Can I use a bedsheet instead of poster board?

It wrinkles. Wrinkles catch light and show in photos. A $2 poster board gives a seamless curve with no texture.

Do I need studio lights?

No. One window with indirect daylight is enough for small products. A reflector fills the shadow side.

What if my walls aren't white?

Doesn't matter. The poster board is your background. Put it on a table near a window and ignore the room.

Will this work for clothing?

Flat-lay yes. Hanging garments need a larger setup — but flat-lay works for accessories, folded items, and small apparel.

Photography

Product Photos on a $20 Setup

Name: Learnlyst Subscription
Brand: Learnlyst
Price: 9 USD
Availability: InStock

White board, one window, one reflector — real listings that sell

1h 10m14 photographed stepsBeginner

You will build a $20 product photography setup with a white poster board, a window for light, and a white card as a reflector. Then you'll shoot a mug, a candle, and a flat-lay — and edit white balance so the background is actually white. Built for Etsy, eBay, and Shopify sellers.

What you'll learn

Build a seamless white backdrop for under $5
Use window light and a reflector to eliminate harsh shadows
Correct white balance so white looks white in listings
Shoot three common product types: upright, cylindrical, and flat-lay

Inside this course

Build the setupFive minutes of taping saves hours of editing.
Shoot an upright productA mug is the perfect test — it's reflective, cylindrical, and shows every lighting mistake.
Shoot a candle and a flat-layDifferent shapes need different thinking.
Edit white balanceIf the white isn't white, the product color is wrong — and returns follow.
Listing tipsA good photo with a bad listing still doesn't sell.

Full step-by-step lessons with photos unlock with a subscription.

Free preview

First steps from Build the setup

See how every step looks — photo, checklist, and pro tips included.

The curve eliminates the hard line where wall meets table.

01Tape the poster board into a curve

Take your white poster board and tape the top edge to a wall or a box behind your table. Let the board curve gently from vertical (back wall) to horizontal (table surface) without a crease. This seamless sweep means there's no visible horizon line in your photos — just continuous white.

Use painter's tape so you don't rip the board. If the board is too small for your product, overlap two boards and tape the seam flat. Replace the board when it gets scuffed or dented — they cost $2.

02Position the table near a window

Push your table so one end is within two feet of a window. The window should be to the side of your shooting angle, not behind or in front of you. Side light creates gentle shadows that show product shape.

If direct sun hits the board, hang a white sheet or diffuse curtain over the window. You want bright, even, indirect light — not a hot spot that blows out one side of the product.

Pro tip. Shoot between 10 AM and 2 PM when daylight is strongest but the sun is high enough to not blast through at an angle.

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