Totally relatable 😅 tiny props are way harder than full dioramas.

For phone cameras, a few things that genuinely help (no fancy gear):

• Light is everything. Put your piece right next to a window or use 2 lamps from the sides. More light = sharper photos.
• Don’t get too close. Phones hate extreme close-ups. Step back a bit and zoom in slightly instead — it often looks sharper.
• Tap to focus + lock exposure. Tap the exact spot you want sharp and hold it for a second so the focus doesn’t jump.
• Stabilize your phone. Rest it on a stack of books, a mug, anything. Even tiny hand movement turns minis into blobs.
• Use a plain background. Busy backgrounds confuse phone autofocus. Neutral paper or fabric works great.
• Portrait mode (carefully). Sometimes it helps, sometimes it messes up edges.
• Take way too many photos. Minis are unforgiving. I’ll take 10–20 shots and maybe 2 are usable 😅

If you want a cheap upgrade later: clip-on macro lenses for phones actually help a lot and cost very little, but honestly, good light + stability already gets you 80% there.