Auction Information

Photos on my eBay Auctions: How Do I Add Them?


On another forum I'm involved with, someone's asked a great question: I want to sell products on eBay, but I want to include photographs with my items. How do I do that? What kind of camera do I need, and what settings should I use?

The first step is to buy a digital camera. You can use a film camera, get the prints developed and then scan them in, but you can now buy an entry-level digital camera for the same price as a low-end scanner, and it's a lot easier to use!

A few example cameras that have a good reputation, from Amazon: A very inexpensive camera - on sale currently - is the Digital Concepts VGA Camera (currently $49), and if you want to get a known brand, as I'd recommend, then you can't go wrong with the Fujifilm FinePix 1400 (about $70), the Kodak DC215 (about $60), or the slightly more expensive Epson PhotoPC 750Z (about $100).

Getting good results from a digital camera isn't trivial, however, particularly if you're trying to take a picture of a book, statue, CD cover or item of clothing. That's where it's nice to be able to take fifty pictures, download them all to your computer, and pick the best one of the lot. Unlike film photography, this won't cost you a nickel. Just time...

A general tip for taking good product shots is to have lots of light. If you're in a room with ceiling lights, turn 'em all on. If you have floor lamps, move them over and point them directly on the item. In addition, use a neutral color blanket or sheet as a background for the item: you don't want to distract potential buyers with your household clutter. Then hold your camera very, very steady (consider having it on a chair or, ideally, a tripod) and slowly click the button to take the shot. If your shots are blurry, try moving back a foot or so and taking another photograph.

Once you've taken a product photograph you like (and don't be discouraged if it seems hard. There are professional photographers who specialize in product and catalog photography and it's quite an art!) then crop it tightly so that the photograph is about the product and as little else as possible. If you're using a blanket as a background, for example, it should only be visible on the edges of the photograph. Bidders will appreciate a product photo that reveals a lot of detail about the product and nothing else.

Finally, within your photo editor (Photoshop, Paintshop Pro, Graphic Converter, iPhoto, whatever), make sure that the final image resolution is 75dpi, not 300dpi, then resize the image down to a maximum width of 400 pixels and a maximum height of 300 pixels: and do it with "keep image proportions" enabled so that you don't distort the photo. Save it as a JPEG, not a GIF, since it will keep the nuances of color much better.

Great. Now you have a photo ready to upload to eBay with your next auction! When you're entering the auction information, you'll get to a step where it offers you the chance to add a photograph, and that's what you want to do. Click on "upload photo" and pick your saved image, then it'll automatically be sent to the eBay servers along with your other auction information, and you'll be well on your way to becoming a true Powerseller!

When I add photographs to my eBay auctions, I use a rather more expensive (about $2000) camera setup, a Nikon D100 digital with studio lighting and similar gear. You can see some of my photographic work at Colorado Portraits.

Dave Taylor has been involved with online auctions for almost a decade, including having written the book "The eAuction Insider". His latest projects are startup info and Ask Dave Taylor!.


MORE RESOURCES:

Aviation Week

Continental Airlines Applauds FAA Order to Stop Newark Slot Auction
MarketWatch - 23 hours ago
The FAA Chief Counsel said he acted under the authority from the FAA Acting Administrator and found Continental and other airline protesters of the auction ...
FAA delays first slot auction for Newark Forbes
FAA Suspends Auction of Flight Slot at Newark Airport (Update2) Bloomberg
FAA Puts Newark Flight Auction on Hold WNYC
Aero-News Network - NY1
all 183 news articles


Blog auctions to help Mesa plane crash victim
Arizona Republic, AZ - 4 hours ago
29, 2008 10:07 AM Bloggers are holding online auctions to support a Mesa woman who was critically injured in an airplane crash last week. ...


3G spectrum auctions to be over by September 30: DoT
Business Standard, India - 7 hours ago
PTI / Mumbai August 29, 2008, 20:01 IST The auction process for the third generation (3G) spectrum service are likely to be over by September 30, ...
3G auctions to end by Dec: DoT secy Financial Express
norms not against foreign telcos Economic Times
Foreign firms' 3G quality may suffer for want of spectrum Business Standard
all 6 news articles


Monsters and Critics.com

Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon Adds Online Auctions to Lineup
Auctionbytes - 7 hours ago
By Ina Steiner The Muscular Dystrophy Association will launch its first-ever national online auction in conjunction with the 43rd Annual Jerry Lewis MDA ...
Jerry Lewis talks troubles, television and upcoming telethon Monsters and Critics.com
She Didn't Need Help Laughing Parade Magazine
all 3 news articles


Menzies' plan of auction
The Australian, Australia - 6 hours ago
How apt, then, that auction house owner Rod Menzies has chosen a Warhol work as the show stopper at his next sale. Following recent attacks from his critics ...
Slump in sales leaves art auctioneers hanging The Australian
all 2 news articles


HispanicBusiness.com

FACTBOX-Fed's liquidity tools
Forbes, NY - Aug 28, 2008
The $50 billion option draws will be in addition to the $200 billion that may be offered under regular TSLF auctions. Under the TSLF, the Federal Reserve ...
Fed actions to boost liquidity guardian.co.uk
Federal Reserve auctions $75B in loans to aid banks Youngstown Vindicator
Fed auctions another $75B to ease credit stresses Forbes
guardian.co.uk
all 36 news articles


Examiner.com

Auctions and Antiques Examiner
Examiner.com - 3 hours ago
These websites were picked by the Auctions and Antiques Examiner as useful resources. One of the busiest areas in collectibles and a mainstay has been dolls ...


Opinion still split over privatization of court-run auctions
The Daily Yomiuri, Japan - Aug 28, 2008
The government panel for regulatory reform and real estate companies are asking the government to privatize auctions currently conducted by courts. ...


Best Syndication

Setting The Record Straight On Repossessed Car Auctions
Best Syndication, CA - 6 minutes ago
A lot of it is aimed at pushing people to car auction membership sites. Look, I've got nothing against these sites. As a matter of fact, I'm a paid member ...


Chef Rock to Rock Signature Chefs Auctions(R) Nationwide
MarketWatch - Aug 28, 2008
From Hell's Kitchen to a kitchen near you: Chef Rahman "Rock" Harper will be making the rounds at ten March of Dimes Signature Chef Auctions open to the ...

Auctions - Google News

home | site map
© 2006