Even when I was a baby Bookstagrammer learning to take book photos, my initial annoyance was that my audiobook photos were always subpar at best. Taking a picture of a phone never yielded balanced photos because the lighting would never play nice with a lit screen. That's when I started to figure out how to take my flat lays with a blank or stand-in phone and put in the cover in the editing process.
I have come a long way since that first manipulated photo, and I have continually refined my methods along the way. And you get the benefit of all of that learning. Here is my FREE tutorial that boils down to 3 easy steps (and one of those is taking the original photo!). The tutorial includes screenshots of every button to click and item to manipulate. Plus I have included three optional bonus steps to help you take it just a little further.
EDIT: I didn't think I could do it but I made this original audiobook tutorial (below) even easier! I have streamlined it way down for you! This is what I now recommend and do for my own photos: Extra Easy Audiobook Photo Tutorial
Don't be overwhelmed by all the pages!
Each of the 3 steps and the bonuses are broken down into very small steps with screenshots.
It might seem overwhelming, but try it once and you will probably find it easier than you imagine! Then you can add the bonuses.
Step 1: Get Your Base Photo
Take Your Photo
Either use a real extra phone, a phone case, OR cut out some paper or cardboard the size of an iPhone (this is so your photos will be scaled correctly)
Make sure your photo is a level flat lay. I also recommend taking your photo in square mode if the end result will be a square photo.
Taking a Square Photo (iOS)
I cannot find a simple android solution, please contact me if you are an android user with a solution
Edit Your Photo
Edit your photo however you normally do and save the edited version to your phone .
I use Adobe Lightroom to edit my photos.
I use the free version
Step 2: Get Your Audiobook Image
Get your Book Cover
Two Options:
Go to your audiobook player and grab a screenshot. Don't crop it. (this is was my previous)
Find the full cover online and save to your phone
Get Your Blank Phone File
*You only have to do this step once
Google: blank<your phone type> png
*Make sure when you save the file to your phone you can click it and it changes backgrounds from black to white.
Create the Mock Phone in PicsArt
*The free version of this app works perfectly for these purposes
Hit the purple plus at the bottom
Select the blank phone file
Click Add Photo
Select two photos: the screenshot and the blank phone file. Then click "Add (2)"
Resize the screenshot to fit the big phone on the screen
Click on the small phone photo
You will probably have to hit the layer button at the top of the screen and "Move Up" before you resize
Resize the phone to fit on top of the phone in the background.
*It may take a few tweaks to get both of your layered photos the correct size. It get easier to size them with time!
When you are satisfied with your end product, hit "Apply"
Then you can hit the download button at the top of the screen to save this to your camera roll.
Step 3: Combine the Images
Open PicsArt and your Base Photo
*The free version of this app works perfectly for these purposes
Hit the purple plus at the bottom
Select your edited base photo
Add the Mock Phone
Scroll across the bottom to "Add Photo"
Select your mock phone
Hit "Add (1)" in the top right.
Resize Mock Phone to Fit
Resize and rotate the sticker to be as close to the same size as prop iPhone while still covering it all.
Click "Apply" when you are happy with the sticker.
Save the Final Product
When you are happy with everything
Next
Save
Download Photo
Bonus Steps
Bonus Step 1
The reason I edit my base photo before adding the mock phone is that I find doing it after distorts the colors too much. But, you probably want to edit the mock phone to be harmonious with your base photo.
When the mock phone is selected, scroll across the bottom and select adjust
You are given the options to edit Brightness, Contrast, Clarity, Saturation, Hue, Shadows, Highlights , and Temp (not shown)
I always increase the contrast. It looks more real for the phone to be a bit darker. Ignore how the contrast changes the cover if you are going to do bonus number three.
Bonus Step 2
I like to add a slight shadow to the mock phone to add a little depth to the photo.
When the mock photo is selected, scroll across the bottom and select shadow
Change the shadow position.
Make sure you pay attention to where it would naturally be.
I always change the position. I also sometimes click on adjust and change the blur and opacity if it doesn't need to be as harsh. Subtle depth is what we are going for here.
Bonus Step 3
Because I don't like the way most of the audiobook players make the cover fuzzy when I screenshot it, I go and save a separate photo of the solo audiobook cover. I find Chirp the easiest place to find them reliably that are not blurry.
After you have the mock phone in the base photo add another photo of the audiobook cover. You can also make the cover a bit bigger this way.
The Finished Product
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