Advanced Selling Guide

Photos

Taking Photos

Pictures are the most important aspect of your listing; people want to see what they are buying. Attractive and comprehensive photos will sell listings.

It’s best practice to take multiple pictures from different angles. Though we only require one photo, you should have four photos at a minimum: front, both sides and back. However, more is better, and we allow up to 16 images. Buyers don’t get frustrated when there are too many pictures, just when there aren’t enough.

And, don’t only focus on the product itself! Buyers appreciate being able to see everything they are getting. Any accessories or brochures that will be included when you ship the product should be photographed, if applicable, as well.

Additional Item Photos

Unique Features (speaker spikes/cones)
Close-Ups of Terminals/Inputs
Original Box
Shipping Boxes
Remote
Any Product/Company Sales Brochures
Warranty Information

Photo Staging

We’ve touted the importance of quantity, but would be remiss if we didn’t touch on quality.

It’s good practice to take your equipment to a staging area for pictures. You don’t have to hire a director of photography and break out a professional backdrop and ring lights, but an area with a solid background that is well-lit will suffice. We know you are proud of your monstrous vinyl collection, but having your bookcases as the background distracts from how beautiful and wonderful your equipment is. If moving your equipment isn’t feasible, clear the area around your products to remove clutter and mess.

Use a tripod if possible to reduce blurriness. You wouldn’t believe how many photos get uploaded where you aren’t actually able to decipher exactly what you are looking at.

Avoid using flash. The light source should come from indirect lamps or overhead lights. Using your camera’s flash will produce shadows and reflections that will make your equipment not look as attractive. Fill the frame with the product, and try to capture detailed close-up shots. Make sure everything is in-focus.

Bonus tip: If your component has some nice illuminated features (e.g. The McIntosh Blue Glow), consider taking a picture with the lights out to show off its lighted details.