Product and auction items
There's little question that online auctions with photos sell. Images with a professional-look attract the eyes of potential buyers even more quickly. Poor quality photos seen at auctions such as eBay stand out like sore thumbs and have one or more of these traits:
- Poor lighting.
- Washed out look.
- Unsightly color cast.
- Lack product detail.
- Lack color contrast between the product and the background.
- Poor choice of background material.
- Overpowering and distracting shadows.
If you want auction item photos to stand out from the crowd, use proper lighting and follow a few basic steps. Great product photos are a lot easier to take than you think. And you don't even need special lighting equipment.
Product photo set-up
The location where you set up is important. Find an area in or outside your home where soft, natural light falls on the product. For inside photos, set-up on a table placed near a window or open door where the outside light filters in.
The vase was placed inside a translucent container that was lined with a piece of white paper. The "studio" was set-up outside on a porch. The camera was set on a tripod.
Before setting a product in position, wipe it off with a lint-free cloth. Some products may need polishing or washing to look their best.
Use a suitable backdrop which complements the item. If you have a light colored product, the background should be dark. If the product color is dark, use a light background. When using fabric, smooth any folds or creases that look distracting.
This article contains basic tips from the more comprehensive, illustrated ebook Top Digital Camera Tips for Photographing Online Auction Products. The ebook also covers editing techniques for optimizing online auction images. More info >
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