam board or a v-flat works well, and a neutral grey does too. A matte black surface keeps the background quiet for figures. Keep the main image simple so nothing distracts from the toy.

Set the camera low and steady

Shoot from a low angle, near eye level or lower, so a toy looks life-size rather than like a tabletop object. Move the camera a foot or two to one side to make a figure look more active than a straight-on shot. Use a tripod so the camera stays in the same place across the set, and keep the ISO as low as your camera allows.

Shoot the whole toy and its details

• The whole toy from the front for the main image, on a plain background.
• The back, sides, top and bottom, so buyers see every face of the toy.
• Close-ups of labels, copyright notices and manufacturer marks.
• Close-ups of any scratch, crack, worn corner or missing piece.
• The box and any accessories, photographed as thoroughly as the toy itself, if they are included.

Show it working and edit honestly

If the toy has lights, sounds or moving parts, show it working when you can. If you have not tested it, say so in the listing. Keep edits to brightness, exposure and cleanup, and do not alter how the toy looks, so the item that arrives matches the photos.