Increasing your sales by taking better pictures

This guide is based on not only articles I’ve read on this topic, but also my own personal experiences as it relates to selling items on eBay.  I’ve seen a dramatic improvement on profits since I’ve taken a more serious and professional approach to my photos.  I cannot stress enough the importance a great photograph of your item does for your sales!  Increase your profits and maximize your auctions by following a few simple steps to taking better photos.

Introduction  

I’ve been selling on eBay for the past 4 years.  Most of that time was spent finding random items to sell, snapping a quick picture or two with my digital camera, and listing the item the best I knew how.  I made out okay – but I was never impressed with my results.  Then I started reading articles & publications related to selling on eBay.  I also started looking at the pro sellers on eBay with a very high feedback rating to see what they were doing differently than what I was doing.  The single largest difference – Their auctions had much better pictures than mine! 

Steps to improving your sales by improving your pictures

1. The first step is to ensure you are using a digital camera.  While the better the camera – the better the pictures – you can be very successful with even a less expensive digital camera by following the steps outlined below. You will never achieve your desired results effectively with a film camera.  It takes too long & costs too much to have this be a viable option for eBay selling.
2. Make time to take good pictures.  Don’t expect to be able to quickly throw an item on the kitchen table, snap a photo or two and have your auction listed in 10 minutes.  Investing a few extra minutes now will pay dividends later! 
3. Consider picking up a few of these items from your local hardware store to have an immediate improvement on the quality of your photos.

a. These inexpensive metal Can-Style light holders can be purchased from any hardware store for under $6.00.  They hold regular household light bulbs – though I recommend fluorescent bulbs (shown) because of their low heat and more natural light.  Light boxes such as this one shown are also a great tool for improving your photos.  They are available from $10 - $300 on eBay. 

b. These fluorescent bulbs run much cooler than traditional bulbs.  They also provide a light much closer to that of the sun, therefore producing brighter pictures.  They are worth the few extra dollars.  Again, these are available at any local hardware store.

4. Use the Portrait function on your camera to accurately focus in on close-up pictures.  This is usually resembled by a button or dial setting that looks like a portrait or a flower (see sample diagram below - picture may vary depending on camera type).

5.  ALWAYS USE A TRIPOD!  - This ensures no shake and allows you to adjust camera settings over & over without repositioning each time.  You can adjust the lighting, camera settings and item being photographed to capture beautiful pictures each & every time.

6.  Use a neutral background such as a black velvet cloth, white poster board, etc… Don’t take pictures on a glass or wooden surface.  Your goal should be to minimize glare and shadows. 

7. Take LOTS of pictures – you can always delete to poor ones and select the best 2 or 3 for your eBay auctions!

Following these simple rules will immediately show improvements in your photographs.  Take you time and have fun taking pictures.  Each time you do, I promise you’ll see improvements from the time before!  As the quality of your pictures improve, so will the final bid on your auctions!  Good luck!