Better Photos for eBay and Other Online Auctions

1. Create a staging area to photograph your item
Find a staging area to photograph your item. Tape a large sheet of white paper to the wall and drape it across the surface of a table to create a plain background for your product photo.

2. Position lights on both sides of your item
Position lights on either side of your staging area. Place your item on the white paper and adjust the angle of the lights to reduce glare. Set your camera's white balance setting to match the lights you're using (generally Tungsten or flourescent).

3. Use a tripod and disable your flash
Use a tripod to steady your camera, or put your camera on a stationary surface and use the self-timer to eliminate camera shake. Also, turn off your flash -- the light is too harsh.

4. Take some test shots, adjust your setup, and then take a series of photos from different angles
Adjust your setup while taking a series of photos. Try different angles and one of the entire object. Also, remember close-up photos of important details.

5. Photograph flat items by placing them on the floor and shooting from above
Items such as paintings are best photographed flat on the ground. Stand over the painting and photograph it from above. Don't use a flash. If indoor light is too dark, shoot outside in a shady area away from full sun.

6. Use an image editor to prepare your photos for the Web
Use an image editor to crop and resize image to upload online. Crop images so they're not more than 600 pixels wide. Then reduce the image so it's not more than 100K in file size. Finally, save as a JPEG and upload with your product text for use online.