Photographing stuff for sale

A buyer decides in about two seconds whether to look at the rest of the listing. Almost all of that decision is the first photo.

Use daylight, not the overhead light

Put the object near a window, out of direct sun, and turn the room lights off. Mixed light is what makes photos look yellow and cheap. A white wall or a plain sheet behind the object is enough of a background.

Take these five photos

• The whole object, straight on.
• A second angle, so the shape is clear.
• The brand or model label.
• The worst flaw, close up and in focus.
• Anything included in the sale — accessories, the box, the manual.

The details that answer messages

Photograph the model plate on appliances, the size label on clothing, the backstamp on china, the serial number on electronics. These are the questions you would otherwise answer five times.

Wipe the object down first. Dust reads as neglect, and neglect reads as a lower offer.

Do not use a photo that is not yours

Stock photos and manufacturer images misrepresent the item you are actually selling, and in some places they are a legal problem. Photograph the object in front of you, in the condition it is in.