| Taking photos of items for sale in online | | | | on your scanner bed, and drape a piece of |
| auctions is fairly simple, but it | | | | plain fabric over it. Scan the |
| | | | |
| does require some equipment. The following | | | | item directly for a superior image. Be |
| hardware and software items will | | | | careful not to scratch the glass on |
| | | | |
| help you do it right:1.. A digital camera | | | | the scanner. We used this technique with an |
| capable of taking a clear photo in varying | | | | antique watch, a small computer |
| light | | | | |
| | | | part, an agate, a doily, the extended |
| conditions.2.. A scanner.3.. Image editing | | | | warranty label on the bottom of a |
| software that can be used to crop, scale, and | | | | |
| adjust | | | | laptop, and other items that need very close |
| | | | detail to properly appreciate.Your goal is to |
| brightness and contrast.To take your photo | | | | keep the images small enough to be convenient |
| with a digital camera, find a place where you | | | | to the viewer, |
| can set it | | | | |
| | | | but large enough to show good detail and |
| up without other visual distractions. I use | | | | impact. Good photos need not be |
| my diningroom table, which has a | | | | |
| | | | large, and the less important the item is, |
| pleasing wood finish, and I make sure that | | | | the less the quality matters. No |
| the rest of the room is tidied up | | | | |
| | | | one really cares about getting a high |
| so distractions are minimal.Take about three | | | | quality shot of a used DVD case, but |
| shots, with the item or items included in the | | | | |
| auction all | | | | they DO care about getting a good shot of a |
| | | | used laptop with a broken screen |
| grouped together, and laid out in a way that | | | | |
| looks attractive, and which | | | | latch - they want to see that the rest of |
| | | | the laptop is good, that the |
| also gives clear detail of the item(s). Take | | | | |
| closeups of any particular | | | | computer works (we take the shot with the |
| | | | laptop running), and they want to |
| identifying features, or of any damage (it | | | | |
| is imperative that you show | | | | see the damaged latch.Once your auction is |
| | | | posted, be sure to check and see that your |
| existing damage, if possible).Load the | | | | image is |
| images onto your computer. Pull them up and | | | | |
| choose the photo that | | | | displaying as you want it to on the auction |
| | | | page. This step can save you |
| shows the product in the best way. Only use | | | | |
| more than one if there is | | | | some grief and get better results!Anyone can |
| | | | learn to take good photos for auction. Detail |
| additional detail that needs to be | | | | and clarity are the |
| shown.Crop the photo to remove excess photo | | | | |
| area. You do not need any extra in the | | | | key here, and if you can show that, your |
| | | | items will sell much better, and |
| image, it won't help sell the item better, | | | | |
| and may result in confusion if | | | | you will look much more professional.Written |
| | | | By Laura Wheeler, Owner of Fabulous Frugal |
| other items inadvertently get into the | | | | Websites - |
| image. A seller with a cropped photo | | | | |
| | | | - Laura writes instructional |
| is perceived as more professional than one | | | | |
| with images that take up the | | | | materials, produces infosites, and builds |
| | | | affordable websites for her |
| whole screen just because the seller did not | | | | |
| know how to crop or scale them.Scale the | | | | business startup and small business clients. |
| image down to snapshot size or smaller - your | | | | Laura works with small |
| program will have a | | | | |
| | | | businesses in a way that no other website |
| Scale or Resize command. Do not use a larger | | | | designer does, and always with the |
| image unless there are critical | | | | |
| | | | business owner's best interests at heart. |
| details to show, and even then you are | | | | Laura is a busy mom of eight, |
| better with a small close up combined | | | | |
| | | | homeschooler, and home business owner.This |
| with a more distant shot.If you have an item | | | | article may be reprinted if it is unaltered, |
| that is small that needs a very close shot, | | | | and if the signature line |
| lay the item | | | | |
| | | | is included with the article. |