Of all the factors that contribute to how well an item will sell during an auction period, some of the most basic, yet often times overlooked aspects of eBay listings are the photos that a seller chooses to use to show an item that is for sale. It would seem obvious that the photos of an item offered for sale would be important. Even so, as you look through the thousands of listings for auctions being held on any given day, you will see photo after photo that are rough, blurry, haphazard, goofy, and sometimes, not even a picture of the item being sold or any item that is even similar.

Thank goodness for the folks who live among us with brains that never seem to engage with the rest of their nervous systems. The photo is positively one of the most vital tools a buyer has in determining if he/she is interested in becoming a successful bidder, and to what lengths he/she is willing to go to ensure that his/her bid wins. Furthermore, the photo is not only a tool, but it is a tool that has been provided by the seller. This means that the buyer will naturally make judgments, not only about the item that is selling, but also about the credibility of the verbal and or written description that is also given by the seller.

A blurry, or shady photo, or a photo that is taken of the item without regard for its appearance (i.e., was it cleaned or dusted prior to the shot?), as well as evidence as to whether care was given to specifically show any damage that a prospective buyer would want to have disclosed often times does more to make up a buyers mind about buying the item than anything that a seller can write in the listing or say in a pre-sale email.

On the other hand, an item that is photographed by a seller who portrays the item as an object of value, an item that has been cared for, and an item that is worth the time taken to photograph it under the best possible conditions will often times bring a higher ending bid amount than similar items in as good or better condition that were photographed poorly.

To sum it all up, take the time to take photos of the item you are selling that are well lit, clear, focused, and the featured object in the photo. Also, take as many angles as you can to show the item from every direction. Finally, if there are any blemishes, or areas of damage on the item, take photos of these areas and include them in your listing with short truthful descriptions.

It is not uncommon for buyers to ask you to take a photo of a special angle, or point of view. Expect this kind of request and be ready to offer the service, or state well ahead of time in the body of your listing that the only photos that you will be presenting are the ones that are posted at the time the auction begins.