We have all seen pictures of items for sale that have made us giggle a little.  Whether it is the background, the blurriness of a photo, or a combination of other things, taking a bad photo can rob you of selling your items for a good price.  Now I'm not saying that you won't sell you item if the picture isn't the best but taking a good shot is very important and can drive your bids higher and higher.

There are several things to remember when taking pictures of your items for sale.  I've narrowed the most important ones down to four things:

photo quality

background

 extra shots

attractiveness

Let's take these one at a time.

FIRST:  Photo quality. 

Here, we will discuss focus and light.  These are the fundamental basics to a good picture.  Without them you cannot accurately display your item for sale.  It's like trying to buy something without being able to see it.  Have you ever noticed how bright department stores are?  People feel good when they are shopping in bright and clear, well lit areas.  By taking clear and well lit pictures, you can create an environment where your shopper will feel confident in what they are buying.

To take a clear, focused picture, make sure you a very still and use a good camera.  With the lighting, place your light behind YOU when you take the shot and not behind the item.  Light behind the item will darken the picture considerably.  If your customer can't see the item, they may decide it's not worth taking the chance and many bidders don't like to email requesting more pictures.  They will likely move on and look elsewhere.

 Take a look at the differences between the two pictures of the same items for sale below:

Out of focus and too dark with black background, not enough light. I have seen many pictures like this.

Sharp and clear focus.  Well lit despite black background.

SECOND:  Background Background Background! 

This aspect of your photo is so important because it tells your buyer where their wanted item is currently living and likely the condition that it is in.  For example, is there an overflowing ashtray in the background or trash and debris on the floor?  Your bidder WILL see the background even if they aren't detail oriented people.  A clean and clutter free background will tell your bidder that the item has been well taken care of and that you care for your things.  It's like the difference between a neat, clean, well organized garage sale and a junk sale where you have to dig through boxes of old things that are covered in dust and not priced.  You will throw out low ball offers at the junk sale because you figure it can't be valuable to the seller.  The same is true with the background on your photos.  People will assume many things by what they see.  Like what the item will smell like, whether it will be clean or dirty, whether it will be covered in animal hair, and whether you can be trusted to accurately describe the condition of it in general.

To ensure a neat background, clean the floor and area around the item for sale.  Dust the table it is sitting on, take time to vaccuum the floor under it.  Pay attention to EVERYTHING that is showing in the photo:  is there a mirror in the picture relfecting other parts of the house you don't want people to see?  Is there an overflowing garbage can behind the item or a sink full of dirty dishes?  A few minutes of cleaning can make the difference in how much money you receive for your item and sometimes whether you receive any bids at all. 

Compare the background of the photos below:

Same dress but different backgrounds

Now this is not to say that you couldn't sell the dress in the first picture but you will almost always get higher, more competitive bids when your background is clean and uncluttered.

THIRD:  Taking extra shots. 

I have consistently seen items for sale that only have one picture and the item usually sells for less than those with a few good extra shots.  You are showing off your item to someone who can't test it like they would in the store.  When people shop for clothes, they try them on, when they are buyig perfume or candles, they smell them.  If it's fabric they are looking at purchasing, the touch it and feel it.  Shoppers on Ebay can't do those things so it is up to you to do it for them with pictures.  Help your customer really "experience" your item for sale by taking extra shots.  Take advantage of the few cents it costs to add a "display" or "gallery" picture on your listing.  This will put a smaller version of the picture you take on the auction results page.  It grabs the attention of bidders.  The more your customer can see the item, the more they are "experiencing" it.  Help them find what they want without a lot of hassle.  Take close ups and full shots.  An average of three pictures on your listing will suffice and give a nice, well rounded view of the item to seller.  And think of it this way, if you choose not to add extra pictures, you may get a couple of emails requesting them anyway from bidders wanting more information.

FOURTH:  Attractiveness. 

This is last because it is so varied.  There are many things you can do to make your picture attractive but the way you will accomplish it will depend solely on the item for sale.  Here's a couple of suggestions: 

It's true that we are visual creatures by nature and images are remembered for a very long time. Commericals use images and pictures to sell their items and create in their customer a desire to own simply by the way they display their product.  You never see a bottle of soda pop unopened, just sitting on a table when it's being advertised.  They always open it, have fizz popping out of the top, they show people enjoying it with smiles on their faces, and the whole display spells REFRESHING.  Now I'm not saying that you have to become an advertising expert and I definately am not promoting the use of manipulation to sell your items.  What I am saying is describe your item honestly, accurately and in detail.  The pictures are there to best enhance whatever you describe. 

In short, pictures will enable your bidders to see fully what they are considering buying and by using good lighting, focus, and paying attention to your background and attractiveness of the photos, you can help your customers feel confident shopping with you.  They will trust that you are not hiding anything, they will feel more informed of the product and you will come off as a seller who cares about honestly describing your items for sale.  This has the potential to drive your bids higher and make your items for sale more desireable.  A few small minutes of your time, could make a big difference in the sale.

Happy Bidding!