How to Photograph Fish for Listings That Sell

As a breeder or shop owner on FishHub, your photos are your most powerful sales tool. A blurry, dark, or poorly composed photo can make a stunning R500 fish look like a R50 bargain bin find. You don't need a professional DSLR camera to take great pictures. With a modern smartphone and a few simple techniques, you can create listings that grab attention and drive sales.

Camera settings and backgrounds

Turn off your flash; it causes glare and washes out colors. If your phone has a 'Pro' mode, use it to manually adjust focus. Clean the aquarium glass inside and out before you start. For the background, a plain black or white piece of cardboard placed behind the tank works wonders to make your fish stand out.

Posing fish and timing shots

The best time to photograph your fish is during feeding time when they are most active and displaying their best colors. Use a small amount of food to draw the fish to the front of the glass. Use your phone's burst mode to take multiple shots at once; you're more likely to capture one perfect, non-blurry image. Get down to the fish's level instead of shooting from above.

Editing tips and image specs for listings

A little editing goes a long way. Use your phone's built-in editor to slightly increase brightness, contrast, and saturation. Don't overdo it—the goal is to make the photo look true to life, not artificial. Crop the image to focus on the fish. For FishHub listings, a landscape (horizontal) aspect ratio works best. Ensure your final image is clear and sharp.