Taking Great Product Photos for eBay
by: Peter Horner
Every eBay seller would like to attract customers and increase sales. Successful eBay sellers know that better product photos could make you more money, because your buyers will feel more comfortable buying items from you. But taking great product photos isn’t always easy, read these quick tips to find out how to take great product photos for eBay.
1) Using a digital camera with fully automated shooting modes will make taking product photos much easier. It allows you to instantly preview, upload, and edit your photos with your computer.
2) Use a tripod to avoid blurred images which occur when you handhold a camera.
3) Use proper lighting. Some people find natural outdoor lighting the best, but never use direct lighting such as a flash. Flashes wash out colours, details, and create harsh shadows, especially when doing close-ups. Use soft, diffused lighting to avoid losing detail in your photo and create soft shadows. If you’re a serious eBay seller consider buying a photo tent or light box to diffuse the light for you. Alternatively you can use lights and buy white plastic light covers, which will also create diffused light.
4) Find a good backdrop for your product and avoid clutter which distracts the eye. Your product should be the only item you’re shooting. If you’re using something like a photo tent or light box it’s easy, or alternatively you could use a sheet or piece of fabric. Larger items can be more difficult but be sure to cleanup the background so that there are no distracting objects.
5) Avoid underexposing your photos, especially if you’re shooting against a white background or outside in bright light. Your digital camera should have an over/under expose button that allows you to compensate and adjust the exposure. When taking pictures against a white background you might want to increase the exposure by +1 so that it lets more light into the camera and the background becomes a pure white.
(continued...)
Taking Great Product Photos for eBay Page 2
About The Author
Peter Horner is an experienced photographer who co-created the large format printing company DesignerPrint. Using digital printing technology DesignerPrint create canvas prints, block mounts, and poster prints. http://www.designerprint.co.uk.
| |