How to add a Photo to Your Ebay Listing

A photo of your item can help boost interest. A picture really is worth a thousand words. Follow these three simple steps and you'll be adding photos like a pro.

Are you ready for Step 1: Save a photo to your computer

Step 1: Save a photo to your computer
First, you'll need to save your photos as digital pictures (also called "electronic images"). To get started, choose the type of equipment or service that's best for you.

Digital camera — A digital camera is the easiest and best way to get sharp Web photos. This type of camera is just like a regular camera, except pictures are stored in the camera's memory instead of on film. Don't have a digital camera? See the wide range of digital cameras for sale at eBay. Your digital camera will come with instructions on how to transfer (upload) your photo to your computer.

Regular camera and scanner — Take a picture with a regular camera and then use a scanner to convert your picture into an electronic image. Or, forgo the camera and use only a scanner if the items are small and lie flat, like stamps or jewelry. Scanners directly transfer pictures to your computer.
Note: If you don't have a scanner, copy centers such as Kinkos or Mail Boxes Etc. can do the scanning for you.

Film-to-Digital-Image Service — Digital Image Services such as Kodak PhotoNet deliver digital pictures for Web use from a standard roll of film, along with your regular prints.

Video camera and VCR tape — You can transfer pictures from your video camera or VCR tapes using a video capture device and software.

Now you're ready for Step 2: Edit your photo

Step 2: Create a great looking photo

Here are some tips for taking photos that will make your item look its best and buyers confidence!

Good: Shows nice detail. Bad: It's crowded, backlit, confusing!

Use proper lighting. Many people find natural, outdoor lighting best. Indoors or out, light your item thoroughly.
Consider a backdrop. If appropriate, consider using a plain, colored fabric backdrop to make your item stand out.
Don't use pure white, as it tends to create too much contrast in your photo. If you don't use a backdrop, be sure to move other things out of the way so your item will really stand out.
Get close up! Buyers want to see detail, so really make your item take up the whole frame. Consider taking a close-up of a section of the item in addition to the entire object in order to give buyers a better idea of the item's actual condition.

Edit Your Photo
Once your photo is on your computer hard drive, you can often improve it with photo editing software, which may have come with your digital camera or scanner. You can also download basic editing software from sites like Tucows and Shareware.com.

Editing Photo Tips:

Remove unnecessary background.
Balance the contrast and brightness.
Save your edited picture as a JPEG (.jpg) file (file types other than JPEG and GIF should not be used).
Here's how (in most programs):
Choose Save As from the File menu.
Name your file.
Select JPEG (.jpg) or GIF (.gif) from the Save as Type drop-down list.

Planning on hosting your own picture? File size should be under 50 KB (kilobytes) for quick page downloads.

Now you're ready for Step 3: Copy your photo to the Web

Step 3: Copy your photo to the Web

There are two ways to get your picture onto the Web so you can include it in your eBay listing:

Use eBay Picture Services. When you use eBay Picture Services, eBay keeps and displays your pictures for the length of your listing. You'll also be offered enhanced options just for eBay Picture Services users, such as a picture slideshow and Supersized pictures. Storing one picture with no enhancements is free with eBay Picture Services. Additional pictures and features have associated fees.
Host your picture elsewhere. Perhaps your Internet Service Provider (ISP) gives you some space on the Web where you can store your pictures. Or maybe you'd like to try out picture-hosting services like Pongo, Twaze, or PixHost. The Sell Your Item form has a field where you can enter the Web address (URL) of a picture stored on the Web. That picture will be displayed in your listing. To display more than one externally hosted picture on eBay, you'll have to use HTML in your listing.
Your URL should look like this: http://www.yourhost.com/nameofphoto.jpg or it may look like this
http://www.yourhost.com/yourfolder/nameofphoto.jpg

File transfer software, such as WS_FTP for PCs (includes eBay user reference guide) or Fetch Softworks for Macs will assist in uploading your picture file to your ISP or hosting service.
Add pictures on the Sell Your Item Form
Note: In the section of the Sell Your Item Form labeled Add Pictures, you are given a choice between eBay Picture Services and Web Hosting

For photo Web Hosting
Click on the Web Hosting link to enter the Web address of your hosted picture. This Web address (or URL) will look something like this: http://www.host.com/yourfolder/photo.jpg. You can test the address by typing it into a separate window of your browser. If your picture appears, it works! If not, double-check the address.

If you're using Web Hosting, you're done with this tutorial. Good luck selling your Ebay item!

Return to Alou's Ebay Zone Free Tools & Tips for Ebay Sellers.

For eBay Picture Services
eBay Picture Services is easy to use. It's a bit different depending on your browser and computer platform. You just follow the onscreen instructions.

Click on the Basic eBay Picture Services link in the right column of the Sell Your Item Form.

That's it! Have lots of fun & good luck!

Return to Alou's Ebay Zone Free Tools & Tips for Ebay Sellers.