"Macro photography" specifically refers to the situation where the image projected onto a camera's film or electronic sensor is the same size as or larger than the subject. This occurs when the subject is at a distance equal to or less than twice the focal length from the centre of the lens.

To allow a camera with a zoom lens to focus on a subject at the closest possible distance, set the zoom to wide-angle (W). This corresponds to the lens' minimum focal length.

With macro photography, the distance range from the camera that appears to be in focus (depth of field) is very small. Position the camera so that all parts of the subject that are required to be in focus are at about the same distance from the camera.