Lighting Product Photos with Window Light

Updated October 2026

If you only change one thing about your listing photos, change the light. Kitchen ceiling lights and phone flashes make most items look flat and yellow. A window does a much better job, and it's free.

The reason is size. A window is a big light source compared to your item, so the light wraps around it and the shadows come out soft. Daylight also has good, neutral color.

Setting up

Pick a window that's bright but not getting sunbeams. North-facing windows (in the US) give the most even light through the day, and any window is fine when it's overcast. If the sun is shining straight onto your table, hang something translucent over the glass. A sheer white curtain works. So does a cheap frosted shower curtain, or baking parchment taped to the glass.

Put the table so the window is off to one side of the item. Light from the side shows texture and shape, which is usually what you want. For flat things like clothing laid out or a book cover, you can shoot with your back to the window instead. Just keep your own shadow off the item.

Turn off the room lights. Ordinary bulbs are warmer than daylight, and mixing the two leaves you with a photo that's orange on one side and blue on the other. That's hard to fix later.

Filling in the dark side

The side away from the window will be darker. Stand a piece of white foam board or poster board there, just out of the frame, and angle it toward the item. It bounces window light back into the shadows. Move it in to brighten them, or pull it back for more contrast. If you want a moodier look, a black card does the opposite.

A few things that trip people up

• Light fades fast as you move away from a window. If a big item is bright on one end and dim on the other, slide the table back a foot or add a second white card.
• Daylight shifts during the day. Shoot a batch of items in one session so your listings match, and leave the phone on a tripod so the framing matches too.
• If photos come out blue or gray, it's usually a cloudy afternoon. Warm them up slightly in editing.
• Shiny items will reflect the window. We cover that in small & shiny items.