Easy Auction Photos

2008-11-04T13:51:00.000-08:00

this a class photo

The eBay Live Photo Walk Friday Morning June 20th – 8:00 am

2008-06-16T08:20:00.001-07:00

The eBay Live Photo Walk Friday Morning June 20th – 8:00 am

Join us on the first eBay Live Photo Walk.
How about the First Unofficial eBay Live Photo Walk? Want to join me on this free tour? I took my students out for a photo walk a few weeks ago and we had a ball! You’ll have a chance to practice using your camera dials and functions.

What's a Photo Walk? Wikipedia - describes “Photowalking is the act of walking with a camera for the main purpose of taking pictures of things you may find interesting.” More about it at Wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photowalking
It's a pretty simple concept, but very effective. For you to become better (at anything, but especially photography) it takes practice. Spending an hour or two once in awhile looking at stuff and clicking the shutter can greatly improve your skills. My idea is that we'll practice with our cameras and walk off some of those great meals we're going to have while in Chicago.

I’ve hired a local photographer to guide us through the park and help us get a taste of Chicago. This event is free for you to attend.

Here are the details:

When: June 20th (Friday Morning)
Time: 8:00 – 9:00 am
Meet: Millennium Park Chicago
201 E Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60601
"Fountain at Millennium Park" right on the corner of Randolph Street and Michigan Avenue

Google Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS278&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=millennium+park&near=Chicago,+IL&fb=1&cid=0,0,15297670980892811026&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image

We’ll walk around the park for about an hour and take photographs. The Millennium tour is a pretty walk which affords lots of rest areas by way of park benches etc.. (But I believe it is something worth seeing as well--these outdoor sculptures are a major source of Chicagoans civic pride.
Visit www.millenniumpark.org for more information about this wonderful park.
Be sure to submit your photos of Millennium Park to our special eBay Photo Walk Flickr group at http://www.flickr.com/groups/ebayphotowalk

The best photo(s) will win an Easy Auction Photography Briefcase.

To return to the convention center there is a Metra (train) that runs from the station on Randolph and Michigan at 9:15 am and returns to McCormick Place at 9:22 – cost $2.15
More information about planning your trip to and from Millennium Park via Chicago Public Transit can be found here:
http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/tripplanner.html

Watch for update information via Twitter subscribe to my channel at http://twitter.com/clovercity

Bad weather cancels (rain, thunderstorms or tornados)
Check the Chicago weather here:
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=chicago

Cindy Shebley
Author Easy Auction Photography
www.clovercityphoto.com

The Greatest Class Ever!

2008-04-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

Capturing The Sparkle

2008-04-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

Just had a question from a reader, and thought I'd share it for everyone who photographs crystal.

Here's the question:
"Hi! I purchased your CD on Easy Auction Photography and have been going through it. You recommended getting a photo softbox shooting cube to eliminate shadows in photography and to get good photos.
I'm a jewelry designer and have paid out lots of money to photographers for photos of my jewelry, and have spent hours trying to capture good photos myself -- haven't found anything I'm happy with between the photographers and mine. Arg!
I design with semi-precious stones and Swarovski crystals and they can be a challenge to shoot. If I purchased a softbox cube, would the sparkle of the crystals come through?
What do you recommend?
One of my goals is to eliminate shadows but I also need those crystals to sparkle. ....."
Answer:
Yes, using soft/diffused lighting will help bring out the natural beauty of the crystals - however it will also dull the sparkle you are looking for.
Photographers use a couple of techniques to capture a sparkle when using diffused lighting.
One is putting a starlight filter on the camera lens. Of course, you'd have to have a DSLR camera which allows for filters.
The other technique used is a third light. In photo talk this is referred to as a 'sparkle' light - pretty technical sounding - LOL. If you are using a eTent the sparkle light is placed in front of the tent to capture the
sparkle. This technique takes a little practice - finding just the right spot to capture the sparkle. It is easier to do if you have your camera on a tripod and your hands are free to move the light around as you look though the LCD display.

Learn How To Improve Your Gallery Photos

2008-02-27T10:12:00.000-08:00

Learn How To Improve Your Gallery Photo
with this FREE eBook

I just put the finishing touches on a new book designed specifically to help improve your Gallery Photos on eBay.

I've included videos and a full run down on the eBay Picture services.
Click here to read Great Gallery Photos

Happy Holiday's From SnapFish!

2007-12-27T15:15:00.001-08:00

50 Free Prints at Snapfish!

How To Photograph Clothes

2007-12-27T11:50:00.000-08:00

I often get asked about photographing clothes - to sell them, you must have a great photograph.

I just read this great article on photographing a sweater. It's a little advanced for the home photographer, but if you read the whole thing, I'm sure you'll get a few tips to help improve your shots.

Shooting Apparel In The Studio

Good Luck!

Bling! It Photo Contest

2007-12-05T17:24:00.000-08:00

You Gotta Bling! It to Win It!
To get everybody in the spirit of things we're launching a super massive competition to give our growing community the chance to win 1 of 100 copies of Bling! It!
The total competition value is a massive $4,995!!
All you need to enter the competition is download the 15 trial version of Bling! It, install it on your machine and start Bling!ing your product shots!

Submission Rules:
Submissions sent to blingit@vertustech.com
Each submission to include one "Before Bling!" and one "After Bling!" image, accompanied by a short comment about our Bling! It software
Submission Deadline Wed 19th Dec, 23:59pm GMT
Winners will be announced on Fri 21st Dec.

Basic Digital Camera Class Online

2007-12-01T14:06:00.000-08:00

Coming Januray 23, 2008
Basic Digital Photography Class Online

Take this class without leaving the comfort of your home!
Taught by Cindy Shebley
Dial in and watch your computer monitor.
When: January 23, 2008 and January 30, 2008 (Two Wednesdaysessions).
Time: 5:00 - 7:00 pm (pacific)

I'll provide the information necessary to produce great photos and walk you through step-by-step how to use your digital camera. During these two classes we'll cover: the various modes andsettings your camera has to offer, the basics of composition, how to get those images to your computer, basic software uses, printingand sharing your photos via email and the internet. We'll open up the phone lines for questions at the end of each session, so bring your camera, questions and enthusiasm - and never leave the comfort of you home!

Includes a downloadable PDF file with the presentation so you can follow along with your camera instead of taking notes.Cost: $45.00This class is size is limited so register now! To find our more, or to register:
http://www.clovercitysells.com/digital-camera-classes.htm

Using Video In Your eBay Auctions

2007-11-30T16:17:00.000-08:00

Using
Video In Your eBay Auctions

four part video series

Using Video on eBay is the amazing,
information packed, four part web workshop that gives you the tools you need
to market your business and entice new customers by adding video to your
eBay listings, your blog, your web site, and even Amazon reviews!

Volume 1: Tools of the Trade
Volume 2: Tell A Story
Volume 3: Editing
Volume 4: Marketing
Volume 5: Bonus CD

This four part series is narrated by Dany
Byrne from Ghost Leg Media and me - Cindy Shebley. It was hosted by
Janelle Elms at OSI
Rockstars.

If you missed the live web broadcasts in September, now is
you chance to catch up with them. Video is going to be a powerful new tool
for selling your products on the Internet.

For a
limited time only – Get a free 5^th BONUS CD that includes iPod
and MP3 versions of the webinars, for studying on the go, plus an exclusive
eBook, “The eBay Sellers Guide to Video”

For More Information, or to buy - here's
a link to the four part eBay video series

A Quick Tutorial On The New Bling! it Software

2007-11-29T10:26:00.000-08:00

Bling! it

How To Photography White Objects On A White Background

2007-11-27T17:20:00.000-08:00

I just read this great article on photographing white items on white backgrounds.

http://www.photoaxe.com/how-to-photograph-white-object-on-white-background/

50% Off Photo Books at Snapfish!

2007-09-23T19:09:00.000-07:00

I saw people selling these coupons on eBay - thought I'd share them with you for free. If you've thought about giving a photo book for Christmas here's a good deal!

50% off Photo books! Coupon code: FALLBOOKS

How To Add Video To Your eBay Listings Part 3

2007-09-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

How To Add Video To Your eBay Listings
Registration for Part 3 of the free, 4 part seminar, "Adding Video to Your eBay Listings"
is now available.

Even if I do say so myself!
Don't be left out - sign up for Part Three.
You can register for this FREEE webinar at http://www.ghostlegvideo.com
This webinar series is hosted by the Online Success Institute and was launched to promote the new DVD How To Add Video To Your eBayListings.
In Part Three we're going to cover video editing software.
Including how & where to find free software.
We'll also cover how to take still photos and create moving videos to make your listing more interesting.
When: Monday September 24th
Time: 6:00 Pacific Time
Cost: FREE
Register: http://www.ghostlegvideo.com

Using Videos On eBay Blog

2007-09-17T10:36:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the new Using Videos On eBay Blog?

Dany at Ghost Leg Media has been working hard to produce solid content useful for all us eBayer's.

If you've been wondering about video - please check the blog out!

www.ghostleg.com/blog

Please be sure to leave a comment - or URL to your eBay video!

Cindy

Part Two Of The Video Webinar Monday Sept 17th

2007-09-11T18:52:00.000-07:00

Hey - if you missed part one of the How To Add Video To Your eBay Listing Webinar - you missed a great show.

Even if I do say so myself!

Don't be left out - sign up for part two.

You can register for this FREEE webinar at www.ghostlegvideo.com

This webinar series is hosted by the Online Success Institute and was launched to promote the new DVD How To Add Video To Your eBay Listings

In part two we're going to cover getting ready to create your video, how to market it and look at some of the video hosting sites available.
When: Monday September 17th
Time: 6:00 Pacific Time
Cost: FREE
Register: www.ghostlegvideo.com

And if you have questions about Videos in eBay Listings please check out our new blog on the subject:
http://ghostleg.com/blog/

Hope to see you there!

I Should Know Better - LOL

2007-09-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

I know better than to just judge an item by the photograph - but I'm human too. I've gotten to the age where I need reading glasses. I'm not used to squinting to read the fine print. So, when I buy I rely a lot on the photograph - which is what I've been telling you guys - that's what buyers do!!!!!

So, the other day I was browsing the clothing section on eBay (I've been working with a client who is setting up a clothing store). And saw the coat above.

I knew it was a badly exposed photo - but assumed the color was gray. On my monitor it looks like a washed out gray, not washed out brown. I've been looking for a light gray jacket. So, I bid.

Imagine my disappointment when it arrived, I opened the box and it turned out to be a (what Seattle folks refer to as) metro brown jacket.

To be fair the seller didn't do anything wrong when I went back to look at the auction - there it was stated clear as can be - the facts: Brown Polyester Jacket. She just took a lousy photo of the item - hopefully someday she'll read a copy of Easy Auction Photography!

Another tool useful for sellers is the online color chart - even I did read that it was a brown jacket, I might have bid if it was the correct color brown. The Online Color Chart is like a paint chip chart that buyers and sellers can reference to match colors. A great tool when it comes to selling clothes!

I'm sure if she does either of these she'll have happy customers and she'll start seeing higher final values and repeat business.

In her description the Seller states she'll take the item back if it's not as described - but it's really not her fault that I didn't read - and it's too much of a hassle to return it to her.

This is one of those bad buyer experiences that often cause customers go elsewhere, outside of eBay to buy.
I'm a seasoned eBayer, so I understand that I'm responsible for reading before hitting the bid button - but most buyers are not. One experience like this and they don't return.

Are you contributing to bad buyer experience because you aren't taking the best picture possible?

Free Webinar Series Will Show You How To Add Videos To Your Auction Listings

2007-09-02T12:56:00.000-07:00

Competition is growing - sellers can increase traffic by the use of video. Learn how in free online seminars. Hosted by The Online Success Institute

Using short, two minute or less videos build your traffic. On average Internet Marketers have found a 72% increase in their sales when they add audio or video to their listings. There is every reason to believe you will do just as well!Sellers were thrilled when eBay announced we could add video right into our auction and store listings!Video used to be expensive and technologically challenging to use. The good news is now anyone who can cut and paste can add them to their listings.As this trend takes off you'll be able to stay ahead of the competition by producing the best looking videos.In this online workshop series you'll learn the tweaks and tricks necessary to produce great looking videos for use anywhere on the web.

These four workshops are FREE thanks to the sponsorship by The Online Success Institute.

The workshops cover:

1) Equipment And Software ~ Monday, September 10th – 6:00 pm Pacific Time
2) Taking Advantage Of Video Hosting Sites For Marketing ~ Monday, September 17th – 6:00 pm Pacific Time
3) A Closer Look At Software For Video Editing ~ Monday, September 24th, 6:00 pm Pacific Time
4) Beyond eBay, Using Video on Web pages, MySpace, Squidoo ~ Tuesday, September 25th, 12:00 noon Pacific Time

For more information or to sign up visit: http://www.clovercitysells.com/videoweb.htm

About the presenters:
This webinar series kicks off the introduction of the new DVD titled; How To Use Video In eBay Auction Listings produced by Ghost Leg Media and Cindy Shebley

Cindy Shebley is an eBay PowerSeller, eBay Certified Store Designer, Business Consultant and Education Specialist. She has been selling on the Internet since 1999. Cindy loves teaching people how to use eBay and hopes you’ll enjoy her new series of DVD’s designed to help you drive more traffic into your eBay listings.

Dany Byrne is the founder of & editor at Ghost Leg Media. Over the last couple of years Ghost Leg Media has produced best selling titles on eBay photography, advanced selling and now the DVD How To Use Video In eBay Auction Listings.
She is the author of Elegant E-books, a popular book on formatting e-books for professional results. She teaches classes on editing and formatting e-books as well.

Sponsored by The Online Success Institute, founded by Janelle Elms. Janelle is a recognized authority on eBay marketing and tours the country with eBay University. She’s the author of several best selling books on eBay and has taught thousands about eBay.

For more information or to sign up visit: http://www.clovercitysells.com/videoweb.htm

A Simple Way To Diffuse Your Flash

2007-08-30T09:34:00.000-07:00

I just discovered a great new tool that makes using a flash easy. Using a diffuser will minimize contrast and help reduce shadows.

Here's a video about it:

A Great Use Of Video In Auctions

2007-08-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

From Janelle Elms Newsletter:
"Here is another member who has utilized not only video in her listings, but has taken the information she learned in the eBay Stores Success Video (http://storessuccessvideo.com/clovercity/) , added the very important 'Pay It Forward' principles AND got very creative on animating her videos too (Cindy will be proud).
Check out Maria's auction that has already received 3700 hits in just 3 days.
check it out: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230165469648"

Yes, Janelle I am proud!
What a wonderful use of video.
Best wishes to Peggy Sue

Tips For Lighting Paintings

2007-08-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

I received this email today, and thought I'd share the answer on the blog.

"I'm a bit confused here on the lighting for art work.

I have a new consignment in and I need to get the right kind of inexpensive lighting to take the best pictures. Can you possible direct me to what I need?

Any and All help will be Greatly Appreciated!"

Thanks
Trisha
Double Eagle Antiques
Where Consignments Live While Waiting For A Home
www.auctionconsignmentthriftstore.com

Here's my answer - Please feel free to post any comments and help for Trisha in the comments section.

Hi Trisha,
I'm guessing you are talking about flat artwork, like paintings?

The best way to bring out the colors, depth and possible reflections from the glass frame is to use soft or diffused lighting.

If you are not ready to spend money on a light set-up you can use other means to diffuse light.

Here's what I would try:

Set the artwork on a table, or floor lying flat.
Find two lights - the same type -- don't mix light sources.
Put one light on either side of the artwork

Now, find a translucent (see through) material - preferably white or clear plastic, and put the material between your lights and the artwork.

This may take an extra set of hands or a way to hang the material while you take the picture.

Shoot straight down from above the artwork - this may involve you being on a ladder.

Or my favorite alternatives is to use a light set with shoot-through umbrellas - here's a link to them in my store so you can see what I am talking about: Light Set For Artwork

Guidelines For Shooting Better Quality Videos

2007-08-25T20:08:00.000-07:00

Guidelines for Shooting Quality Videos

You grab your new digital camcorder and happily shoot.
Only later do you realize that the video footage was too dark, or the video quality was terrible. Isn't that a terrible feeling? What makes it worse is that you can never re-shoot that video as the happy moments are now gone.
The best way of avoiding these problems is to learn some basic video shooting skills. You need not learn complex cinematography or directorial skills, of course. But you should have some fundamental knowledge of what goes into a good video shoot and doesn't.

This great article can be found here:
http://www.desktop-video-guide.com/shoot-video.html

More information about shooting videos for eBay can be found:
http://www.clovercitysells.com/howtousevideo.htm

Squidoo Is Holding A Video Contest

2007-08-20T12:38:00.000-07:00

Squidoo Is Holding A Video Contest. This is a great opportunity to get the word out about your lens AND as a result get traffic into your store.

The finalists will be posted on the front page of squidoo.com and on youtube.com

Here' s what Squidoo has to say about the squidcomercial:

"Just grab a video camera, the Squidoo prop we've designed for you, and some of that Patented Squidoo Cleverness. We'll compile the best clips into a superstar video that we'll run on the homepage, in lens headers, on the Squidblog, and more."

Have some fun and get some publicity at the same time!
Here's the URL for more information: http://www.squidoo.com:80/thesquidmercial

By the way, if you want to learn more about putting videos into your eBay listings please check out my soon to be released DVD on How To Put Videos In Your eBay Listings

Auction TNT

2007-08-17T09:44:00.000-07:00

I don't subscribe to services everyday, in fact I'm cheap (OK - thrifty), a do it yourself type. But I just found this new site called Auction TNT which really fits in when it comes to taking my business to the next level.

The tools you will find there are:

Product Sourcing
Picture, Audio, Video hosting
Audio & Video Creation Tools
Traffic Multiplying Tools

What really got me to jump on board was the Audio & Video creation and hosting tools. They are very easy to use.

Did you know Internet Marketers find that when they add audio video to their sites they find an average of 72% increase in sales? Think what that will do for your eBay sales.

I really feel AuctionTNT is a powerful tool you should look into.

And by the way, if you are looking for more information about how to produce Videos for your listings, watch out for my up coming DVD How To Add Video To Your eBay Auctions

Yahoo Photos Is Closing

2007-08-15T06:56:00.000-07:00

If you've been using Yahoo as your photo service it's time to move them. Here's the official notification from Yahoo that it's closing the service.

"Dear Yahoo! Photos user,

"For some time now, we've supported two great photo sharing services: Yahoo! Photos and Flickr. But even good things come to an end, and we've decided to close Yahoo! Photos to focus all our efforts on Flickr — the award-winning photo sharing community that TIME Magazine has called "completely addictive."

Until then, we are offering you the opportunity to move to another photo sharing service (Flickr, KODAK Gallery, Shutterfly, Snapfish, or Photobucket). We're making the transfer real simple, and with a couple clicks we'll automatically move your photos to Flickr or wherever you want them. You can also download your original-resolution photos back to your computer, or buy an archive CD from our featured partner (for users of the New Yahoo! Photos only). All you need to do is tell us what to do with your photos before we close, after which any photos remaining on Yahoo! Photos will be deleted and no longer accessible.

We will officially close Yahoo! Photos on Thursday, September 20, 2007, at 9 p.m. PDT. After that time, any photos remaining in Yahoo! Photos will be deleted."

Using An 18% Gray Card To Improve Your Photo Exposures

2007-08-11T09:03:00.000-07:00

Here's a video about Gray Cards:

You can find the gray card in my eBay Store CloverCity Sells

10% Off At PhotoWorks

2007-07-28T17:24:00.000-07:00

Just found this coupon for 10% off your order at PhotoWorks, thought I'd pass it along.

10% Off Entire Order

Easy Auction Photography ~ Charity Auction

2007-07-21T12:37:00.000-07:00

In honor of my beloved Cat, Clover, I am hosting a charity auction.

Up for auction is a full color copy of Easy Auction Photography.Bidding starts at 99 cents.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:11&item=220132903580

Please help me get the word out and raise money for homeless cats and dogs.

Thanks,
Cindy

Free Image Resizer & Watermarking Tool

2007-06-07T11:10:00.000-07:00

Looking For A Quick, Easy Way To Resize & Watermark Your Online Images?

Oh, and did I mention, FREE?

The VSO free image resize software organizes your photos by shrinking their resolution or moving them within your hard drive. VSO Image resizer is the perfect tool for those who store their digital pictures and images on their PC and who want to resize, compress, convert, create copies, create thumbnails, import or organize photos.

With this free resize image software, you can create e-mail friendly versions of your images, load them faster, move them easily from folder to folder, change their format, edit large numbers of image files/batch image resize and thus save space on your hard drive. Using high resolution 1600x1200 for creating wallpaper or file-sharing you can save your memory. VSO Image Resizer can also change file names using a template and you can add your own watermark with transparency support.

More information about this free software: http://www.vso-software.fr:80/products/image_resizer/

How To Use Color To Create Listings That Sell

2007-05-28T20:29:00.000-07:00

Cash Colors
Understanding How To Use ColorTo Create Web Pages (and eBay listings) That Sell!!!
I just read a fantastic eBook on colors and how the affect eBay sales by top Internet marketer Brian McGregor. This little eBook is filled with information about how to use color to create web pages (and eBay listings) that sell.
The best part is: it's only $7.00. If you are interested, please check it out here:

Jewelry Photography

2007-05-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

I just received these wonderful photos from Charlene, who wrote:

"Thought you might like to see some photos I recently did after reading your hints"

Thanks for sending them Charlene!

The photos are outstanding and the design is spectacular. I'm sure Charlene will fetch top dollar for them. If you'd like to see these pieces and others like them visit Charlene's store:

eBay: andersonshea
Store: http://shop.vendio.com/andersonshea
Web Site: http://www.andersonshea.com/

If you have photos you're taken using the Easy Auction Photography method please send them to me. I'd love to show them off. Cindy

PHOTOGRAPHING SMALL GLASS ITEMS

2007-05-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

Getting a good photo of a glass item can be tricky, especially small items.

Here are a couple of techniques that can help turn your ordinary photos into money shots.

If your camera allows you to adjust your aperture opening choose a small setting. Somewhere between F/11 and F/22. This will give you maximum depth of field (the amount of area in front of and behind the main subject). Don't forget the tripod, because stopping down the lens is going to mean a slow exposure time, as much as several seconds.

If your camera is an automatic and you can not adjust the aperture, all is not lost. Remember this is the digital era. With a 5 to 7 mega pixel camera, shooting a picture for a listing - you will have a lot of extra pixels you can loose. In that case, to get the maximum depth of field move your camera back a couple of feet. That should give you more area in focus. Later, in your photo editing software you can crop to your subject.

Because the glass item is very reflective there will be lots of glare spots. These spots can be a distraction to a potential buyer. To eliminate them diffuse the light. A simple way to do that is to use an eTent. They come in several sizes and are very easy to use. Simply open one up, place the item inside, lights outside and you have diffused light!

The next step is to light the item. Most glass items will display best if photographed from above and slightly behind. This allows the light to travel through the glass and create depth and outline, especially clear glass pieces.

If you are trying for the all white ~ floating on air look, you'll want to light the piece from below as well.

To create the frog photo here is the set-up:

With a simple set-up like the one above you should be able to conquer the most difficult glass subject.
If you get a photo of glass you are proud of, send me the photo and I'll post it here along with a link back to your auction. cindy at ezauctionphotography.com

Also see: Easy Auction Photography A Guide For Everyone Who Sells On The Internet

Watch for my soon to be released book: Photographing Glass

Removing The Wrinkles In The Photo Studio Background

2007-05-05T07:57:00.000-07:00

Wrinkles in the background can distract a buyer and prevent you from achieving that High Key, all white - floating on air look.

One way to get rid of the wrinkles is to iron the fabric. On a large piece of material, this can be time consuming!

Here are a few quick tips to help you with problems caused by wrinkles and their shadows on the background.

Move the item as far away from the background as possible.

If you can adjust the cameras aperture (or F/Stop) choose a wide open setting like F/2.8. This will give you a shallow depth of field. In other words, things in front of or in back of the subject will be out of focus.

If you need maximum depth of focus, try slowing down your shutter speed to 1/30 of a second or more. Then, set your camera on a tripod with a delayed shutter release. While the camera is exposing you can gently move the background back and forth. At a slow shutter speed the background we be soft, or out of focus.

Diffusers ~ Sometimes Less Light Is A Good Thing

2007-04-26T19:10:00.000-07:00

I just read this nice article about diffusers and light, including samples. It's a quick read, and I highly recommend it.
Diffuser ~ Sometimes Less Light Is A Good Thing

25 Get 25 Free Prints From Photoworks

2007-04-04T13:56:00.000-07:00

I love free! I just found this coupon for 25 FREE Prints from Photoworks. The offer expires April 30th 2007.
Here's the link:

Get 25 Free 4x6 Prints From PhotoWorks

Photographing Clothes To Sell On eBay

2007-04-03T20:57:00.000-07:00

At any given time there are millions of pieces of clothing for sale on the Internet. With that much competition you are going to have to try harder to get that buyer to consider your shirt, jacket, skirt or dress.

A shirt lying on the floor, or hung from a coat hanger on a door does little to convey information about that piece of clothing you are trying to sell.

Generally speaking, clothes are best displayed against a contrasting background. If the item is white shoot it against a dark background. If the item is dark, shoot it against a light background.

Your potential buyer wants to know what that item of apparel will look like on them. If you are going to be selling lots of clothes, a full mannequin purchase is in order. It will run you several hundred dollars, but it will pay for itself in short order with higher final values.

One question I often get is: What about photographing the item on one of my friends or a family member? Well, if the item is used, the buyer really doesn't want to be reminded that it has been worn by someone else. I strongly recommend you do not use a live model. Only catalogs can get away with it. They are selling new clothes and paying top dollar for professional models.

If you are an occasional clothing seller, I found these hollow back mannequins on eBay for under $40.00 delivered.

One way to get the detail in the item and show off the clothing is to diffuse the light. In other words, put something between the light source and the item. I use shoot-through umbrellas for this. If you aren't ready to purchase them (they really aren't very expensive, so I suggest you put a pair on your buy list) you can use other means to soften the light. Some people will hang a translucent cloth or shower curtain between the light and item.

More about diffusing light, how and why can be found in Easy Auction Photography.

Below is the final result: I used diffused light and the hollow back mannequin to bring out the detail in this 100% silk Hawaiian Shirt.

One final note - if the item is too large for the form, use the fill trick. Wrap or stuff newspaper to so the item doesn't hang too loosely. The fill trick works great for bags, packs and purses as well. Buyers want to see full items not flat items.

That's it for now.
If you are interested in finding out more information about the tools mentioned above please check out these links.

Easy Auction Photography

eBay

Umbrella Light Sets

Doll Photography Made Easy

2007-03-28T13:59:00.000-07:00

I just came across a nice little book on photographing dolls.

This book will help eBay sellers improve their doll photographs, or if you are a collector wanting to get the most out of your collection, this eBook will help you get an award winning shot.

The price is a reasonable $19.95

Doll Photography Made Easy. A Comprehensive Guide To Photographing Dolls (or Anything Else) For EBay!

Microsoft Image Resizer

2007-03-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

Microsoft Power Toys are handly little add-ons for photographers and eBay sellers. Here's a short video on one of the many tools offered.

What Is Continuous Lighting, and Why Use It For eBay Photography?

2007-03-23T20:05:00.000-07:00

I know most eBay sellers are not photographers. All the choices for equipment and lighting can seem overwhelming when you simply want a good photo of that item.

This article will explain what the term Continuous Lighting means and why you might use such a set-up.

What Is Continuous Lighting, and Why Use It For Photography?

When you move indoors to take portraits, photographs of products, or any other item you may be thinking about lighting, chances are you’ll need more light to properly expose the image.

Most cameras come with an on-board or built in flash that will add more light to any indoor scene. However, they can be difficult to manage. Built-in camera flashes are weak and will not properly expose anything more than a few feet away. And, when you move in close to your subject a flash can create a harsh look and deep shadow.

To control the indoor shot photographers have long turned to two forms of supplemental lighting. They are: always on lights (continuous) or strobes (flashes that are closely controlled). This article is about the first form of light: Continuous.

Simply put Continuous Lighting is a light that stays on during the whole photo session. It can be manipulated to various light intensities and can be moved around easily to get the desired effect the photographer is looking for. They have a bulb (or bulbs) that is turned off and on. They sit on to of the lightstand (or tripod) via an adapter or fixture designed to hold the bulb and an umbrella.

Using Continuous Lights have a few advantages and a few drawbacks as well.

The advantages: They are inexpensive, making them a great entry point for anyone on a shoestring budget. They are lightweight and easily portable. You can see exactly what you are going to get in terms of light and shadows.

The disadvantages: Many of the older style units require bulbs that are very hot to work under. To get the proper color balance required expensive bulbs that had very short working lives, just a few hours in most cases. Often times the bulbs take several minutes to warm up to the correct color temperature.

Now, however, there are units designed to use Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFL’s). These units use less electricity, and are much cooler to work under. The CFL’s are fairly inexpensive compared to their older tungsten counterparts. The CFL’s come in several daylight balanced temperatures, so the photographer can control how warm or cool they want the scene to be and CFL’s last for thousands of hours.

Continuous lighting can be used with many light modifiers. Using them with the lights can control the direction and intensity of the light falling on the subject. The light units make perfect companions to softboxes, reflectors, barndoors, gels, filters and more.

Most professional photographers will tell you the only way to go is expensive strobe lighting. Save yourself some money! You can produce professional results using Continuous Lights. With the advances in technology and the use of CFL’s you can achieve the same professional results and have enough money left over to buy some of those other neat photography gadgets.

Cindy Shebley

You can find light sets and CFL's on eBay - Click Here

Taking digital photos for online and printed product catalogs

2007-03-22T07:55:00.000-07:00

I just read this article on Product Photography and wanted to share it. Ziv is spot on with his advice.

Taking digital photos for online and printed product catalogs
by Ziv Haparnas
http://www.printrates.com/

Whether you are planning to build an online product catalog or a printed version including rich digital photos will enhance it and will increase potential sales. When building a catalog photos are a powerful tool that you must use. Here are a few tips for taking digital photos that will bring justice to your products and will help increasing sales.

Product catalogs that do not include photos are boring. For example imagine that you are looking to buy a new digital photo printer. You just found a new online catalog or got a catalog via regular mail. The catalog has plenty of digital photo printers and also a lot of information about them such specifications, capabilities descriptions and more but it does not have any photos of the printer. You are most likely going to dump that catalog and search for the printer in another place.

This behavior is common to most consumers especially in this era of immediate gratification and impatience. Consumers do not want to spend time reading and figuring out what the product can do. They want to see a photo and get a short snippet of what the main features of the product are and what the price is.

Just taking photos and adding them to your catalog is not enough. Good photos can add a lot to a product image but at the same time bad photos can really damage that image. Here are some tips and concepts that can help taking good photos that in turn help selling products online:

Variation: Take more than one photo. Show the product from many angles: zoomed in and zoomed out and in different positions - for example if the product is a clamshell-phone you should show it both in the opened and closed positions.

Quality: The photo quality must be as high as possible. Don't confuse quality with file size or resolution - we refer here to photographic quality: Follow the rules of good photography, use a tripod when long exposure is needed make sure the photo is not overexposed or underexposed and that it is not blurry.

Background: It is very important to shoot with the appropriate background. Usually you would stage a background that is in contrast with the product and that has no details or distracting objects that can catch the viewer's attention. Make sure that the background is matte color and that it does not reflect light. For example when taking a photo of a black digital photo printer use a white or light gray background.

Show details: Emphasize the product details. Every product has unique features or important details that you would like to draw the viewer's attention to. The best way to do that is to take close- up photos of those details. You are not limited to physical details for example when selling an digital photo printer that has long battery life take a close-up photo of the digital photo printer's LCD screen displaying how much battery is left. Such a photo conveys credibility and is much more powerful than the product battery life specifications text.

Support the product description: Take photos that support the textual description of the product. For example if the text claims that the digital photo printer comes in three colors: black, silver and red show three photos of the printer in those colors.

Convey physical attributes: If your product has unique physical attributes that you would like to emphasize take photos that convey them. For example if the product size is important use a known size object in order to help the viewer visualize the size - take a photo of the digital photo printer next to a quarter coin to show how small the printer is. It is much easier for viewers to visualize and understand measurements if they are put in reference with objects they know very well. This is much more powerful than specifying inches and ounces in a textual specification.

Keep file sizes small: This is relevant for online catalog only. Keep the photo file size small. When viewing a photo on a computer screen low resolution photos are more than enough. In most cases a VGA (640X480) picture is all that is needed and such a photo file size can be 50Kbytes or less. It is important to keep this in mind and not be tempted to put high resolution big photos files. Such big files load slowly on the viewer's computer and in most cases the viewer will get frustrated from the slow response and would just skip to the next site.

About the Author Find more on photo printing and photography is on printrates.com - a place about digital photo print service This article can be published and used as long as the resource box including the backlink is included. Mr. Haparnas writes about practical technology and science issues. http://www.printrates.com/

Buy Cameras From EZ Auction Photography

2007-03-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

Easy Auction PhotographyHas Partnered with Amazon.com to Offer the Very Best Digital Cameras for Internet Product Photography.

You can buy with confidence, knowing every camera is backed by Amazon.com's guarantee.
http://www.ezauctionphotography.com/camera_store.htm

Black eTents

2007-03-05T18:18:00.000-08:00

I received this wonderful email from Gayle Bosko about the black eTents we sell.

"Hello again! I just wanted to write and tell you how much I enjoy using the black softbox! It has definitely made a difference in my photos, especially the jewelry! One thing I wanted to mention that I didn't see in your auction ad is how GREAT this black box works for vaseline glass. (glows under blacklight). In the past I have always had to set up some kind of black tent to take the photos and this sure takes the hassle out! I lay the blacklight on the top of the tent, put the vaseline glass inside and it glows beautifully for my camera!! (maybe you would like to mention this in your ads :-) I am so pleased with this product and just wanted to write and let you know. Thanks again! Take care, Gayle"
http://myworld.ebay.com/sunbear1224

Thank you, Gayle! Below are photos she took inside the eTent - they're amazing!

More Information about the wonder art glass pieces Gayle has for sale can be found here

More information about the NEW BLACK eTents Can Be Found by Clicking Here

Easy Auction Photography Now Available At Amazon!

2007-02-24T08:55:00.000-08:00

I'm please to announce that Easy Auction Photography
is now available on Amazon.com

Click Here For More Information About Easy Auction Photography or cut and paste the url below.

Easy Auction Photography: http://tinyurl.com/ytrlxq

Photographing Glass - Free Lesson

2007-02-20T11:22:00.000-08:00

I just read this great little lesson on how to photograph glass. The photographers are using professional studio equipment, so some things may be hard to duplicate exactly, but with the use of an eTent you should be able to get some outstanding shots.

The lesson shows how different light angles effect the photo as well.

Check it out at the Web Photo School

Microsoft Power Toys For Photography

2007-02-16T12:37:00.000-08:00

Microsoft frequently offers updates and toys to improve their products . Lots of them are FREE.

These updates are not new – but not widely known, either. Below is a link to some of the many toys & upgrades available.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

One of the most useful toys is the Microsoft resizer. With a simple right click of the mouse you can resize your image to a quick loading size, without taking it into your software program. That's handy!

Here is a quick video tutorial (about 5 minutes) on how to download the resizer, install it and use it.

http://www.dbyrneassociates.com/demos/ccs/imageresizer-swf/imageresizer-swf.html

Choosing A Tripod For eBay Product Photogrpahy

2007-01-28T11:13:00.000-08:00

A tripod is very useful for you in product photography. When you are taking indoor photographs in natural light or other low light situations, the camera's shutter speed will be slow. Any shutter speed under 1/30 of a second will cause blurry pictures if you try to hold the camera in your hands.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TRIPOD: There are so many types, styles, sizes and weights that buying a tripod can bea daunting task. Prices on tripods range from cheap to very expensive. Whenchoosing your tripod, look for one that is easy to set up, easy to use, and thathas controls which are easy to adjust. Consider these factors:
STABILITY/WEIGHT:Large, heavy tripods give you the most stability. That said, consider where you will be using your tripod and what attachments you’ll have on your camera. If you plan on using additional lenses, other than the lens that comes with the camera, remember that a large heavy lens on the front of your camera can unbalance and topple a lightweight tripod. If you are going on location, buy the heaviest tripod that you can carry comfortably. The weight of the tripod will add stability when shooting outside in the wind. Weather is seldom a concern when shooting inside, so if you are just carrying the tripod from one indoor location to another, the excess weight could be a draw back. If you haven’t bought a camera yet, or if you don’t really know exactly how and where you will be using your new digital camera, don’t worry.
What youwant is a reliable, middleweight tripod for studio work.
MAXIMUM & MINIMUM HEIGHT: A tripod's height is adjustable. When purchasing one, you will want to knowthree things: maximum height (tallest), minimum height (lowest) and collapsed size (for carrying). You want the tripod to extend high enough for comfortable viewing, so you don’t have to bend over when looking at theLCD screen or through the lens. Most tripods have a center extension pole that can be raised for a little extra height. However, be careful not to extend this center pole too high. It will cause your tripod to become unstable. For height, get a tripod with long legs. Even when the legs are fully extended, the tripod remains balanced.The lowest extension of the tripod becomes more important if you are doing table top photography. Be sure the minimum height is not too tall to work with on your photography table. To accommodate both table top and normal shots, you might find two tripods do the job better than one. If you switch back and forth between very small and larger pieces, you’ll appreciate having a way to quickly switch setups.The folded size is important for carrying and storage. The folded size will depend partly on the number of sections in the legs and partly on the lengthof those sections. As you probably expect, folded size varies.
CENTER COLUMN: Going hand in hand with leg height consideration is the center column. Center columns on cheaper tripods tend to be too long and flimsy to providea firm support when raised more than a few inches. Look for a balanced center column - one that moves easily up and down - and locks firmly into place easily.
TRIPOD HEADS: Most tripod heads have basic three-way pan and tilt features. That’s probably all that you will need for product photography. Ball heads are smaller, lighterand a lot more expensive (and, of course, easier to use) but they are not necessity. Always test your camera on the tripod head to make sure the head will allow free movement and rotation without the camera bumping into any part of the tripod.
LOCKING MECHANISM: Check the locking mechanism on the legs. Make sure the locks are easy to use and that the legs are held firmly into place. Older tripods had caps that needed to be screwed and unscrewed to release the legs. Newer ones have thumb locks that are much easier to release and secure.
QUICK RELEASE: A Quick Release is a really great feature. It is so useful that it has quickly become standard on almost all newer tripods. The Quick Release is a platethat is left permanently screwed into the tripod thread on the bottom of yourcamera. It fits into a quick release holder on the tripod head. Once the Quick Release is attached to your camera, you simply push a lever on the tripodwhile lowering the camera and plate onto the head. Let the lever go and thecamera is locked in place on the tripod. This is very useful if you need to usethe camera both on and off the tripod.

For more information, or to purchase a tripod visit CloverCity Sells

Photographing New Sealed In Package Items For Your Listings

2007-01-14T12:32:00.000-08:00

NEW IN SEALED PACKAGE
Should you take a new item out of the box to photograph it? That depends.
Most of the time, a photo of the box is sufficient. Most manufactures have spent a great deal of time designing their packages to be attractive. Let the package speak for your product if the item is sealed and you don't want tobreak the shrink-wrap.
If the item isn't shrink-wrapped, take it out of the box and photograph it, possibly including the box as part of the photograph. This will assure your buyerer that the item is new with box, and you have taken it out of the box to inspect and photograph it.
Many times while researching a new item, you may find a great photo of the product online and think to yourself "Mine's still wrapped. This photo isfantastic! I'll just cut and paste this one into my listing." Don't do it no matter how tempting it is! Unless you are an authorized dealer for the product, you will be violating copyright laws. If the original photographer or copyright owner clicks into your ad and sees that you have borrowed their image, they can - and often will - immediately shut your listing down.
How likely is a copyright holder to stumble across your auction? More and more, manufacturers are employing people to police online sites, looking for unauthorized use of their intellectual property. The online auction sites cooperatewith the legal owners in these efforts, and generally pull a listing without notice. On eBay, this is referred to as a VeRO violation (VerifiedRights Owner). Yes, some sellers may seem to get away with it.

But an increasing number of auctions are terminated early because of VeROviolations.

Stay out of trouble, read Easy Auction Photography by Cindy Shebley!

How Many Photographs For Your eBay Listing?

2007-01-07T16:53:00.000-08:00

How Many Photographs?

How many photographs does your listing need? The simple answer is: as many as it takes to show every detail a potential buyer needs to know. Because connection speeds vary and your buyers' patience isn't unlimited, you may wonder, exactly how many is enough? How many are too many?

Sadly, there is no simple formula to determine the correct number of photos. The very minimum needed is one. Buyers need to see the item to feel comfortable buying it. They can't touch it, so it is doubly important that they see a good picture of it. The first photo in a listing is usually free - and I say, "Never pass up free." Always include at least on picture.

What Do Buyers Look For?

What product information are potential buyers looking for?

In general, the first thing buyers want to know is that your truly have the piece - so a full shot of the item is a good place to start. Many online sellers are "Drop Shippers" - people who act as agents for the distributors of certain products. The person listing the item never has it in his or her possession. They can't guarantee that it is in stock or that it will be shipped promptly. These sellers usually have "canned" product shots that are instantly recognizable. Your photographs will set you apart from such sellers, and may make your listings more appealing.

Next buyers want to know specific things about the item, such as condition, color, imperfection's, etc. You can best answer these questions and document your article's condition through photographs.

Not every product will require the same sorts of photos. Collectibles like coins or stamps may have variations that make them especially valuable, for instance, and you'll want to concentrate on those details. Think about what questions you would ask if you were buying (rather than selling) your item, and let that be your guide.

Here's a general list of additional areas to photograph:

Damage to the item - chips, cracks repairs, rips, wear marks, flaws of any kind
Signatures - On the bottom of most pottery or glass there is a manufacturer's stamp or signature. On hand made items or crafts, if there is a signature - photograph it. It doesn't matter if you can't read the signature clearly. Someone might recognize it and bid according
Labels and tags on clothing.
Close-up of the pattern
Certificate of Authenticity
The backside - people like to see both sides and the bottom and top
Any accessory (including software) that comes with the main item
The plug - This is especially important for vintage collectibles that require electricity. Many people want to see if the wires are frayed or if the plug is grounded. For modern equipment, buyers may be able to discern special requirements for voltage or electrical outlets by seeing the plug.

Other situations may require special photos. For instance:

Before and after shots are important if you are selling a product that, when used, improves something. For instance, if you were selling rust remover, you might photograph a rusty, tarnished kettle and then show the same kettle cleaned up and gleaming after the rust remover was used.
If you are selling vehicles, photograph the interior, exterior, engine and trunk.

This list is a place to start when your are considering what you need to photograph to sell your item.

The text above is used with permission from Easy Auction Photography, A Guide For Everyone Who Sells On The Internet. To Find out more, or to purchase go to www.ezauctionphotos.com

White Backgrounds Looking Grey?

2006-12-07T10:25:00.000-08:00

Try Bracketing Your Exposures!

Cameras with built in metering systems are designed to give the best over all color and exposure. To do this the camera is programmed to read all the light areas and all the dark areas and meters the exposure to a happy medium; technically, this is the same tone as an 18% grey. For items with all white backgrounds, automatic camera meters tend to under expose the image. In the old days of film, product photographers learned to compensate for this problem by using a technique called "bracketing the exposure" - and this technique can still be used with digital cameras.

The photographer takes three (or more) shots of the subject, with slightly different exposures to see which one looks best.

Below is a series of photos to demonstrate bracketing. Only the exposure has been changed. The tiger was positioned against a white background.

Above is the 'Normal' suggested exposure by the in-camera meter. The background has a clearly visible grayish-blue tint. While it isn't terrible it isn't the look we want to achieve. However, everything else looks normal in this shot.

Above 1 - Stop Under the in-camera meter suggestion

Both the tiger and the background are darker. This is obviously not a correctly exposed shot.

Now, let's look at a series of slightly over-exposed shots:

Above: 2/3 of a stop over exposed. The background has dropped down to a very light tone and the tiger stands out more.

Above: 1 Full Stop over exposed. The background is dropping away, but the tiger is also starting to loose some saturation. Still a better shot, this is the one I would use.

Above: 1.3 Stops over exposed and the tiger is starting to loose a lot of its saturation, and the whole picture over all is starting to look flat. Some of the detail is starting to get lost on the white paws, and if I try to punch the contrast up with photo editing software the details will be lost.

Experiment with the over and under exposure controls on your camera. You will probably find that slightly over and under exposing images will produce better product shots.

Good Luck!

Choosing The Right Light Bulb For Continuous Light Set-Ups

2006-12-05T17:29:00.000-08:00

Choosing a light bulb for your continuous lighting set-upThe light holder/adapters sold in the CloverCity Sells Store will accept a medium (or standard) base. The socket will accept up to a 150 Watt bulb.

Using a continuous light set-up has many advantages. One of its main features is the ability to 'Model' or watch as the light falls on a subject while you position the lights. Another benefit of a continuous light set-up is that it allows you a professional set-up on a budget. The continuous set-ups offered today are normally a fraction of the price of strobe set-ups. And finally they are simple to set-up and take down, offering the photographer mobility to go on location easily.

Once you decide on a continuous light set-up the next consideration is what type of bulb does the set need? Of course, there is no simple answer to what will work best for your needs. I've put together this guide to help you understand your choices and help you make a more informed decision.So, let's get started!

Choosing The Right Light For Your Set
Digital Camera or Film Camera?

Digital Camera
The range of choices available to you is wide if you are using a digital camera.
Most digital cameras come with a 'white balance' feature. The white balance allows you to adjust (or toggle) a setting that will compensate for different light types. Or, if your digital camera doesn't have the feature, you will be able to adjust most color changes with your photo editing software.

On the digital camera look for the symbol that looks like a little bulb. When you find it, and turn your camera setting to it, you will be able to shoot using any tungsten (or standard everyday) light bulb.

Your digital camera will also have a setting that allows you to shoot using overhead florescent tubes as well, it normally looks like a little cigar. However, don't confuse overhead fluorescents with the new compact fluorescent bulbs purchased for tungsten bulb replacements, they emit a slightly different color (temperature).

Film Camera
If you are shooting with a film camera your choices are more limited. There are films that compensate for minor color differences but film can not compensate for all the different color temperatures that different light types emit.

When you shoot with a film camera it's time to learn about color temperature and how it affects the finial image. Every light source has a different hue or color, depending on it's 'temperature'. This temperature is measured in (or referred to as) Kelvin.Here are some examples:

Daylight - 5000 K to 7,000
Home light bulbs (tungsten) 2700 K
Fluorescent tubes 3500 K

As you can see the lower the number on the Kelvin scale the warmer - or more yellow/red the color light will be. In the middle range it tends to be greenish until you get to about 5,000K. At 5,000 K it becomes white and moves from white to blue as it moves up the scale. (The actual color temperature during the day depends on time of day, overcast, time of year etc. But that's a different topic.)

Most studio photographers want their product and portrait shots to look natural, as if taken on a normal sunny day so a Kelvin Temperature of around 5000 to 6400 is desired. When you see bulbs with a Kelvin number of 5000 to 6400 they are often referred to as "Daylight Balanced." These daylight balanced bulbs are the perfect solution for a film photograph. As you may understand film doesn't change what it sees, our eyes may - but film does not. If the light temperature is 2700, then film will render it as such. Our eyes, on the other hand, will send the message to our brains which automatically adjusts it during processing the message. We see that warm light as natural.

You will see bulbs sold in the hardware store referred to as 'daylight.' Check the Kelvin rating on them before purchase. If they are lower than 5000 K chances are you will get a yellowish or greenish cast to your photo. Many professional photographers choose the higher quality and slightly whiter "Super Daylight Balanced" bulbs. They render a nice clean white color. These are especially desirable with product photographers who are creating that all white "high key" look.

So, the first decision as to which bulb you need must be made on which type of camera you are using: film or digital. If it's a film camera look for a daylight balanced bulb around 5000 to 6400K. If it's digital you may use any light available. Of course, you can always use a daylight balanced bulbs so you don't need to worry about the white balance setting or correcting the image in photo editing software.

The next decision is what actual style of bulb to use. There are several considerations when choosing the style/type of bulb used. Essentially for the sets sold in the CloverCity Sells Store there are two choices: Standard Photo Flood Bulbs and Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (or CFL).

The Photo Flood bulbs look similar to regular light bulbs. These bulbs are generally cheaper than CFL's. Their drawback is that they only maintain color balance for a few hours. They may still light up, but they start to darken and move toward the yellow end of the Kelvin scale. Another drawback is that they are very hot to work under. This is not very good for small objects that may melt or for clients who are sitting for a portrait. As a result photographers are quickly embracing CFL's. They are physically cooler to work with and they last for thousands of hours, all the while holding their color temperature.

CFL's are great for close-up or product photography as well. They stay cool so you have fewer chances of burning or melting the items. The CFL's are rated at lower Watts than the Photo Flood Bulbs because they are much more energy efficient. The lower watt still emits the equivalent amount of brightness. The benefits of this are many. First your electric bill will be lower. Another problem many photographers face when using continuous lights is the electric capacity of their space. This shouldn't be taken lightly, I recommend checking with an electrician before burning your house down! However, because the CFL's are drawing fewer watts you are decreasing the risk of electrical fire.

There are many benefits to using the new CFL's on the market today, whether you are a digital or a film photographer. Should you decide you want to use them you can buy Daylight Balanced Compact Fluorescent Bulbs from the store. If you purchase them at the same time as you purchase your light kit or set we will combine shipping.

Buy CFL'sHere

Host Your Own Photos

2006-12-02T19:58:00.000-08:00

Buyers really appreciate lots of photographs, so don't try to save on listing fees by not including as many as needed to display your item properly. At the same time, however, take care not to overwhelm your buyers with unnecessary images. Too many photos can be as distracting as too much text.
If you want to include multiple photographs in your listings without driving your listing fees sky high, host the pictures on your own web site, rather than on the listing service. That way you can include as many as needed for a good representation of the product. Reliable web hosting services are relatively inexpensive. If you plan to sell a lot of items, and use a lot of photos to do it, the listing fees will quickly outstrip the monthly charge of a reputable hosting service. My current web hosting service costs less than $10.00 a month and gives me gigabytes of storage and bandwidth. I save money, include as many photos as needed to tell the buyer a story, and still have room for a web site to compliment my auction listings.

How To Tame Contrast And Shadow In Product Photography

2006-09-14T15:51:00.000-07:00

Last month I talked about choosing a light source for your product photos. If there is one secret or tick to product photography it focuses on the characteristics of light. Learning how it affects the finial outcome of the image is critical for a product photographer. Each different light source will affect the final outcome. The one thing that is universal is contrast and shadow. It doesn’t matter if it’s light from the sun, a desk lamp or a fluorescent bulb, unfiltered light will create a shadow when it falls on the subject.

In the photo below the boots were shot on a sunny day. Notice the shadow. The same thing happens when you are using lights inside in a studio.

Photo taken on a sunny day

The problem with the photo of the boots is that shadow. It is so dark we can’t see details in the item we are trying to feature. What a photographer needs to do is tame that extreme dark and light area in the photo (referred to in photography as contrast). In other words, soften or diffuse the light.

Photo taken on an overcast day

I live in the Northwest USA. To soften light and prevent those harsh shadows I can take my items outside and shoot on a cloudy day. It’s a quick and easy way to diffuse the light. But, when it is cloudy, often times that means rain – so it’s often not the best solution. That’s where using a few simple tools or techniques help.

Sunny day using an eTent

The photo of the boots were shot on the same sunny day as the fist photo. They were placed inside a box called an eTent.

Boots inside an eTent

This is an eTent. It is by far the easiest and simplest way to set up diffused light. It is simply a nylon box that you set your item into and shoot light through to diffuse the light. There are not big tonal changes between light areas and shadows.
They come in several different sizes from the size good for jewelry all the way up to a size good for a doghouse. They are fairly inexpensive – and make the job of product photography a breeze.

There are other ways to produce diffused light. Photo ‘shoot through’ umbrellas are also designed specifically with the purpose of softening light rays. They are essentially the same translucent nylon material that the eTents are made out of. You shoot the light through the umbrella so it is between the light source and the subject.

If you are interested in these items please feel free to check out www.easyauctionphotography.com or my eBay store for more information about them.

If you are just not ready to jump in and purchase these items to improve your product photos there are other ways to diffuse the light. They tend to be awkward to work with though.

For instance, you could hang a translucent type material, even a shower curtain will do, between the light and the item you are photographing.

Diffused lighting really is the big secret or technique for producing outstanding product shots. That’s way I keep coming back to it. Let me show you a side-by-side comparison.

The top photo was taken using an eTent. I set the Leatherman on a piece of white paper. I positioned one light on either side, outside the eTent. Look at the detail you can see in the tool!

The bottom one was taken with the diffused light, using a flash. It has lost a lot of its detail. The Leatherman has lost detail not only from the harsh glare spot caused by the flash, but because there is so much contrast between the light and the dark tones.

If you are interested in learning more about how to use an eTent, Light Cube my guide: Light Tents covers specifically how to use any variety eTent you many have purchased. More information about Light Tents can be found out by going to http://www.easyauctionphotography.com

Light Tents - Guide Book - Out Of Stock

If you interested in purchasing an eTent, CloverCity carries a complete line of them. And, if you purchase through my eBay store I’ll include the book Light Tents instruction at no additional charge.

Good luck – happy photographing.

Cindy Shebley

If you want reprint this article or use it for your website, please feel free. The only requirement is that you keep the links in place and credit me as the author.

Easy Auction Photography Now Available Through Barnes & Noble

2006-08-21T16:39:00.000-07:00

I'm very pleased to announce that you can now purchase the printed version:
Easy Auction Photography at Barnes & Noble.

If you haven't picked up a copy it can now be purchased through:

Barnes & Noble: click here to purchase Easy Auction Photography

or

Lulu Press: click here to purchase Easy Auction Photography

Thanks!
Cindy Shebley

Choosing A Light Source

2006-08-06T11:56:00.000-07:00

Choosing A Lighting Source

The White Balance Feature On Your Camera

Learning how to use the White Balance feature on your camera will allow you the freedom to use many different types of lights. With it, you can use desk lamps, fluorescent lamps or even shop lamps found at a hardware store and produce great photographs.

Before I talk about what type of light works best with Internet Product Photography let me tell you about the White Balance feature on digital cameras.

Indoor lighting doesn't produce the same spectrum of colors that sunlight does. Our eyes and minds automatically compensate for these differences and adjust the color message, so we aren't aware of an unnatural hue in the light.

Although a standard incandescent light bulb appears to produce white light, it actually produces yellowish colored light our eyes seems not to notice. However, to a film or digital camera, light from a standard light bulb is indisputably yellow. To our eyes, a standard fluorescent bulb also appears white. To a film or digital camera, most fluorescent bulbs throw off a greenish or bluish light. If we use standard incandescent or fluorescent bulbs as a light source, they can distort the colors in our photographs.

In digital photography, the camera has a control called "White Balance" that can automatically compensate for variations in color temperature (that's the term used for different color of light). You can set your digital camera's white balance to tell the camera what type of light you are using and it will adjust the color balance of the final image. (See your camera's in-struction manual for more on setting the white balance).

Learning how to use the White Balance feature on your camera will allow you the freedom to use many different types of lights. With it, you can use desk lamps, fluorescent lamps or even shop lamps found at a hardware store and produce great photographs.

If you are on a tight budget, go ahead and use the lights you already have around the house.
One word of caution: don't mix light sources. In other words, don't use a desk lamp on one side and a fluorescent fixture on the other side. A digital camera can correct for one color light - but it cannot compensate for two different color temperatures in the same picture.

For many years I used two 500-watt, halogen shop lights as my main lighting for product shots. They are inexpensive and provide nice, strong light. The problem with halogen lights, however, is that they are very hot to work with. In one case, I almost melted the item I was photographing! The other limitation I faced was that shop lights don't always come with stands. I was forever looking for something to set them on or some way to prop them up for better angles.

The first thing I purchased, when my budget allowed, was a professional light set that included adjustable stands. The set has light holders that allowed me the freedom to use the new, cooler, compact fluorescent daylight balanced bulbs. The whole set-up folds away neatly into a small corner of my office when not in use. This equipment is very affordable, especially on eBay. I didn't need to put off buying it for as long as I did. Look into the light kits that are now available. You may be surprised at how affordable they are! And professional light set-ups are designed to be easier to work with.

The best way to reduce or eliminate the need to color correct images is to use color corrected light bulbs. Both incandescent and fluorescent bulbs are available in color corrected versions. I recommend daylight balanced, compact fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs normally fit standard light fixtures, but they produce three to four times as much light as incandescent light bulbs using the same amount of energy. That means you can use a 20 watt CFL instead of a 60 watt incandescent light. And since the compact fluorescent bulbs use much less energy, they are much cooler to work under than incandescent bulbs. Daylight balanced compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) are more difficult to find than standard bulbs and they typically cost $15 to $25 each. However, they are by far the easiest light source to work with. The higher initial cost of these bulbs is offset by the fact that the bulbs last for thousands of hours and use so little electricity.

What Type Of Set-Up Works Best For Internet Product Photography?

If your goal is nice pictures of your items for sale that you can produce quickly and with as little set-up as possible choose a continuous light set-up. Here's why:

Flash Lighting vs. Continuous Lighting:

With flash, you can't really tell what the lighting looks like until you have taken the picture.
Continuous lighting allows for "What you see is what you get" modeling.
If you use more than one strobe, the strobes must be synchronized with each other and with the camera shutter.
Strobes are generally more expensive than continuous lights.

There are situations in which professional quality strobes work better than continuous light sources. If the subject is moving, for instance, then the short duration of the strobe's flash can help to "freeze" the subject. Even a relatively slow moving subject will cause a blurred image. But, how many times has a knick-knack jumped up and started moving?
When a shot requires depth of field, a small aperture (lens opening) is used. This smaller aperture means more light is necessary for a properly exposed image. In most cases, the additional light can be gained by simply increasing the exposure time. However, there are occasions where the exposure time cannot be increased enough to produce the required amount of light. In those cases, the intense light of a strobe light is useful.

Again, using affordable professional lighting equipment is not necessary, but it sure makes setting up your shots a lot easier. If you are interested in continuous light sets or want more information, please feel free to check out my eBay Store: CloverCitySells

Good Luck!

Cindy Shebley

author: Easy Auction Photography

Free Tips & Tricks eBook Available

2006-07-26T16:44:00.000-07:00

Free Tips & Tricks eBook Section Now Available

5 EZ Techniques To Create Great Internet Photographs

the first eBook in the Shoot for Success Series is now available

Click here to download a copy in PDF format.

Each of these eBooks will offer concise explanations, tips, and techniques to help you improve your photos, choose your equipment, or set up your studio.
Each book will be announced here and on the EZ Auction Photos blog as it is released. Please check back often for updates.
You will need a copy of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to read these ebook. If you don't already have one, you can download it from Adobe's web site.

What Others Are Saying About Easy Auction Photography

2006-07-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

"Finally! Finally someone has written an easy-to-follow guide on taking photos that will equal profits in your auction listings.

After reading Cindy's, Easy Auction Photography, you will know which equipment to buy without breaking your bank, have step-by-step instructions on how to take & edit catalog quality photos, and learn many tips and tricks along the way (I love the "how to shoot glass" section).

I recommend that ALL my eBay students and clients, from beginner to PowerSeller, have this book in their business library."

Janelle Elms
Best-Selling eBay Author, Educator, & Speaker, www.JanelleElms.com

Free 1 Hour Photography Webinar July 13

2006-07-01T12:18:00.000-07:00

You are invited to a FREE One Hour Easy Auction Photography Webinar!

When: July 13th
Time: 1-2 Pacific Daylight Time

This informative one hour digital photography seminar will cover techniques that will make your internet photos stand out! Using the Easy Auction Photography Method we will cover:

What to look for in a digital camera
Simple lighting techniques to make your photos stand out
composition for eBay & Internet Product Photography
How to create a shoe string studio that will produce professional results
How to photography glass and small items

And the best part: it's FREE

Space is limited so sign-up now.

For more information on how webinars work please click here

To sign up: send me an email I will respond with the details. This webinar is offered free. You will call into a phone number in the midwest USA to hear the audio, so you will be responsible for the call.

Click here for more information about the book: Easy Auction Photography

Easy Auction Photography Table Of Contents

2006-06-24T17:14:00.000-07:00

Easy Auction Photography is full of useful information. Here is an idea of all the topics covered.
This eBook CD is packed full of useful information!
Grab your copy today - It's being offered at a special introductory price of $19.95 plus FREE Shipping.
Hurry this price is only available to the first 100 customers - after that it will sell for $24.95.

Easy Auction Photography

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION
PART I: IN THE CAMERA
CHAPTER 1 CHOOSING A DIGITAL CAMERA
1. The Best Choice For eBay Product Photography: A Digital Camera
2. How Many Megapixels
3. Macro Focus
4. Flash Features To Look For
5. White Balance Feature
6. LCD Screen (Liquid Crystal Display)
7. A Camera Body That Feels Comfortable
8. Other Features That Are Fun But Not Necessary
9. Buying A Used Camera?
10. How To Decide Which Brand & Model Camera To Buy
CHAPTER 2 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAMERA
1. Pixels: What are they and why should you care?
2. Picture Format for Internet Ad Photographs
3. Aperture Setting & Shutter Speed
4. Aperture Priority Mode
5. Shutter Priority Mode
6. Other Settings
7. The LCD Display
8. Storage Cards
CHAPTER THREE OTHER CAMERA ACCESSORIES
1. Tripod
2. Choosing the Right Tripod
3. Monopod
4. Rechargeable Batteries
5. Extra Memory Storage Cards
6. Card Reader
PART II : IN THE STUDIO
CHAPTER FOUR HOW MANY PHOTOGRAPHS?
1. What Do Buyers Look For
2. New In Sealed Package
3. Host Your Own Photos
4. Ebay Gallery Photos
CHAPTER FIVE SETTING UP A SHOESTRING STUDIO
1. Setting Up Shop
2. What You'll Need For A Quick, Easy & Affordable Shoestring Studio
3. A Folding Card Table
4. Backgrounds And Backdrops
5. Special Backdrops For Small Items
6. Light Background vs. Dark Background
7. A Seamless Background
8. Lights and Lighting Your Studio
CHAPTER SIX LIGHTING
1. Basic Lighting Techniques
2. Different Lighting Types
3. Using Sunlight
4. Sunlight and Shadows
5. Using Sunlight Indoors: Bounced Lighting Technique
6. Diffused Lighting: Using Sunlight As Your Light Source
7. Lighting With Flash
8. More On Fill Flash
9. Lighting With Household Lamps
10. Positioning Lights
11. How Many Lights?
12. Tools Used For Bounced or Indirect Lighting Techniques
13. The eTent
CHAPTER SEVEN TACKLING SPECIAL PROBLEMS
1. Composition
2. A Typical Story - The Telescope
3. Watch the Background
4. Change The Mood By Changing The Background Color
5. Prop Things Up
6. Coins
7. Bracketing
8. Jewelry
9. Stay Still - Don't Lose Your Focus
10. Mirrors and Reflective Surfaces
11. Framed Art
12. Photographing Clothes
13. The Online Color Chart
14. Photographing Large Items - The Ladder Trick
15. Photographing Vehicles
CHAPTER EIGHT ROMANCING THE BUYER
CHAPTER NINE PHOTOGRAPHING GLASS
1. Shoot Light From Below
2. Light From Above Or Behind
3. Slow Down Your Shutter Speed
4. Show Off The Colors
5. Capture the Artist's Signature
CHAPTER TEN FLOATING ON AIR
1. Black Backgrounds
2. White Background
3. Chroma Key Backgrounds
4. The D-Flector
5. Retouching
6. A Final Word About Lighting
PART III : IN THE COMPUTER
CHAPTER ELEVEN MOVING PHOTOS FROM CAMERA TO COMPUTER
1. Flash Memory Isn't About Lighting
2. Any USB Port In A Storm
3. Cards And Card Readers
4. Your Camera's Software
CHAPTER TWELVE PHOTO EDITING SOFTWARE
1. The Photographer's Friend
2 Demonstration #1 - The Basic Commands
3. Demonstration #2 - The Clone Tool
4. Water Marking Your Final Shot
CHAPTER THIRTEEN USING A SCANNER
1. When To Use A Scanner
2. Things To Look For In A Flatbed Scanner
3. Scanning Directly Into Your Editing Software
4. Scanning Not-So Flat Items
CHAPTER FOURTEEN CONCLUSION
Glossary
Index

Easy Auction Photography Book

2006-06-22T08:08:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,
Easy Auction Photography is quickly becoming a best selling book on Internet Product Photography!

Grab your copy today and start producing product selling photos!

Here's one testiomnal we received today:
"From the table of contents all the way through, Cindy Shebley has created the essential guide for those online sellers who, like me, have most aspects down pat but can't seem to duplicate those slick professional-looking photos that we so envy in others' auctions!Even those who have been using digital cameras for years will learn the subtle tricks of the trade that take a photograph from okay to wow! If you're just beginning to consider using digital photography, read up here before buying your first camera. You'll have a better understanding of where to best invest in equipment. If you're due for an upgrade to your digital camera equipment, read up here before buying your next camera! You'll discover what's truly important and what features are going to give you the most for your investment. The simple explanations of the features on digital cameras made much more sense than my owner's manual and the examples of what can be done with various features gave me the motivation to learn my way through my digital camera's menus and try out settings I never even knew existed.

Do you ever long to truly understand what a pixel is and why it matters? Do you know the difference between a GIFF and TIFF? What about those cool photos that seem to float on the background--don't you wish you could do that? Well, now you can know it all, from the basics of pixels and formats to those all important tricks. Backgrounds, lighting, professional equipment and Shoestring Studio tricks to duplicate the results are all covered.

Cindy Shebley has the know-how and she's sharing it for the benefit of all online sellers! Any online seller who's been using these tricks for years is going to be disappointed to find their competition has just kicked it up a notch after reading this easy-to-understand and all-encompassing guide!"

Cheryl L. Russell
Best Selling Author:
eBay Income

eBay & Internet Photography Workshop June 29th 2006

2006-06-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. On eBay or Craigslist it can be more valuable than that!
This workshop covers simple techniques used to create eye-catching product photos. Learn what to look for in a digital camera, composition and lighting. Included will be an introduction to simple set-ups that produce professional looking results and uncover the secrets of how to capture those catalog 'floating on air' photographs.

Date: Thursday June 29, 2006
Renton Community Center, Room B
Renton Washington

Time: 6:30 - 8:30 PM

Cost: $24.00

To Register: Call the Renton Community Center (425) 430-6729
or use Cyber-Sign Up (online registration): click here

Basic Flash Terms

2006-05-22T18:18:00.000-07:00

Lighting plays a large part in product photography. There are many different types to use and each type has it's own acronyms. Flash lighting is just one option. Understanding the terms associated with flash lighting can be like learning a foreign language. Once you understand them it will help you decide which type might be best for your lighting situation. Below is a mini glossary.

Flash Lighting Terminology

FEB (Flash Exposure Bracketing):
The subject's flash exposure is bracketed with three consecutive shots (correct exposure, underexposure, overexposure) while the background exposure remains the same.

Diffused Light:
Light can be diffused by placing tracing paper over the light source or bouncing it off a white surface. Diffused light gives soft lighting effects since the light is spread around more. It also reduces contrast.

Bounce Flash:
Bounce flash is created when the flash unit is pointed toward a ceiling or wall so that the flash bounces off before reaching the subject. Since the color of the bounce surface will be reflected, a white or light-color surface is best. Since the light loss is greater with bounce flash than with direct flash, a larger flash aperture should be set.

Pop-up Flash:
This is the mechanism for the built-in flash which pops up from a retracted position. With fully automatic SLR cameras, the built-in flash pops up automatically when necessary.

Preflash:
This is the low-output flash fired before the main flash is fired in synchronization with the shutter. It is used for measuring the subject distance, evaluative metering or reducing red eye.

Recycle Time:
When a flash is fired the capacitor is discharged. The capacitor is then recharged for the next flash. The recycle time is the time the flash capacitor to recharge enough to enable another flash to be fired.

Main Flash:
Normally, the light which it takes the subject over the widest area. It can also be the light which gives the subject dimension r character regardless of how large the illuminated area is.

Modeling Flash:
Before the flash picture is taken, a modeling flash can be fired so that the lighting effects (balance, shadows, etc can be checked beforehand.

Suggestions For Avoiding Red Eye

2006-05-05T11:22:00.000-07:00

Turn on the lights
Don't look directly at the camera
Use an off-camera flash
Don't use flash
Correct the red-eye in your photo editing software

Red-eye is more likely to happen in the dark when the pupils are dilated. If you are shooting in the dark, try turning up a few lights. Give your subjects eyes a few minutes to adjust and then shoot the photo. Another trick is to take two flash shots, one right after the other. The first flash serves as a way to get the subjects eyes to close-up. The second flash is the keeper.

Red-eye is more likely to happen if the person looks directly at the camera, so if possible have them look away. If possible give them something to focus on slightly off to the side.

Moving the flash away from the camera, especially off the top at eye level, will greatly reduce the chance of red-eye. So, if possible move use a detachable flash unit.

If the light level is low find a way to support your camera. Tripods are inexpensive and can support your camera for longer exposures without flashes. This will definitely remove red-eye problems. The are for sale for under $20.00 at the clovercitysells store.

If you can't avoid red eye - one last resort would be to correct the red-eye out with photo editing software. Most photo software comes with a simple tool to help.

Good luck!

eBay Express Has Launched Are Your Photos Ready

2006-04-25T09:57:00.000-07:00

eBay Express has launched. Is your store ready? One of the requirements to participate is a photo of your item. Make sure your's is high quality and professional looking! This new feature will bring more traffic to our listings and should be a great benefit to all that participate. So what is eBay Express and how can you make sure you are listed in the store? I’m glad you asked! Below are the guidelines.

With eBay express buyers will:
Get it now – all inventory will be fixed price
Fill a shopping cart from different merchants and pay for everything in a single payment
Buy with confidence – transactions will be covered by eBay express purchase protection

So what do eBay sellers need to know and do to participate?

Sell on eBay
Have feedback of 100 and 98% positive
Feedback must be public not private
Be a PayPal premier or business merchant
Meet selling requirements
Be a USA or Canada merchant

Listing Criteria
List in Fixed Price or Store Inventory format
Fill in the item condition field (i.e. New, Used, Refurbished) in Item Specifics. (Some categories exempted)
Use Pre-Filled Item Information for listings within Books, DVDs & Movies, Music, & Video Games.
Include shipping costs (flat, calculated or free) in the shipping fields
Provide a picture or gallery
No 3rd party check - Use eBay checkout or the new checkout integration API (for 3rd party order processing)
Items must be located in the US
The majority of categories will be in eBay Express – A few categories will not be included.
To see a list go to http://pages.ebay.com/sell/itemcondition/list/

There are two main reasons for excluding categories. The first reason is because the PayPal Buyer Protection Program does not cover the category i.e.: motor vehicles. The other reason is because Category Managers are still working with the community on representing the category in eBay Express – like certain collectibles categories where industry standards on item condition do not exist.

Buyers used to the typical e-commerce experience often ship their purchases to multiple addresses. For example, a buyer may ship his/her purchases to a work or gift recipient address. Shipping addresses that are not the buyer’s billing address are typically unconfirmed addresses. As eBay Express is designed to attract buyers looking for a more conventional e-commerce experience, we allow buyers to have their purchases shipped to unconfirmed addresses. PayPal Seller Protection continues to cover all eBay Express transactions that meet the program requirements. Shipping to unconfirmed addresses will disqualify a transaction from PayPal’s Seller Protection. We recommend sellers evaluate the potential increase in sales from selling to more buyers against the risk of losing PayPal Seller Protection for some of those sales.

If your items qualify they will automatically be submitted to eBay express.
You can opt out by updating your seller preferences in My eBay

You can see eBay Express in action: www.ebayexpress.com.

Mary Lou Harris Designs

2006-04-21T08:18:00.000-07:00

I just came across a talented jewelry designer who sells on eBay. Her name is Mary Lou Harris. Not only are her jewelry designs fantastic, the photos she's taken of them are beautiful. When asked how she got such great photos, she revealed her technique. She uses an eTent softbox to soften the light. Sometimes she photographs the items using the natural light of an overcast day. Either way, she's able to diffuse or soften the light enough to get great detail on the stones and showcase her talent.
You can see her work on her website: http://www.marylouharrisdesigns.com
If you are looking for eTent softboxes, check here
CloverCitySells carries many sizes & styles of softboxes.

2006-04-13T08:08:00.000-07:00

Choosing A Digital Camera For eBay Use

As with all things on the Internet there is always more than one way to accomplish a task. You have a choice, too, on how to get a picture of your product into your eBay listings.

Things you'll need to consider are:
a. How many items are you planning on listing?
b. What type of items are they?
c. Will you have the items in your possession or are they too large to be kept on your site?

If you already have a film camera and are only listing a few items it will work. Simply take the finished roll of film down to the photo processor and ask for the images to put into digital format (onto a CD). Once you have them on a CD disk you will be able to upload them to the eBay site and use the eBay picture services to edit them.
If you plan on selling more than just a few items using a film camera will soon become expensive. You have the cost of film, processing, possibly re-photographing the item, your time running back & forth to the film lab and gas, etc. Soon you'll want to consider other alternatives.

The Best Choice For eBay Product Photography: A Digital Camera

Digital photography means capturing images in a digital format. You can do this by taking photographs with a film camera and then scanning the slides, negatives, or prints. However, it’s much faster and easier to capture images with a digital camera. Right now there are hundreds of makes and models to choose from and more are introduced every day.
Which one works best for eBay? If you plan on using it only for photographing eBay items a more modest, scaled down model will do just fine. The first step, then, is to consider what you will be using your digital camera for. Once you know that you can start shopping for your camera. Don't know where to buy one? Well…. You know, try eBay. A digital camera sells every minute!

What features do you need specifically to take quality photos for eBay listing? Here's a list of what features to look for:

· 3 megapixels or better
· Macro Focus (The ability to focus close-up)
· Flash that can be turned off and can be adjusted to be used as fill
· Be sure it has the White Balance Feature
· LCD Screen
· If you are buying used, one with all the original software, cables and users manual
· A body that feels comfortable in your hands

Text Taken From: EZ Auction Photography by Cindy Shebley Publication Date: June 2006.

My First Blog Entry

2006-04-12T08:31:00.000-07:00

Hello & Welcome To EZ Auction Photography. I want to share tips and techniques to improve your eBay, Craigslist, Yahoo or Website photographs. Please check back soon - lots of tips to come.