Eye-catching Photos Will Set You Apart From Other Sellers

(And using HTML instead of ebay will save you money!)

I've received many e-mails complimenting my photos and I'm always flattered. I should note that I'm not a professional photographer, but I took one class ages ago and it really did make a difference. All the questions and comments have inspired me to finally create a little guide. From the looks of things out there in ebay land, plenty of folks do NOT need this. But I also know that some may benefit from a photography tip or two.

Lighting and a good steady hand are essential to mastering ebay photography. Of course, an excellent digital camera helps. I use a SONY Cyber-Shot 8.1 Megapixel, but there are much better ones out there. And mine was purchased refurbished on ebay. Natural light is much preferred, but due to my hectic schedule I often take pictures at night. I use a table and two lamps with four adjustable arms to control the intensity and amount of light. This is very convenient because the shiny surfaces of jewelry make a reflection and glare difficult to avoid. I often stand on a step ladder, which gives me more control and visibility. These lights are inexpensive and easy to find. I believe mine were purchased at Target a few years ago, and they generate quite a bit of light.

For me, using a flash with jewelry has become a huge faux pas. The flash always ruined my pics by distorting the color of the jewelry, so I gave up trying long ago.

The Gallery shot is your most important photo, and it needs to be especially tantalizing. The gallery shot is your money shot, because it's the way to attract more viewers which in turn should give you more bids. However, the space is so small that it presents a real challenge. Ebay has created an option that automatically enlarges gallery shots as you scroll down, and when used this only increases its value as an attention grabber.  Your gallery shot can make a huge difference in the amount of traffic to a listing. 

The backgrounds and locations of photos do matter. On ebay, you'll notice jewelry featured on beds, wooden table tops, rugs, floors,etc... I think the most unusual place I've seen a jewelry lot was on a toliet lid. I wonder if the thought of germs may have stopped some people from bidding. Sometimes it looks like jewelry photos are taken UNDER beds because there's absolutely no light. While descriptions are important, they are no substitute for some good photos. When in doubt, a nice clean background of cloth is always best. Even a white sheet or tablecloth will suffice, because any sort of pattern in the background makes it diffcult to see the subject. I prefer color in my own backgrounds, because I think it makes the photos more interesting. Ultimately, it doesn't matter what color fabric you use as long as the jewelry is visible. I've seen color backgrounds on ebay where all you notice is the color, because the jewelry just blends right in.

Because there's so much jewelry competition, the overall presentation in a photo can sometimes make or break a listing. I'm aware that this usually doesn't apply for single pieces, or anything spectacular that stands out on its own. However, you can take a look at the numbers. There's a huge amount of jewelry lots, and certain ebayers do receive more attention because of their amazing photos. If you want to be unique, then spicing up your listing photos with display props will sometimes accomplish that. There are truly endless possibilities here, but be sure to use props that complement your listing and nothing that overpowers the jewelry. I've noticed that some ebayers add little trinkets and then sell them with their listing, and others make it clear that they are only for display. If you add a box or tin to a jewelry lot listing then you can increase the value, and also make the photo much more visually enticing.

A very important photography tip is to take advantage of the software that came with your digital camera. For example, I sometimes use the Brightness feature for my gallery shots, because that photo needs to stand out. Mainly, my advice is to CROP, CROP, CROP! This will give your photos the balance that they need, and transform your listing. As the pics get closer you can see every flaw and miraculous detail in your jewelry pieces. This is helpful for your ebay listings, and makes you a better seller.

An ebay listing has not reached its full potential unless you're using the HTML feature for your photos. I know many ebay sellers already use HTML, but in case you haven't switched over yet this is simply a reminder. It opens up a whole new world for your photography! This was the best move I made as a seller for a variety of reasons. Firstly, to view ebay photos it involves work. You can no longer just scroll down, and it's honestly annoying. Sometimes folks just don't feel like enlarging those photos.

And lets face it. Sometimes bigger is just better. With ebay photos that's definitely the case. So with the HTML you can easily scroll down to the photos, and depending on your hosting website they can be larger or massive. I vote for massive because of all the detail. Most importantly, you are no longer limited to a certain number of pics in your listing. Lastly, HTML is extremely cost effective because some of the photo hosting websites are free. Many of these also offer other services such as designer templates, and they are compatible with ebay. I'll admit that I was initially hesitant to even try HTML because I can be pretty clueless, but I used Photobucket and they made it very easy. I don't use the free version because I've chosen the largest size pics, but the cost is nothing compared to what I'd pay ebay for all my listing pics.

I do have a photography tip for template users. While many of these make the listings look more polished and professional, some are way too dynamic. Years ago I took a class for ebay sellers, and we were cautioned against using templates that were too busy and colorful. These more complicated templates can be distracting, and take attention away from the actual jewelry. It doesn't matter if the pics are stunning if they clash with the graphics in your listing. And a couple times I clicked on a listing that had music. This was so annoying I couldn't look at the pics at all. Of course I'm just one person, but I had to add my 2 cents...

If anyone has questions, comments, or a photography tip for me, feel free to share. Thanks, Lena at Beadglamour

I know everyone is in a hurry, because time is money. But I've found when you spend more time on your photos, you'll eventually see that it will equate to more money.

Hopefully, this guide helped steer you in the right direction. IF SO, PLEASE VOTE "YES".

(Below are some sample gallery shots from my past listings.)