How to Take Photos that Sell – 10 Profitable Tips for eBay Sellers

Experienced eBay sellers should know that sometimes, the difference between making a sale and having their wares gathering cobwebs in their designated digital shelf is all a matter of taking good photos. It may also determine the number and amount of bids you get for your products as well.

No matter what you’re selling, you need to use the right photography techniques and capture the best possible angles of your product. Yes, your success or failure as an eBay seller may all be in the photos. So, why not try to improve your photography skills to increase your profits? It’s definitely worth it!

But how do you start improving your skills? What are the things you need to consider if you want to take great quality product photos? Don’t fret even if you suck at taking photos. You can definitely start taking better photos by following these simple product photography tips:

1. Use a camera with macro capabilities. Since you need to take close ups, it will be extremely helpful if your camera has it. Don’t be afraid to get as close as you can. The more clearly you can show your buyers the details of your products, the better your chances of getting some very good bids. And don’t forget, the closer, the better – well, as long as you keep your images sharp, that is.
2. Use a tripod. Since you’ll be shooting extreme close ups, you should use your tripod. This will minimize camera shakes to keep your images sharp.
3. Shoot under good lighting conditions. The importance of lighting in any kind of photography cannot be underestimated. It alone may spell the difference between a product that attracts bids from a lot of people and one that does not warrant any second glances. So, for best results, shoot in an area where natural light abounds. If the weather is nice, you can even consider shooting outdoors. By far, the best time to shoot outdoors is early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
4. Use white balance to your advantage. If shooting under natural lighting conditions is not possible, you can use artificial lighting but make sure that you use the right white balance preset to match your light source.
5. Always diffuse it. A good rule of thumb when using artificial lighting is to diffuse it. That way, you can make sure that there are no ugly shadows and reflections that will distort your images.
6. Know when to use your flash. As a general rule, you must never use your flash when taking photos of very small items such as jewelry. However, you may use it for much larger items.
7. Use medium to high resolution. If you want to provide bigger photos with your listings, go for medium to high resolution. This can also make editing your photos quite easier, should you ever have the need to do so.
8. A note about backgrounds. To make your product really stand out, you need to eliminate background clutter that may only serve to distract your prospective buyers’ attention. Using a portable photo box can effectively do the trick. Or if you don’t have it, you can simply drape a table with a finely ironed cloth or some paper from your favourite art supply store. Just make sure you choose a solid color that will provide an effective contrast with your product and your stage is all set!
9. Provide scale comparison. Include something in the photo that will give your buyers an idea of how big or how small the actual product is.
10. Shoot using different angles. Take as much photos as you need, and then some. Photograph your items from every conceivable angle you can come up with. Do this and you’ve just increase your chances of capturing your best product photo ever!
11. Shoot to highlight the item’s flaws, too. If your product has any damage, wear and tear or any other flaw, don’t hesitate in taking photos of those, too. Your buyer needs to know everything about it before they pay for it.

Now, are you confident enough that you can take better photos of your items the next time around? Just follow these tips and you’ll be all right!

I hope today’s article can help you get a step closer to better profits,

Ray Baker