How do people get such great pictures for their ebay items?

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Surfing ebay and am amazed at how crystal clear some of the photos of items for sale are (mostly kid's clothes). I have never been able to get sharp, clear photos - is it me or my past cameras?

DS22months dropped my Canon SureShot in a glass of iced tea and it is toast so we need to pick up another camera. Can anyone recommend a great economical one for kid's pix and for still shots like ebay photos?

 

[jann1033]

know nothing about ebay but maybe this will help http://www.sigma-2.com/camerajim/cjgselecting.htm he includes a list of good cameras for ebay and some tips

 

[ssanders79]

When I shoot products for ebay I typically use my tripod and remote shutter. I make sure there is good light. I prefer natural light from the window, but I often end up using 3 shop lights with daylight bulbs.

I really hate flash. From my experience great pictures help sell on ebay.

 

[Groucho]

A trick is to built a lightbox or softbox. I built out one of a network cable pullbox, some tissue (like the kind they put around clothes when giftwrapping), and a <$1 piece of big white paper from the craft store. Do a Google search of "diy lightbox" or similar and you should find plenty of example.

Beyond that - tripod, small aperture setting (high F-number), and remote shutter release or use the 2-second timer on your camera. If shooting under tungsten lights, make sure to set your white balance to Tungsten.

Good luck!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Thanks for the replies. So the key is more the lighting and the tripod (being absolutely still) than the actual camera it seems. Can you adjust the aperture settings on one of the point and shoot digital cameras? I haven't even thought of that - I did used to take 35mm pix with an old manual Nikon ages ago so I am slightly familiar with the term.

I will look up the lighting suggestions and see what I can come up with that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

I know the camera that was dunked in the tea is toast but is there any way to salvage the battery or memory card?

 

[seashoreCM]

The battery and memory card should still be good. For good measure let them dry out for a week before trying to use them elsewhere, just in case water may have seeped in although these items should be quite sealed.

Now is is possible that the camera could have survived if you fished it out quickly, gave it a quick rinse with plain water, and did not turn it on for a week.

I got the best eBay pictures with the item outside on a cloudy day (no harsh shadows from the sun or from flash.

Digital camera hints: http://www.cockam.com/digicam.htm

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

The battery and memory card should still be good. For good measure let them dry out for a week before trying to use them elsewhere, just in case water may have seeped in although these items should be quite sealed.

Now is is possible that the camera could have survived if you fished it out quickly, gave it a quick rinse with plain water, and did not turn it on for a week.

I got the best eBay pictures with the item outside on a cloudy day (no harsh shadows from the sun or from flash.

Digital camera hints: http://www.cockam.com/digicam.htm

The camera was dunked in the tea for several minutes. It has been over a week and the camera still won't even turn on. The memory card won't work in my laptop but I haven't tried it in another camera yet.

Thanks for the link - I'll check that out.

We went and bought a small tripod and a gooseneck lamp and are going to build the light box that Groucho suggested and see what we come up with.

I really appreciate all of the input!

 

[rtphokie]

Keep in mind that many ebay have images that were not taken by the seller but were simply pulled from a google image search and were taken either by pro photographers for the original manufacturer of the ite,

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Keep in mind that many ebay have images that were not taken by the seller but were simply pulled from a google image search and were taken either by pro photographers for the original manufacturer of the ite,

True. The stock photos look amazing but there are some individual sellers who just seem to have the knack for taking ultra clear and crisp photos. I'm envious! The better the photos, the higher the bids go usually.

 

[ssanders79]

Here is a DIY site with a good idea for shooting products with natural light on the dirt cheap.
http://www.diyphotography.net/homestudio/cheap-homemade-diy-studio-no-lighting-needed

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Here is a DIY site with a good idea for shooting products with natural light on the dirt cheap.
http://www.diyphotography.net/homestudio/cheap-homemade-diy-studio-no-lighting-needed

Great article! I read it and all the questions and bookmarked it to refer back to again.

Now to find a digital camera that I can afford where I can set the shutter speed and aperture settings.