Online selling
Plan product photos that answer buyer questions
Plan photos around the questions a buyer will ask, with one view for each. Typical questions cover size, labels, condition, flaws and what is included. A written list before you start helps you avoid missing a view or showing something private.
A text to start with
I'm photographing [item] for a listing. Its notable features are [features]. Known flaws are [flaws]. It comes with [included items]. It has variants such as [sizes, colors or versions, or none]. Draft a shot list. For each photo, give the view, the buyer question it answers, the detail that must be visible and a privacy check for the background and any labels.
Example request. Change the details to fit your situation.Product photo shot list
Item and variant being sold: [ ] Shot 1, required view: [ ] Buyer question it answers: [ ] Detail that must be visible: [ ] Privacy check of background and labels: [ ] Shot 2, required view: [ ] Buyer question it answers: [ ] Detail that must be visible: [ ] Privacy check of background and labels: [ ] Shot for each known flaw, location: [ ] Shot showing scale, reference object: [ ] Shot of all included items together: [ ] Shot of label or model number: [ ] Variant details to show, such as size or color: [ ] File names in final order: [ ] Photos retaken and why: [ ]
Gaps in the photo plan
Plans tend to cover the attractive angles and skip the flaws. Compare the list with your condition notes and confirm every known defect has a close-up. If the item comes in more than one size, color or version, check that the photos show the one being sold, with the label visible. Look for a view that shows scale, such as the item beside a ruler. Scan backgrounds and reflections for addresses, mail, screens, faces and serial numbers you did not mean to share.
Ask another agent to check the result
Compare this shot list with my condition notes and variant details. Find any defect, label or variant difference the plan does not photograph. Also flag views where private information could appear in the background, reflections or labels.
Shoot and check each frame
Take the photos in list order and check each frame against the detail it was meant to show. Zoom in to confirm label text is legible and flaws are in focus. Review the full image edges for private information before uploading. Name or number the files to match the list, so the right image is easy to find when a buyer follows up.