Want to get get the most for your item? One of the key factors in a successful listing is a good image, or many good images. For those of you with little to no experience with photography & phot  editing software, here are a few tricks to take the best pictures possible.

• Good lighting - a key to good photos! try natural sunlight for the best pics.
• Undistracting background - white or black depending on color of item
• Close ups of marks, signatures, problems (blemishes)
• Size reference - wether you set a fimiliar item next to it or snap on 1x1: graph paper it is helpful!
• Center the item in the image - and make sure to get the whole thing in 1 pic. if you can.
• Use a tripod - you get the clearest imge, just a tiny movement can cause blurring!
• Avoid glaring - use no flash for framed images & shiny glass, etc...
• back up and zoom in - especially for square items on a wall, this will help with distortion (digital)
• Get the item in action - buyers want to know the item works, get a small video if you can  (small videos can be uploaded to myspace or other 3rd party sites & linked or embedded to listings)

Of course there are books and books of tricks to photographing your items and if you are going to be doing this alot, I suggest reading up on it more, but for dabblers, this list should be helpful enough to get you started!

:)

Michelle L. Shankwiler