Taking better photos for online auctions

Before selling an item on eBay or other online auction site, make sure you post a good product photo. Clear, well-lit photos have a better chance of selling and can also increase the final price. This tutorial will show you how to improve your product shots, step by step.

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 (table lamps should work fine) 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 Fluorescent).

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 shot of the entire item. 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 the 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.