Any experienced seller on eBay knows this one simple truth: The better your images are, the more likely you are to make a sale. The quality of your image gallery has a direct impact on the success of your eBay listing. Your photos are the first thing that buyers see, showing them everything they need to know to make a purchase decision. Today, we have invited Brian Chong, a professional photographer, to show you how to take better photos for your listing. Let’s get started!
I’ve been a commercial photographer for more than 10 years, specialising in food, product and interior photography. I cannot stress enough how much good photos matter when it comes to selling a product.
So today, I’m going to share with you my professional secrets when it comes to taking great photos for your products.
Before we begin the tutorial, you will need a:
The first thing we are going to do is create a background. You’ll need to find a sturdy working surface, like a table. Then, you’ll need to prop the manila card against the wall and place the lamp at the end of the table.
Remember to keep your background as clean and simple as possible to reduce any clutter. White backgrounds are the best choice because it makes your product stand out.
Good lighting gives life and vibrancy to your photos. It brings out the colour and detail of your product and makes it visually appealing. Choose a bulb that produces bright, cool light. I’d suggest using an LED light bulb with a wattage of 9.5 watts and the best warmth option would be cool daylight.
I choose these specifications because higher wattage bulbs (9.5 watts and above) provides brighter lights. It also works better from a distance. Cool daylight bulbs give off a neutral coloured light that makes it easier for your camera’s light sensor to pick up.
If you’re not sure how to identify your bulb’s wattage, don’t worry. This information can be found on the packaging.
Before you shoot, first set your camera to shoot in 1:1 aspect ratio, which is a square picture. For iPhone users, launch the ‘Camera’ and swipe left until you have a square frame. For Android users, go to ‘Settings’ and choose the 1:1 aspect ratio.
Next, place your product in the centre of your background setup. Turn on the lamp and adjust the arm until your product is lit up evenly. Once you are satisfied with the lighting, you can begin to shoot.
There are key aspects to bear in mind if you want to capture great product photos. A variety of differently angled photos will give your customers more perspectives into what they’re buying. Make sure your photos capture these 5 main angles of your product: The front, back, left, right and top-down view.
For some products, you may need to have a close-up shot to show the texture, finishing, details and flaws. Important details for electrical appliances such as power and energy information are some of the product shots you need to consider covering in your listing.
Edit your photos to enhance them to perfection. You’ll be surprised what a difference minor edits can make. For editing, I would recommend using Adobe Photoshop Express or Adobe Lightroom which you can download from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
After you have launched the app on your mobile phone, you can start making edits. A few basic elements you can start with are:
Including measurements in your photographs is a helpful way to let buyers know what to expect. I would recommend using Microsoft Powerpoint to insert measurements into your photos. Here’s how:
Practice makes perfect. For a start, you can prepare a checklist to make sure that you cover the important elements of taking a great listing photo.
Upload at least 5 photos
Showcase the real thing. Capture all details and imperfections with close-up shots
Capture the item from multiple angles
Use a white and clean background
Use a tripod to ensure photos are steady and sharp
Ensure that the item takes up 80% of the frame
A minimum of 1000 x 1000 pixel dimension
Avoid text on artwork that covers any part of your product