Use the Square Photo Studio App
About the Square Photo Studio app
The Square Photo Studio app makes it easy to take professional-looking product photos in just a few simple steps. With your mobile device, you can snap a picture of your menu or retail item, select a photo style and edit the background color. Once finished, you can choose to sell the item online with a payment link or add it to your Square item catalog.
Before you begin
The Square Photo Studio app is free, and doesn’t require any in-app purchases or a website. However, you need to download the Square Photo Studio app from the App Store before using it.
While a Square account isn't required to use the app, you'll be prompted to create a Square account if you want to sync photos to Square items, or create a Square Payment Link.
Step 1. Take a photo with the Square Photo Studio app
When taking photos, you’ll get the best results by placing your item in an evenly lit area against a light background. If you plan on photographing many items, consider investing in a lightbox.
Open the Square Photo Studio app, center your item within the camera frame using the stabilizer icon.
When the indicator turns yellow, tap the shutter button to capture your image.
Tap Save to keep the photo or the <- icon to try again.
Step 2. Style and customize image backgorunds
The Square Photo Studio app instantly removes the background from your pictures to allow for custom background styles. If there are any issues with removing the background, you can select Refine background and make adjustments by selecting Add or Remove.
From the Choose Style window, tap on a background tile to preview it with your picture.
Tap Edit to change the background color, shadow, layout, and levels. The Edit option isn’t available if you select the transparent background tile.
Background: choose from our color palette or use the eyedropper to pick a custom color. You can also enter your own hex code for a more precise color selection, or choose from our background scene options
Shadows: pick between a drop and directional shadow, adjust the angle, and change the intensity of the shadow.
Layout: change the size of the item, rotate the item, position it in the frame, or choose a different aspect ratio.
Levels: use our auto-adjustment tool, or change the exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, and saturation.
3. Tap Save to confirm your updates > Next.
Style and customize image backgrounds of your existing photos
From your Square Photo Studio app, next to the shutter button, tap the photos icon.
Choose a photo from your device.
Tap Remove Background.
Tap on a background tile to preview it with your picture, then tap Edit to change the color or scene. Note: the Edit option isn’t available if you select the transparent background tile.
When you’ve selected a background, tap Next.
Quickly capture menu items
If you don’t have time to prepare and photograph each item on your menu, you can add and customize photos of commonly sold items from our in-app library.
From your Square Photo Studio app, next to the shutter button, tap the photos icon.
Tap Image Library to choose the image that best represents your menu item (these images are free to use with your Square item catalog).
Tap Edit Style to choose a background style, then tap Next.
Step 3. Use your new photo
Once you’ve completed the previous steps, you’ll be prompted to select Add to Square, Sell now, Share, or Save to Photos.
From the Square Photo Studio app you can sync your photo with your Square items catalog.
After creating an item, you can edit it at any time from your Square Dashboard or from the Square app.
Learn more about how to create and edit items with Square for information on Square items.
From the Square Photo Studio app you can sell items by creating a payment link.
After creating a link, you can edit the item title, price, or image at any time. You can also copy the payment link or embed code to add the payment link to an external website.
Learn more about getting started with Square Payment Links for more information on payment links.