March 28, 2023

Take Auction Item Photos

Take Auction Item Photos

Selling auction items isn’t just about choosing the right price. The quality of your images and the types of photos you take will make a huge difference to whether your guests will bid on your item. Before you take auction item photos, make sure you give this guide a quick read.

Minimise distractions

Take auction item photos that are simple and clean. Make sure you only include the item in the image so as not to confuse the bidder. Use a plain background to keep the focus on your item. You don’t want to have a cluttered background as this might make bidders wary of the quality of the item. A loud background might even cause the item to get lost in the frame.

Show the size

At the same time, try to give your bidders a sense of scale. If your item doesn’t have an obvious size, you can use props to help your bidders. For example, position the item next to a ruler. Or if it is a bowl, for example, place familiar items inside it to act as a reference point.

Use natural lighting

The location you shoot in is important. It is better to have natural light that doesn’t come in from behind the item. If the lighting is too dull or too bright, bidders won’t be able to see key details on the item. If you are shooting indoors and don’t have natural light available, mimic window light by investing in a light box and a reflector card. Light will bounce off the reflector card and fill in all the shadows. This will give your bidders a clear view of what they are bidding on.

Shoot from different sides

Make sure you capture every side of the item. If you have a new item, shooting all sides is a good way to show the bidder how intact and unspoiled it is. Remember to take a close up of any important features that the bidder should know about or may be interested in. If the item is worn or damaged, make sure you take a photo of this to avoid running into problems with auction winners.

Use a good camera

You don’t need to purchase a professional DSLR – often, a smartphone camera or a cheap digital camera will do produce professional-grade shots. Make sure you have adjusted your camera settings for the situation and have the proper setup before you begin shooting.

Selling auction items isn’t just about choosing the right price. The quality of your images and the types of photos you take will make a huge difference to whether your guests will bid on your item. Before you take auction item photos, make sure you give this guide a quick read.

Minimise distractions

Take auction item photos that are simple and clean. Make sure you only include the item in the image so as not to confuse the bidder. Use a plain background to keep the focus on your item. You don’t want to have a cluttered background as this might make bidders wary of the quality of the item. A loud background might even cause the item to get lost in the frame.

Show the size

At the same time, try to give your bidders a sense of scale. If your item doesn’t have an obvious size, you can use props to help your bidders. For example, position the item next to a ruler. Or if it is a bowl, for example, place familiar items inside it to act as a reference point.

Use natural lighting

The location you shoot in is important. It is better to have natural light that doesn’t come in from behind the item. If the lighting is too dull or too bright, bidders won’t be able to see key details on the item. If you are shooting indoors and don’t have natural light available, mimic window light by investing in a light box and a reflector card. Light will bounce off the reflector card and fill in all the shadows. This will give your bidders a clear view of what they are bidding on.

Shoot from different sides

Make sure you capture every side of the item. If you have a new item, shooting all sides is a good way to show the bidder how intact and unspoiled it is. Remember to take a close up of any important features that the bidder should know about or may be interested in. If the item is worn or damaged, make sure you take a photo of this to avoid running into problems with auction winners.

Use a good camera

You don’t need to purchase a professional DSLR – often, a smartphone camera or a cheap digital camera will do produce professional-grade shots. Make sure you have adjusted your camera settings for the situation and have the proper setup before you begin shooting.