How to Photograph Furniture for Maximum Facebook Marketplace Sales
Turn casual scrollers into buyers with lighting, angles, and edits that make your furniture impossible to ignore.
Introduction
How to Photograph Furniture for Maximum Facebook Marketplace Sales comes down to clarity and trust. Buyers decide to click within seconds, so your first image must show true color, clean lines, and scale. This guide gives you a fast, repeatable system that works for sofas, tables, dressers, and moreβno studio required.
Compliance & honesty: Always show actual condition. Photograph defects clearly and describe them in the copy to avoid flags, returns, and wasted messages.
Expanded Table of Contents
- 1) Lighting That Sells (No Harsh Shadows)
- 2) Staging & Background: Clean, Minimal, Real
- 3) Composition & Angles: The 10-Shot Checklist
- 4) Phone/Camera Settings that Matter
- 5) Special Surfaces (Glass, Gloss, Metal, Fabric)
- 6) Editing Workflow: From Camera Roll to Listing
- 7) Dimensions, Scale & Condition Proof
- 8) Export Sizes, File Names & Watermarks
- 9) Listing Tips that Boost CTR & Saves
- 10) Troubleshooting Quick Fixes
- 11) 25 Frequently Asked Questions
- 12) 25 Extra Keywords
1) Lighting That Sells (No Harsh Shadows)
- Shoot near a large window with indirect light; turn off mixed indoor lamps.
- Diffusion hack: sheer curtain, white sheet, or a cheap 33β43β³ umbrella to soften light.
- Place the furniture at a 30β45Β° angle to the light source for depth and gentle shadows.
- If needed, bounce light with a foam board opposite the window to open dark sides.
2) Staging & Background: Clean, Minimal, Real
- Declutter the area; remove cords, bins, busy rugs. Neutral wall > patterned wall.
- Add one or two scale cues (plant, lamp). Avoid heavy decor that distracts from edges.
- Center the piece; keep edges parallel to the frame; leave βbreathing room.β
3) Composition & Angles: The 10-Shot Checklist
- Hero (front-angled at chest height)
- Front straight-on (lines parallel)
- Left angle
- Right angle
- Profile/side
- Back (for dressers/cabinets)
- Close-ups (handles, grain, stitching)
- Scale shot (next to lamp/plant)
- Dimensions card (photo of tape measure)
- Defect/condition proof (honest close-ups)
4) Phone/Camera Settings that Matter
| Setting | Why | How |
|---|---|---|
| Flash OFF | Avoid glare & harsh shadows | Use window/soft light instead |
| Grid ON | Straight lines & balance | Align edges w/ grid |
| Lock Focus/Exposure | Consistent color/brightness | Tap-hold on subject; slide to slightly underexpose |
| 1x Lens | No digital noise/distortion | Step back to frame |
| WB: Daylight/Custom | Accurate color | Avoid Auto in mixed light |
5) Special Surfaces (Glass, Gloss, Metal, Fabric)
- Glass/Gloss: Use diffusion and angle lights; shoot slightly off-axis to kill reflections.
- Metal: Side light to reveal texture; watch for hot spotsβunderexpose a touch.
- Fabric: Side light for texture; include a macro detail with a hand for scale.
- Wood: Daylight WB, gentle contrast; include close-ups of grain and joinery.
6) Editing Workflow: From Camera Roll to Listing
- Pick best 10β15; delete dupes.
- Straighten & crop (keep edges vertical/horizontal).
- Adjust exposure (slight lift), white balance (neutral whites), contrast (light).
- Spot-remove small floor scuffs, not product features.
- Export square hero + portrait 4:5 + landscape 16:9 variants.
Tip: Create a reusable preset for Marketplace shootsβsaves minutes per listing.
7) Dimensions, Scale & Condition Proof
- Include a dimension card image (WxDxH) and a tape-measure photo for credibility.
- Photograph defects with arrows/captions; mention in description (chips, wear, wobble).
- Add a lifestyle shot (in room) to help buyers visualize placement.
8) Export Sizes, File Names & Watermarks
| Use | Aspect | Size | Naming |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hero | 1:1 | 1440Γ1440 | sofa-linen-hero-1440.jpg |
| Carousel portrait | 4:5 | 1080Γ1350 | sofa-linen-detail-1080x1350.jpg |
| Landscape alt | 16:9 | 1600Γ900 | sofa-linen-room-1600x900.jpg |
Optional small watermark bottom-right (brand/phone). Keep opacity ~60% so it doesnβt hurt CTR.
9) Listing Tips that Boost CTR & Saves
- Title: βModern Linen Sofa β 84β³ β Smoke Gray β Pet-Free, Like Newβ
- Bullets: Width/Depth/Height β’ Material β’ Color β’ Condition β’ Delivery/Pickup
- CTA: βMessage for delivery quote or to schedule pickup today.β
- Pin the dimension card image near the top of the carousel.
10) Troubleshooting Quick Fixes
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Colors look yellow | Mixed lighting | Turn off warm lamps; daylight WB |
| Edges look warped | Ultra-wide lens | Use 1x lens; step back |
| Harsh reflections | Direct light/flash | Diffuse/angle light; flash off |
| Looks small/unclear | No scale cues | Add plant/lamp; show tape measure |
| Low clicks | Busy background | Declutter; neutral wall; stronger hero |
11) 25 Frequently Asked Questions
1) Whatβs the best light?
Soft window light with diffusion.
2) How many photos?
10β15 covering angles, details, size, and condition.
3) Phone or camera?
Modern phones are fine with good light and careful framing.
4) Use portrait mode?
Sparinglyβwatch edges for blur artifacts.
5) Best background?
Neutral wall, uncluttered floor.
6) Show defects?
Yesβclose-ups with notes build trust.
7) Color accuracy?
Fixed white balance and no mixed lighting.
8) Export size?
Square 1440Γ1440 for hero; also 1080Γ1350.
9) Watermark?
Small, subtle; donβt cover the product.
10) Props?
Minimalβplant/lamp/book only.
11) Angles?
Front, angled, sides, back, details.
12) Glass glare?
Diffuse and shoot off-axis.
13) Fabric texture?
Side-light and macro detail.
14) Wood grain?
Daylight WB and slight underexposure.
15) White furniture on white wall?
Add contrast with a wood floor or soft gray paper.
16) Distortion fix?
Use 1x lens; correct perspective in edit.
17) Include dimensions?
Yesβtext + dimension card photo.
18) Vertical or square?
Square hero; add vertical for feeds.
19) Editing apps?
Any basic editor for crop/level/WB/contrast.
20) Too dark?
Move closer to window; add reflector.
21) Too bright?
Lower exposure; use diffusion.
22) Tight room?
Back into a corner; avoid ultra-wide.
23) Carousel order?
Hero β angles β details β size β defects.
24) Video tours?
Yesβ10β20s vertical helps CTR.
25) First step today?
Set up a neutral corner and shoot your hero image.
12) 25 Extra Keywords
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- furniture photography marketplace tips
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- wood grain photo technique
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- dimension card photo
- furniture photo editing basics
- white balance daylight
- grid lines straighten
- 1x lens product shot
- square 1440 export
- facebook marketplace seo images
- carousel order conversion
- defect disclosure photos
- scale shot plant lamp
- minimal props furniture
- watermark brand subtle
- shoot list furniture
- local sales photo guide 2025
















