Between two identical items, the one with the better photos always wins – often even at a higher price. No studio required: a smartphone, daylight and ten minutes of care are enough. What matters is what you show, and in what order.
Light and background: the two levers
- Daylight beats any lamp: an overcast sky or indirect window light is ideal; harsh sun creates hard shadows.
- Flash off – it hides stains and makes surfaces look unnatural.
- Calm, neutral background: grey wall, wooden table, concrete floor. A laundry basket and kitchen chaos cost real money.
- The item is clean and fully assembled – cleaning before shooting is the most profitable minute of the entire sale.
The main photo: frame-filling and unambiguous
The first image appears in search results – it decides the click. Show the whole item filling the frame, at a slight angle from the front (more depth than head-on), without accessory clutter next to it. Landscape format uses the preview area best.
The right order for 8 to 12 images
- 1. Overall view at an angle (main photo)
- 2.–3. Overall views from the side and rear
- 4.–6. Functional details: connections, controls, type plate or label with model and size
- 7.–8. Accessories and scope of delivery gathered in one image
- 9.–10. Close-ups of wear and defects
- 11.–12. Size reference (tape measure on the object) or the item in use
Why you should photograph defects large
The scratch you show is a selling point – the scratch the buyer discovers at handover is a dispute. Honest defect photos filter out the wrong prospects, reduce questions and give you control in the negotiation: the price visibly accounts for the condition already.
What does not belong in the picture
- Stock or third-party images: legally delicate, unwanted on shopitnow and a known fraud signal for buyers.
- Serial numbers, IMEI, frame numbers: blur them in the photo and show them to the buyer only at handover.
- Anything personal: addresses on labels, number plates, people in mirrors.
- Heavy filters or beautify effects – colour fidelity beats gloss, because disappointment at handover kills the sale.
Bonus: the title to match the photo
Title and main photo work together. The proven title formula: brand + model + key attribute + condition or size. So "Makita DHP481 cordless combi drill 18V, 2 batteries, very good" instead of "cheap drill". Write what buyers search for – not what you feel.
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