Any good salesman knows that the presentation of a product is key to a sale. If the customer isn’t completely comfortable with the way an item or idea is offered, they’re not likely to buy it. This rule is even more applicable in the world of online sales, for the consumer can’t physically examine an item to verify what information is being presented regarding it. Apart from thorough description and additional details about the product, the next best thing a salesman can offer to soothe a long-distance consumer’s fears is a wide range of high resolution photographs.

There is a definite art to photographing an item for posting on a sales website, though any layman can easily pick up the best ways to present an item through film. The first thing is to make sure to have a digital camera with a flash and a good zoom feature. For the more serious salesman, or the salesman who has many products to sell, a tripod may be a good investment to ensure that the photos are as clear and professional as possible.

Once the equipment has been setup, the next item to prepare is the environment. No matter the product being sold, a solid background and pedestal is always the best choice. The color of the background and pedestal can obviously be shifted to successfully showcase the item, depending on its color; for example, a white vase against a white pedestal and background will allow the vase to blend into its surroundings, while that same white vase against a black or other dark colored background will highlight it. A plain sheet, foam board, or similar objects are sufficient for the background and pedestal materials.

If the item to be sold is a shirt, the presentation will depend on the volume of separate shirts to be sold. If the amount is large, a prudent salesman may buy a half-mannequin to better showcase the items. Simple pins or tape on the backside of the mannequin can help fit the shirt tightly to the frame to better highlight the design. If the amount of shirts to be sold is low, then a simple hanger or laying the shirt flat and photographing it from above can work well enough. Shirts, as well as any other fabric, should always be ironed or steamed free of wrinkles, free of stains, and any loose threads and lint should be removed prior to photographing.

For some items, natural lighting is best, so photographing near a window may be a good idea. The lighting should be ambient, not direct, as so avoid block lighting and light washout. For other items, flash photographing or halogen lighting may be a better option; if using halogen lighting, ambient lighting is best.

Once the pictures are taken and uploaded to a computer, a salesman should always use photo editing software to review the photos and make sure the items are showcased properly. Any cropping, light filtering, or enhancements should be done before the photo is uploaded to eBay.

Following these guidelines, even the most inexperienced eBay user and salesman can take high-quality photos and present items professionally to interested buyers.