Your customer will make a decision within seconds whether what
you're offering appeals. Then it's down to the description and price and
so on. But let's concentrate first of all on a very easy way to get a
professional shot. If you've been to a photographer's studio you will
have seen all the kits that can be involved, and that can cost far more
than you can commit when you're starting up.
A professional's fees will be an eye-opener too! The solution is to look at the two main factors that contribute to a good picture, the background and lighting. If you can spend £200 or $300 you may look around for lighting tents and backdrops which are going to give you excellent results. But let's assume you're on a tight budget, and want to see if you can get a result from a few sales first. For an example we'll say you want to sell wooden building bricks in a box. Although you might want to show them in use with your young son hard at play, the photo will involve your floor, carpet, furniture in the background, and what Jimmy is wearing... all distracting from what you are trying to sell.
Take a critical look at sellers' pictures on eBay or Gumtree, and judge for yourself. Please note if you sell on Amazon, they will insist that the subject is on a white background. The budget solution is to buy a plain white roller blind, from Ikea or an on-line retailer. Depending on size you'll pay around £10 -£20 or US$15 - $30. You'll need to have a table that's as wide as the blind and a back board that can be propped up across the back of the table. The back board can be a chipboard or plywood sheet for example, again this may be to hand, or will be easy to buy cheaply from a local store. Just unroll the blind so it covers the table surface and then goes up and over the back board.
Make sure there is no crease at the bend point between the table top and the backboard, because that's how you get that all-important seamless background. And the lighting can be free - just set up outside on a clear day! Sunlight is OK but you'll get excellent results on a dull day with a standard digital camera. You'll be surprised how good your product looks. If you'd like some tips on picture editing, that will be the subject of my next article.
A professional's fees will be an eye-opener too! The solution is to look at the two main factors that contribute to a good picture, the background and lighting. If you can spend £200 or $300 you may look around for lighting tents and backdrops which are going to give you excellent results. But let's assume you're on a tight budget, and want to see if you can get a result from a few sales first. For an example we'll say you want to sell wooden building bricks in a box. Although you might want to show them in use with your young son hard at play, the photo will involve your floor, carpet, furniture in the background, and what Jimmy is wearing... all distracting from what you are trying to sell.
Take a critical look at sellers' pictures on eBay or Gumtree, and judge for yourself. Please note if you sell on Amazon, they will insist that the subject is on a white background. The budget solution is to buy a plain white roller blind, from Ikea or an on-line retailer. Depending on size you'll pay around £10 -£20 or US$15 - $30. You'll need to have a table that's as wide as the blind and a back board that can be propped up across the back of the table. The back board can be a chipboard or plywood sheet for example, again this may be to hand, or will be easy to buy cheaply from a local store. Just unroll the blind so it covers the table surface and then goes up and over the back board.
Make sure there is no crease at the bend point between the table top and the backboard, because that's how you get that all-important seamless background. And the lighting can be free - just set up outside on a clear day! Sunlight is OK but you'll get excellent results on a dull day with a standard digital camera. You'll be surprised how good your product looks. If you'd like some tips on picture editing, that will be the subject of my next article.
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