ebay advice?

[1cowabunga]

Hey, I'm listing something on ebay to sell for my first time. It is a beenie baby that belongs to my mom's friend. Anyway, I was wondering about how to take the pictures. Should I use a sheet as a backdrop? Is there anything special that will cause people to be more interested in what they see? What are your experiences with taking pictures to show on ebay? Thanks

~Sam

[D Rock]

yes a white sheet would be great and the closer the better to show detail and condition of the item.

[Happy]

Following are some tips for photographing items for selling items online:

Use a light backdrop for dark items - Use a dark backdrop for light items

Do not use the highest resolution setting on the camera. 640 x 480 resolution will typically result in a color .jpg graphic file of about 40k - 60k

Keep jpegs to no more than 40K in size for quick download (smaller if possible but no more than 60 K!) A great advantage for you over your competition is having a fast loading auction picture. When your auctions load slowly, buyers move on to the next auction.

Take more than one photo only if the item is very unique of full of detail. If the photo doesn’t add any meaningful information, then don’t put it there. (include special markings, trademarks, even flaws if necessary – your honesty will win points).

Lots of light, preferably sunlight (not fluorescent or incandescent...even the flash unit on the camera will give more accurate color.) In addition to setting up in a well-lit room, use at least two portable sources of light. Place lights on the opposite sides of your item, it should have adequate lighting, and shadows will be reduced. Make sure that the lights are not directly above the item so that there is no glare

Hold the camera steady, preferably on a tripod. Focus carefully. Get close and avoid distracting or busy backgrounds.

[blix]

Dang, Happy! That's great advice! You nailed it!

-B

[Happy]

[QUOTE=blix]Dang, Happy! That's great advice! You nailed it!

-B[/QUOTE]

Too many years of buying and selling on ebay I guess. :D

[1cowabunga]

Thank you! Those are wonderful tips. I'm using a Sony FD Mavica which is old but easy because it saves directly to a floppy. The highest resolution it can take is 640 x 480 and the jpgs are only about 20k. The bad thing is that my house has terrible lighting. I may have to wait till its sunny outside. This is what the quality looks like right now...

[Silky]

I pulled your photo into Photoshop and did an auto adjust of the levels and it brightened it a bit. Since I'm so totally unknowledgeable in Photoshop still, this was a 1 second quick fix. I'm sure anyone else would be able to help you more...:)

[Happy]

[QUOTE=Silkenfairy]I pulled your photo into Photoshop and did an auto adjust of the levels and it brightened it a bit. Since I'm so totally unknowledgeable in Photoshop still, this was a 1 second quick fix. I'm sure anyone else would be able to help you more...:)[/QUOTE]

dang girl you are quick with your new program - beat me by a few seconds. No need for me to post now.

but my results (levels, contrast, color adjustments) were the same ...

<img src="http://www.onehappyfemale.com/Sharing/Mvc-005s%5B1%5D.jpg">

[Silky]

Hey Happy...I took the easy way out, girl...auto levels...:D

[Scott]

Oh Oh! Lemme try!!!!!!

[Happy]

[QUOTE=Jolt]Oh Oh! Lemme try!!!!!![/QUOTE]

Oh Jolt, I like your adjustments the best!!!!!!

[Silky]

The only thing I don't like about yours, Hon, is that the red tag looks very washed out...:) Other than that, nice effort. ;)

[Scott]

whatchu talkin' 'bout fairy?


Nutty girl

[Silky]

[QUOTE=Jolt]whatchu talkin' 'bout fairy?


Nutty girl[/QUOTE]

Welllll...as a collector of Beanie Babies, I know that the tag is red. YOUR tag looks very pale compared to mine and Happy's.....:D

[Scott]

Picky Picky

[Silky]

It's too orange now. :D

[Scott]

::cough:: bitc :: cough:::

[Silky]

Tsk tsk...that's b-i-t-c-h, honey. :D

[Happy]

(giggling away here - thanx you too)

[Dave]

My advice .....

Don't take the photo whilst in the nude!

.....

Like I did with my kettle (http://www.drunkbastard.net/photos/kettle.jpg)

[Dave]

[QUOTE=Silkenfairy]Welllll...as a collector of Beanie Babies, I know that the tag is red. [/QUOTE]

Now why didn't you tell me? :D

[1cowabunga]

[QUOTE=Dave]My advice .....

Don't take the photo whilst in the nude!

.....

Like I did with my kettle (http://www.drunkbastard.net/photos/kettle.jpg)[/QUOTE]

HAHAHA! :D

Thanks everyone for your help. The ajustments look great.

[deviant]

eh, felt like giving it a try even thought you already have three results. :) adjusted levels myself (dont like the results from auto levels). then i adjusted the color balance to remove the pinkness in the image (besides the tag). this is also something extra i do to make the image look a bit cleaner: make a new layer, use a small gaussian blur, set the layer to soft light. :) hope you like the results.

[TrinityOfOne]

Can I play?

[dschmittle]

Now it' my turn!

[Scott]

I win! I win! Panda for dinner tonight!

[dschmittle]

OK! Jolt, you win! Here's your trophy!

[1cowabunga]

OMG!! Hahahaha! those are hilarious! maybe I shoulda posted this in the photoshop tennis forum? :D

[burndog]

well evryone I guess I have to do my version and just 16.9k

[PDG]

I feel left out. Demon panda anyone?

[wringwraithe]

Hey Guys,

Since I am here, I think I will get a piece of that pie!!! Enjoy my "adjusted" version!!! Can't resist the fun...

[Scott]

Okay.. wringwraithe wins :) I concede

[1cowabunga]

:) ...back to the original topic, sorta. How would I set up my listing like a website? I have never listed anything before but I'm looking through ebay's instructions and find nothing about writing my own page. Would I just enter my html code in the "description?" How is this done? thanks.

~Sam

[Dave]

I guess so, try it ..... it's all down to whether you feel the time investment is worth the ultimate payback.