Auction Photography Tips for Online Auctions
Auction photography tips for your online auctions.
What is the most important part of a lot listing in an online auction? Sure, the information section is important, and the contact information is too, but one of the most important things to have in your online listing is a good picture. Recently, online auctions have become more popular and are becoming more frequent. They are a great way to expand your audience and reach people that you usually could not with a traditional live auction. With more auctions being held online, bidders can bid while on their lunch break 2 states away. However, since it is not a live auction and bidders are farther away, they might not have the opportunity to inspect an item beforehand. In this case, you want to be sure that your listings have good-quality images that potential bidders can trust. Read on for some basic auction photography tips!
Make sure pictures are clear and focused
While you don’t have to be a professional photographer, your pictures must be clear and focused. The images should not be blurry or cut off, as this will make it harder for potential bidders to see the item and determine its quality. The lot item should also be the main focus of the image, with a clear, simple background. A background that is too cluttered can detract from the featured item and cause the bidder to lose interest. It can also confuse what item is actually available and what is just in the background.
Good lighting
Another thing to think about when taking photos of your images to upload to your website is the quality of lighting. Again, while you don’t need professional studio lighting, you’ll want to make sure that the item is clearly defined and all the details can be seen. Make sure the room or area where you are taking photos is not too dark or shadowy. If necessary, you can edit your photos on simple photo editor websites that are free to use and available to all, like Canva.
Correct image size
Lastly, when uploading images of your lot items in your online auction, be sure they are sized correctly. If you use any one of our live or online auction Software programs, we recommend using a picture that has a 4:3 size ratio (or 1024 by 768 pixels). If you don’t use our auction software, the ideal picture size can easily be tested by uploading a test photo and seeing how it looks, then adjusting its size if necessary. It is important to have the correct size image so nothing gets cut off, and he picture doesn’t become grainy and pixelated once uploaded or is too large or too small. Having the correct image size will ensure that bidders can clearly see the image and that it will load properly on all devices.
While there are many important parts of your online auction listings, having a good photo of each item is one of the most important. A good photo will not only allow the bidder to clearly see all the details, but it will also make your business and auction seem more reputably and trustworthy and they will have confidence that if they win the item, you will be able to deliver exactly what was promised.
If you need help figuring out the best photo sizes for your online auctions, or if you want a second opinion about a photo, we can help! Contact us today to get started!