Empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises through Smartphone-Based Product Photography and Branding Design Training

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a crucial role in urban economic resilience, yet many continue to face limitations in digital marketing capabilities, particularly in visual presentation and branding. This study examines the role of smartphone-based product photography and branding design training as a community-based empowerment mechanism for MSMEs in Kelurahan Mojo, Surabaya. Grounded in Human Capital Theory, digital inclusion perspectives, and community empowerment frameworks, the research aims to enhance MSME capacity through accessible and practice-oriented digital skill development. The study employed a community-based applied research design using a pre–post intervention approach. Data were collected from MSME actors through structured questionnaires, observational records, and documentation of visual outputs produced before and after the training program. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively to compare competency scores across intervention stages, while qualitative data were examined using content analysis to assess changes in visual quality and branding consistency. The findings indicate consistent improvements in participants’ self-assessed competencies related to product photography, smartphone utilization, photo editing, branding understanding, and confidence in producing product visuals. Output-based assessments further demonstrate observable enhancements in lighting, image clarity, composition, background consistency, and visual brand coherence. Qualitative documentation reveals a transition from unstructured visual practices to more intentional and systematic visual communication following the training. This study contributes empirical evidence to social science and community development literature by demonstrating that smartphone-based creative skills training represents an inclusive, scalable, and context-sensitive approach to MSME capacity building. The findings underscore the importance of integrating accessible digital skill development into community empowerment initiatives to support inclusive urban economic development.