I take pics with my iPhone (13 Pro Max-nice camera) at 3x. I click ”Edit,” then I crop (I enlarged your pic to get rid of the light bulb reflection). Then I click Adjust and play with the “sliders” on all the options until I like what I see.
Light is a huge consideration because light will impart some color bias. I try to take pics in natural daylight but then you have to deal with odd reflections.
I’m sure there are some far better techniques to use, but that gets you some improvement, hopefully.

 

A lightbox comes in handy as well.

 

If I manage to get a shot that’s nearly in focus I consider it an achievement.

 

Natural, diffused light FTW.

 

Light is everything. I like open shadows, diffused lights outside but direct sunlight could be just as effective. Every modern camera gives you the option to select focus and lighten/darken the picture before you take it and the post processing can also change it dramatically. I use Snapseed to edit but there are many other options out there.
Cleaning the crystal, pay attention to both hand position (your hand and the hands on the dial) and fighting with a glare is the next step. Make sure you save the pictures with different dates so you can always be ready to post on WRUW threads lol. Making a story out of your activity showing ambiance or any action also helps. And you can always take it off and photograph it on different surface or anything interesting.
Then you will come to a level where you realize that people look at you funny and most of them don’t understand why you would take a picture of your hand but I can guarantee that my wrist shots beats my selfie…

 

I took this type of images myself with iPhone 11. Pro and pro max is way too heavy to operate single handed without shaking. Use right hand operate the phone with finger on volume button and twist over and snap images by finger. You won’t be able to see what you photograph but you delete images that you aren’t satisfied. Don’t use camera above the screen cuz quality isn’t as good. Pure luck. Magic happens, happens.

 

This one is nice! Part of what works about it is the wider perspective, so you don't get the fisheye effect from pointing a wide lens too close to your wrist.

I took this type of images myself with iPhone 11. Pro and Pro Max are way too heavy to operate single-handed without shaking. Use right hand operate the phone with finger on volume button and twist over and snap images by finger. You won’t be able to see what you photograph but you delete images that you aren’t satisfied. Don’t use camera above the screen cuz quality isn’t as good. Pure luck. Magic happens, happens.
View attachment 17990939

 

Ooh! I almost forgot about my cheap light box! You can modify as you like, but here's what I did:
I bought a clear (but kinda frosted) storage container. I think they measure by quarts or gallons, so I don't know the capacity. It measures 18" x 12" x 10". I bought three adjustable clamp lamps and put a daylight LED bulb in them.

Daylight (5000K?) gives natural light, and LED keeps you from burning your hands and melting the plastic container. I tape tissue paper on the inside sides (left and right) and across one of the long edges, which will be the "top". The tissue is two sheets thick, and is just used to diffuse the light. The container rests on the long edge that has no tissue.

I put the container on the edge of a counter that has drawers underneath it. I clamp the lamps onto the edge of the slightly opened drawers, against the container on each side and on the top (but not the back). These lamps are all switched "on" but plugged into a surge protector (mine looks like one from 30 years ago) that has an on/off switch. Since I'm taking pics of a watch, all I use is a couple sheets of regular white printer paper to set the watch on.

Lights turned on, I can use the 3x zoom on my iPhone 13 Pro Max to get distance and avoid casting shadows on the watch.

If the watch doesn't stand on its own, I'll use a clean white super soft microfiber towel to help prop it up. I also use the cloth to wipe fingerprints and dust off the watch. I compose the picture on the phone and snap the picture. I still modify the picture with the editing tool, cropping and straightening as needed, and playing with the exposure sliders so it looks the way I want.

(I didn't spend a lot of time for the watch picture, and would normally have re-taken the photo so the bracelet at six was exposed like the bracelet at 12). You get the idea.

Since the LED bulbs are cool (and they're only on as long as I need them to take the photo), I can disassemble immediately after the last shot if the photo looks good. Bonus: that container holds my lamps, surge protector, microfiber towel, tissue paper and white printer paper, with the lid on top secured by the hinged locking handle clamps on the side. Easy and cheap!

I usually only do photos like this for sales listings, or documenting watches for my own records. For the forum, I prefer the simple "on the wrist" photos, or, as is sometimes the case, "lost in a forest of arm hair" photos. Natural habitat and all...

 

Ooh! I almost forgot about my cheap light box! You can modify as you like, but here's what I did:
I bought a clear (but kinda frosted) storage container. I think they measure by quarts or gallons, so I don't know the capacity. It measures 18" x 12" x 10". I bought three adjustable clamp lamps and put a daylight LED bulb in them.
View attachment 17992234
Daylight (5000K?) gives natural light, and LED keeps you from burning your hands and melting the plastic container. I tape tissue paper on the inside sides (left and right) and across one of the long edges, which will be the "top". The tissue is two sheets thick, and is just used to diffuse the light. The container rests on the long edge that has no tissue.

I put the container on the edge of a counter that has drawers underneath it. I clamp the lamps onto the edge of the slightly opened drawers, against the container on each side and on the top (but not the back). These lamps are all switched "on" but plugged into a surge protector (mine looks like one from 30 years ago) that has an on/off switch. Since I'm taking pics of a watch, all I use is a couple sheets of regular white printer paper to set the watch on.
View attachment 17992235
Lights turned on, I can use the 3x zoom on my iPhone 13 Pro Max to get distance and avoid casting shadows on the watch.
View attachment 17992236
If the watch doesn't stand on its own, I'll use a clean white super soft microfiber towel to help prop it up. I also use the cloth to wipe fingerprints and dust off the watch. I compose the picture on the phone and snap the picture. I still modify the picture with the editing tool, cropping and straightening as needed, and playing with the exposure sliders so it looks the way I want.
View attachment 17992237
(I didn't spend a lot of time for the watch picture, and would normally have re-taken the photo so the bracelet at six was exposed like the bracelet at 12). You get the idea.

Since the LED bulbs are cool (and they're only on as long as I need them to take the photo), I can disassemble immediately after the last shot if the photo looks good. Bonus: that container holds my lamps, surge protector, microfiber towel, tissue paper and white printer paper, with the lid on top secured by the hinged locking handle clamps on the side. Easy and cheap!
View attachment 17992241

I usually only do photos like this for sales listings, or documenting watches for my own records. For the forum, I prefer the simple "on the wrist" photos, or, as is sometimes the case, "lost in a forest of arm hair" photos. Natural habitat and all...

Amazing information! Thanks for taking the time to post this detail!

Also, many thanks to the other posters who provided insight into the watch photo process.

 

My favorite format is by a window. Natural light, but not direct sun. Get the watch to reflect light from window almost directly into the phone. Your watch will be bright like the sun...Tell phone to adjust to light reflecting off the watch crystal (on my phone, I just tap the brightest spot) Everything in the background will darken... The perfect dial shot... with muted highlights from the case.

Even on a cloudy day...

 

I try to use natural light, either outside or from a window. I just use my phone camera set to 2x zoom.

Cloudy fall afternoon, under a tree.

Light from a window.

Direct sunlight at an angle.

Beach scene.

Mountain wrist shot.