Intro
A great model deserves eye-catching photos. How do you take a quality photo? Well there’s a lot of stuff you can do to take your photos to the next level, and in this guide I’ve combined top tips from the best of MakerWorld designers! 17 people contributed so far! If you have anything to add, please leave a post below and let me know! I plan to update this often. Without any further ado, here it is!
Get a good print
Most of the time, you will want to print using matte filament. This will minimize reflections when taking photos. Some models do really look best in silk filament though, so there are tips for reducing reflections later on. You will also want to choose a good color. For example, I won’t want to print a model in matte white if I’ll be photographing it on a white background.
The camera
Which camera should you buy? None! Your phone is probably adequate. (If you already have a camera, try comparing the quality of it vs your phone and see which is better!) I use my Pixel 6a (which is fairly low-end and is older) for all my photography, and it turns out great. @jakobdam recommends setting your phone’s zoom to 2x. I’ve been doing this the whole time, as it just looks better, and the way he explains it makes a lot of sense!
Get a clean background
Your model is not the only thing to worry about. You also want a clean background.
You can use a simple piece of paper or a poster board to create a clean “Sweep” or “Cyclorama” background. I use a simple white poster board that I purchased for under a dollar, taped inside of a cabinet. This gives me a lot of room to work with.
Result:
Image from Chevron Arrow Vase (Vase Mode!) by Zammer 3D
You could also purchase other colors for more variety. Make sure not to pick an annoying color, like hot pink or neon green. This could make it hard for people to see the model. You can also print a stand like this for the paper:
Photo Studio Stand by franceschellifederico
You can also check this one out:
There are also purpose-built photo boxes, like this one that @MalcTheOracle uses. As it’s unavailable on US Amazon, I’ve found an alternative:
Result:
Image from Gyro3 Triad Fidget Spinner by MalcTheOracle
You can also 3d print one. As long as your printer is dialed in (or if it’s a Bambu 
) it’ll look pretty good! This one suggested by @Square3D looks pretty awesome!
Photobox + turntable by Allar3D (There appears to be a V2 out now as well)
Result:
Image from Adorable Pug Doggy With Stand by Square3D
There’s also other options. You can do something like this one from @MalcTheOracle, which uses a grass background.
Image from Lightsaber (Use the Force) Articulated Fidget Toy by MalcTheOracle
Or you can 2d/3d print a backdrop, like one of these:
I believe this one that @GlennovitS3D uses is 3d printed (not positive though).
Image from Cable Croc Clip (quick cartoon-style organizer) by GlennovitS 3D
And this one that I made has a 2d print-out of some brick and a piece of flooring purchased cheap from a hardware store:
Image from Pencil Cup: Ribbed Cube Spiral (Vase mode print!) by Zammer 3D
Or if you want a really fun and customizable backdrop, follow this suggestion from @kertgartner:
Sometimes your model doesn’t really fit in a photo box, or it needs to be displayed “In action” - @Josh-3D’s cat wheel demonstrates that this is still ok!
Image from Cat Exercise Wheel by Josh 3D
Make sure any large distractions are cleaned up, and above all make sure there’s good light (that’s the next section, don’t worry!). These ones also look amazing!
Image from Sheikah Tower Planter from Zelda BotW by JaayJeee
Image from Traditional Triangle Plant pot Planter - Vase mode by SASSy Design
Sometimes you want props though. This tapeosaurus uses a good set of stuff that isn’t distracting. He also used a bit of background blur to make sure the main focus stands out.
Image from Tapeosaurus - Cute dinosaur tape dispenser by phillip
And this organizer looks great despite not being in a photo box. It shows it in action instead!
Image from Ikea Alex Organizer Trays (Shorter Drawers) by Tiago Catarino
More Light
Light is a crucial element in any photo. This photo doesn’t have enough light, so it looks pretty bad. But once light is added, well, you can see the difference.
Image from Simple Vase by Zammer 3D
@MalcTheOracle uses this ring light, which has a built in phone holder…
…and I use this softbox, but any large light is good.
A large light will make the background more evenly lit, and will reduce reflections and shadows. If you only have a smaller light source, you can use a reflector (a large sheet of paper/poster board works well on a budget). If you have an adjustable color light, play with the color temperature. Usually a mid-range color works best, but it can depend on the look you’re going for and the model colors. The sun always works as a good light as well. It’s pretty dang big, so shadows are usually pretty soft. You can shoot outside or near a window to take advantage of the natural light. I recommend trying to shoot photos at the same time of day whenever you need them. This will make the lighting more consistent across your uploads.
Post Processing
Once you spend a good amount of time taking photos, you can start editing. I personally used Canva for a while, but I recently switched to the Affinity suite (Mostly Affinity Designer), which has a 6 month free trial. You can also use Photoshop, or the free online alternative Photopea. There’s also GIMP and paint.net (suggested by @Quietman). Adjust the brightness, colors, and etc. as needed, and then you can add text if you want. As a general rule, don’t use more than two colors of text/graphics, or it will make it seem cluttered. Choose a decent font that is easy to read, and make sure there’s breathing room between elements. @MalcTheOracle suggests:
@Rossero also shared some tips:
Canva has some pretty good tools as well. If you select a photo, click “edit” → “adjust” and then switch to background, you can increase just the background’s brightness.
In general, don’t go too overboard with text and graphics. If you choose to include them, keep them consistent. @MalcTheOracle uses a specific style for each line of designs he makes. Sometimes graphics really add to the story though. This model by NaraaPrints uses a really well designed background. While it is somewhat busy, I really like the look of it.
Image from Crochet Laika – The First Dog in Space by NaraaPrints
Summary
- Get a Quality Print: Matte filament is often best for minimizing reflections, though silk filament can work with careful lighting. Choose contrasting colors to avoid blending into your background.
- Camera Tips: Your phone camera will likely suffice! Try using the 2x zoom, equivalent to a 50mm focal length, to avoid distortion.
- Background Setup: Use a clean, simple background like a white poster board or a lightbox. Options range from DIY setups with inexpensive poster boards to ready-made or 3D-printed stands and photo boxes. Experiment with different backdrops, from grass mats to printed designs or even LCD TVs for interesting reflections.
- Lighting Matters: Soft, even lighting is essential. Ring lights, softboxes, or natural light (especially near a window) work well. Use a reflector to reduce shadows if only small light sources are available.
- Post-Processing: Enhance images with tools like Photoshop, Photopea, or Canva. Adjust brightness, color, and contrast. Simple text or graphics can add context without cluttering the photo.
Happy designing, printing, and photographing! If you enjoyed this, please check out some of the models above and the people below! Massive thank you to all those who gave advice in the original thread!
Contributors (17):
Froggydog10
Johnny_Bit
Square3D
Botannik
MalcTheOracle
jaayjeee
jakobdam
Botolo78
Rossero
Henlor
h3li0
Josh-3D
JonRaymond
PrinterMcgee
Quietman (No MW found)
drakko
kertgartner
And me: Zammer3D
I’m going to be having some ultra close ups showing in my models soon 