Photgraphing items for eBay (Page 2): Or course, good lighting to show your item is recommended, but you can use small jpgs for ad pictures like this.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

hochocke wrote:

I am looking for lighting and lens advice in regard to taking photographs of items I place on eBay. Most of the items are smaller in size, like an old tube radio, and at times I need to show minute detail. I have a Nikon D3300 with 18-55mm and 70-300mm kit lenses. The flash that is built into the camera provides mediocre results.

Or course, good lighting to show your item is recommended, but you can use small jpgs for ad pictures like this.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

we have thousands in camera equipment and my wife went to a white or black cardboard back and bare (from the dollar store) and her iPad. Gave up all the other stuff the was recommended.

Spiney Loc: Reading, PA

I sell quite regularly on eBay & Craigslist. Like already mentioned look on YouTube for one of the many fun & instructional videos on how to make a light tent. I always need to keep things cost effective so I DIY.

I Used a box 📦 2 pieces of white poster board to make a cove. Cut windows and a skylight in the box. Cover the opening with white translucent ripstop nylon from a fabric store. (3) Clip lights with reflectors, use 3 5k balanced CFL LAMPS. 1 each side, 1 from the top.

Boom 💥 your ready for 90% of your items. For larger items use poster board or white or grey foam board just $1 at Walmart and windowlight or same reflectors with CFL's. You can get fancy with a PVC frame, LED lighting, etc. With something like this and a decent description you'll do well. Most people on eBay have really crappy pictures.

Be honest, good descriptions, great pictures, and know when to list. Best auctions go off on Sunday evenings or Monday afternoons. People bid from work! Just don't have an item go off on a Wednesday at 2am, on Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, during the Super Bowl, Sat night.

I needed some track for a G-gauge Christmas Train for the new Grandson. I checked eBay and it's going for $4-8 each. I found a lot of 17 pieces for an opening bid of $0.99 went off last Sat night. I got it all for $0.99 +$10 shipping, a steal.

Also and I'm very guilty of this the item most likely to sell is the item that's actually listed. Don't get hung up on the perfect description, award winning picture. Don't mean a thing if it's still in your basement.

Use eBay's, Paypals, or USPS electronic post office. You can get an electronic USB scale for $15.00. By getting your preweighed prepaid postage online you can save 30-45% on postage. You pay online, print a label that's also a barcoded stamp, put it on your package and really save of Priority Mail. Good luck, 🍀 Show us what u build or buy.

jcboy3

hochocke wrote:

I am looking for lighting and lens advice in regard to taking photographs of items I place on eBay. Most of the items are smaller in size, like an old tube radio, and at times I need to show minute detail. I have a Nikon D3300 with 18-55mm and 70-300mm kit lenses. The flash that is built into the camera provides mediocre results.

I use a cheap set of constant light softboxes on lightstands, a drawing table top on plastic sawhorses (so it breaks down easily), a 3' x 2' back board, and a piece of Savage Translum Medium taped to the top of the backboard and running to the front of the drawing table. I have a third constant light that can be used as a spot, use it when I want some specular highlights. Usually don't need it.

The Translum is great stuff; you can use white posterboard otherwise. Be sure to do a custom white balance of the setup.

I have a Panasonic FZ200 that I use for pictures, sufficient for selling items. I shoot in RAW and correct later. You want enough resolution that the object can be seen clearly.

I use an EyeFi Mobi Pro wireless card (I need the Pro card because my desktop computer does not have WiFi, otherwise you could use a non-Pro version). It is configured to automatically send images to a folder on my computer. I have Lightroom configured to automatically transfer and import images from the folder to another folder. I can shoot a number of items in my library (where I have the table set up), and by the time I get to my office, the files have been imported into Lightroom.

You can usually get these lights and stands for really cheap; eBay or Craigslist. I like the constant lighting vs flash because the the image will look like I see it.

Here is a sample image:

Sample image
Sample image...

(Download)

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

i've sold and sometimes bought on ebay since 1998. you gotta laugh, i use an old pentax optio mx with it's 3.2 megapixels. has the ability to focus 1 inch from the len's surface. great little, funny shaped, item.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

I used the 18-55 kit lens for ebay. I also get excellentresults using my phone camera, for larger items.
I NEVER use the onboard flash!!!! get an external flash or ligt the room really well.
The dollar stores sell foam board, buy a few for background and to place the item on.
I edit all my shots in PS6 bringing up color etc.

Lupin Loc: West Sussex, U.K.

Isn't there a rule on ebay about not editing shots?

tdekany Loc: Oregon

Lupin wrote:

Isn't there a rule on ebay about not editing shots?

No there isn't. You can edit all you want. They are your shots.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

Lupin wrote:

Isn't there a rule on ebay about not editing shots?

none of which i am aware, though for my stuff, i just take a goodly amount of images and put them on as they are. i would not "edit" them, as this would take away the credibility of what i am selling. i want my customers to receive exactly what i photographed and described in my listing. this is the way i would want to receive something if i were the buyer.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

wj cody wrote:

i've sold and sometimes bought on ebay since 1998. you gotta laugh, i use an old pentax optio mx with it's 3.2 megapixels. has the ability to focus 1 inch from the len's surface. great little, funny shaped, item.

It is funny shaped but all one needs for most ebay photos.

wj cody Loc: springfield illinois

GoofyNewfie wrote:

It is funny shaped but all one needs for most ebay photos.

yup - that's my baby!