Before the Auction: Taking Better Photos continued ...

The Right Light

If you live in a place blessed with year-round sunshine, take advantage of it. Most photographers agree that photos taken outside in natural light have better color than those taken indoors in artificial light. Just the same, remember that blinding sunlight isn't necessarily a prerequisite for good outdoor photos. Slightly overcast days create softer light, which can give your auction item photos a more evocative effect. If you think your auction item deserves a more dramatic presentation, try that approach. (Along the same lines, you can also purchase software that will help you touch up your images; but be aware that there's a fine line between merely touching up an item and misrepresenting its true condition.)

If you don't want to move your setup outdoors, put your photo table in a sunny room with a window. Open the shades so there is plenty of light. For shooting in the evening, set a lamp with a 100-watt bulb on each side of your backdrop. You may even want to remove the shades from the lamps. Do not shoot under fluorescent lights--they may give your photos a green tint. Try Halogen or "natural spectrum" bulbs that do not impede the natural color spectrum. If your shots appear washed out, adjust your light source or turn down your digital camera's exposure level, which controls the amount of light that enters the camera.

Get a Little Closer

If you have a zoom, use it. Frankly, the closer you are to the subject--without crowding or losing a portion--the better. You want people to see what you are selling, not the tree next to it. If the item is lost in the foreground, bidders may not trust your grade. Moreover, they won't see the markings or defects you may have addressed in your description. Be sure to review your camera's manual, so you understand how to focus it when taking close-range shots. Some cameras, especially disposable ones, do not focus on subjects closer than four feet.

On the subject of close-ups of specifics area of an item, use them sparingly. Excessive close-ups that do not impart new information simply slow down your auction page's load time. That could be the kiss of death in a competitive category. Your close-ups should demonstrate detail or workmanship, reinforce the item's authenticity, or show a defect. Common sense should be your guide in this area.

Finally, get close when taking close-ups. That's why they're called close-ups!