When selling online, you don't want to distract potential buyers from what you're selling. Provide a clean space
that shows off the item you're selling.
Try these techniques for focusing on the product:
Set the item on a clean table and shoot from above—this works well with
flat items such as stamp or coin collections.
Use a white or blue draped background—paper (available at crafting or
photo supply stores) or a clean, smooth bed sheet can work—to get a catalog look for more dimensional
products, such as kitchen equipment or toys.
And when shooting, keep the camera very steady. A tripod is a great accessory to have for this.
Include several pictures with your posting to increase sales.
Plan to include one "beauty shot" that shows the piece to its best advantage. Take shots from a variety of angles,
and select the best photo. Then consider what other information a buyer might need in order to buy:
Use close-ups to reveal details of the item you're selling. Learn more about
close up photography.
Show all item components: If you're selling a set of dishes, show the platters, cups, serving bowls as
well—these details will reassure your buyers that the item matches your description, and is worth
the price.
Multiple views provides a more natural shopping experience for your buyers, and many sites allow you to
upload as many as 12 photos.
Indirect lighting is most effective for showing off your auction item.
Lighting is your secret weapon for making your auction item stand out. Brighter lighting shows the most detail
and makes the item look desirable. Boost the wattage with these tips:
Go for diffuse light, not direct: Place a light (clampable shop lights or
shaded table lamps work just fine) to the side of your object to provide even, indirect lighting.
Don't use flash, as it is too direct and creates a lot of harsh glare. Not
pretty!
Use white poster board on the side of the shoot to act as a reflector. It
will boost light to shadowed areas.
Zero in on your for-sale item's best features. If you plan to crop the photo, shoot at the
highest resolution or best quality setting. This way you have the most image detail to
work with when you edit. Then edit your picture for maximum selling power. Here's how:
Crop the photo to highlight special details in what you're selling: a carved
decanter top deserves to be seen!
Resize the image: Different auction sites have unique specifications for image
size, usually expressed in pixels. For instance, EBay's maximum image size is 800 x 600 pixels. You can
set this in your image editing software, and automatically get the right size every time.
Image format: JPEG is the standard format online. It is likely what your camera
takes anyway, but you can also set it in your editing software.
Optimize for the Web: Once you have the picture that will sell, use your
editing software to make it Web-friendly. This will reduce the image "weight" (that is, how large a
file it is) which will make it load more quickly.
If you're just getting started in the online auction world, your first necessity is a good digital camera, and HP has many
options.
Our digital camera buying guide
provides a wealth of helpful information about important camera features.
And when you're ready to buy, check out our selection of innovative and easy-to-use
cameras and
accessories.
Take a free online class
in digital photography! Explore the many features of your digital camera, find tips for cropping and editing your
images, and discover new ideas for sharing your photos in creative ways.
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