How to take a photo on your phone that prints well
To get a phone photo that prints sharp, shoot in daylight near a window, hold the phone steady, tap to focus on the face and avoid digital zoom. Then send the original file — from your camera roll, by email, or on WhatsApp as a document — not a normal WhatsApp photo, which is shrunk to about 1600 pixels.
How many pixels do I need?
About 200 pixels per inch of the frame: 1600 × 2000 for 8×10, 3200 × 4000 for 16×20 and 4800 × 7200 for 24×36. Most phones take 3024 × 4032 photos, which grade Great up to 12×16 and Good up to 20×24. Bigger frames are seen from further away, so no frame needs more than 4800 pixels on the short side, and a 12-megapixel phone photo can be ordered even at 48×72.
Tips for a sharper photo
- Use daylight from a window; avoid harsh overhead light.
- Wipe the camera lens.
- Tap the face on screen to focus, then hold still.
- Move closer instead of zooming in.
- Keep the whole head and shoulders in frame with some space around them for cropping.
Why is my WhatsApp photo blurry when printed?
WhatsApp compresses photos to save data. Ask the sender to share the original, or to send it as a document. The builder tells you the largest size each photo prints sharp at.