How to take product photos that sell

Online selling is one big business that has plenty of opportunities for small and part-time merchants. Whether you're selling your handiwork on Etsy, collectable finds on eBay, or simply clearing out clutter, good pictures are essential for successful selling. Fortunately, with a little investment and some practical pointers, anyone can take sell-worthy photos.

Camera

All you need is a basic point-and-shoot digital camera. Look for these features: image stabilisation, zoom, and a close-up setting. Flash is useful but less important, as you'll be taking most of your product shots in natural light.

Set-Up

A clean background is a must. If you can move the item, outdoor shots can work well. Find a spot like your driveway or against a wall or fence that's free of background clutter. Ideally, shoot on a cloudy day or under a shelter (a porch or gazebo works well), so your item is shaded but still well-lit. This will reduce distracting shadows.

If you must shoot in place, be sure to clear excess furnishings and clutter from around the item. Supplement the room light by placing a floor or desk lamp on each side of the subject to give even, bright illumination.

Many sellers of small items like jewellery invest in "light tents" or lightboxes. Use these to show your item on a white background with even light and no shadows. Light tents can be purchased really cheaply on Amazon. This is a great example and great value too, or you can make your own. Search online for do-it-yourself articles on photography light tents.

Software

Once you've transferred the photos to your computer, use photo-editing software to optimise the image. The industry leader is Adobe Photoshop but other online photo editors such as Pixlr don't require downloads and often have free versions.

These photo-editing packages are loaded with features; for selling purposes you should concentrate on:

• Cropping to tighten the view of the subject. Images cropped to a square or 8x10 format work well for most selling sites.

• Exposure control to brighten the image, highlight details and balance colours.

• Sharpening to bring out detail and avoid loss of image clarity when the photo is uploaded to your ad listing.

With these pointers and a little practice, you'll soon be taking product photos that say "Buy Me!"