Selling items online has become more and more popular! The benefits of a flexible schedule, working from home, being your own boss, building your own business, plus so many others are what keep online selling an attractive option. And truly, anyone can do it regardless of education, talent, work history and numerous other criteria that "Corporate America" looks for.
I had posted last year about the differences between selling on eBay and selling on Poshmark. It was actually my most popular post! People navigate the internet to find more information about how to start selling online, and I am asked constantly about how to do it. So, this post is going to discuss how to style your photos to make them more attractive, more enticing, and ultimately...to help them sell!! After all, isn't that the ultimate goal! I am not a professional photographer, but you don't need to be either. These pictures were all taken with my cellphone, and edited with free online apps. All of the items included in them have sold except for a few so far. Hopefully with these ideas, your items will sell too!
The following are a pair of Anne Klein Boots. It can be hard to position them in a picture without trying to stand them up. However, why not just lay them down! People can visualize the heel height, the shaft height and the overall look. Remember however, to always include these measurements in your listing! I use a piece of white Mongolian fur as a backdrop, that I purchased from Joann Fabrics for $20. I edited the image with a free app called "PS Express" which is an Adobe product. It is my favorite app and I love the frames on it. Plus, I can easily adjust color and brightness, and so many other key features.
The following are a pair of Men's Tommy Bahama sandals. I took this picture on a hardwood floor and added some other men's items to it for some added "flair"!
Since we are on the subject of shoes, here are a pair of Vintage Justin Roper Boots. They are a little beat up and worn (which a lot of people actually prefer!) and so I edited the picture to have a bit of an "old time" haze to it. I placed the boots on top of a similar color trunk I have in my house.
Next up is a beautiful Ellen Tracy Maxi Dress. Due to the length, it can be a bit challenging to get a good picture. But, I laid it down on the Mongolian fur again, added some shoes and a hat for flair, and stood as far back as I could to get the whole dress in the picture. This was edited with a free app called "Pic Collage" but I still prefer the "PS Express" app.
The following dress is by Max Studio. It is absolutely stunning, but without a dress form to display it on, it would not look near as beautiful! It is a simple and very straight dress that needs to be shown on a dress form. Definitely invest in one! I bought mine on Craigslist under the "Arts and Crafts" heading for $60. You can also buy them at Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Homegoods and other places. However, make sure to buy a plain one in a neutral color!! Otherwise, it will look too "busy" and actually take away from the item you are trying to sell!
It is almost swimsuit season! Let me tell you, they sell very well! Just make sure they are new or at least, like new. I also do better with one-piece suits for my clientele. So, consider who you are selling to before you invest in swimwear inventory! I LOVE to style them on top of my Mongolian fur piece, and with a hat and sandals! This is a Vintage look suit that was a big seller for me. It is by "Sports Fashion" which I had actually never heard of before. But, what an adorable design! I used the Pic Collage app to frame it with a feminine, vintage look pink border. This suit sold in a few days!
If you have kids, you already know that they outgrow their clothes fast! My son is no exception. Plus...like most boys, he HATES to dress up! But, many moms still look for dressy clothes, regardless. So, I pulled together 3 of his very nice dress shirts by Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. I folded them neatly and positioned them attractively together. This was the first picture in my Poshmark listing. I made sure to include another with the shirts opened.
Taking pictures of jewelry can be very challenging! There is so much detail and it is often hard to get clear, bright images that truly showcase each piece. These are Swarovski Hoop Earrings that are stunning! They are placed on a wine glass near a bright window. I didn't take this picture, but it would be easy to do. The image is very simple as you definitely want to keep the focus on the jewelry, not the background!
This is an Ed Hardy wallet that is so cute. The colors are very earthy and there is a lot going on (as is common with Ed Hardy :-) )! I positioned it on a floral centerpiece that I have on top of my kitchen table. It gets great sunlight there. I loved the colors complimenting each other!
Pants are another hard item to photograph. These are 2 pairs of Express Capri pants that are too cute! The plaid is great, and since they are exactly alike (except for colors), I decided to sell them together. I folded them in half at an angle and it works wonderfully! I do this with all of my pants. Since you can post multiple pictures, I do make sure to show a picture of them opened up as well.
These are absolutely stunning vintage gloves that I sold on Etsy! They are on top of my dining room table as I really like my table runner as a backdrop. The floral centerpiece also adds some nice dimension!
Makeup can be challenging, especially lipstick. I wanted to show the tubes, but I also wanted people to see the colors as well. So, I stood them up (which took some balancing alright!) on top of my Mongolian Fur backdrop again. I angled the photo nicely and shot the photo from the side. It is edited with the free Pic collage app once again.
Scarves do sell! But, it makes a HUGE difference how they are displayed. Here again, you really need to invest in a dress form. It truly makes all the difference! This pretty scarf is by New York & Company. I love the polka dots and apparently, so did everyone else as it sold very fast!
The next item is one of my most favorite Vintage purses that I sold on Etsy. It is a tiny purse with gorgeous leopard detailing at the top. I laid it flat on top of a chair I had in the dining room and it worked just great!
Next up is a beautiful Nicole Miller Tote that I placed on my dress form. Again...this is another reason you need a dress form! I actually take most of my larger handbag photos with it. It allows the bag to be positioned well and also allows the viewer to see most of its detail. I used the PS Express app to edit the color, brightness, and to also add a frame. I like a very clean image and this is what that app does! On another note, this is taken in my office. The color on the wall is my favorite paint color by Sherwin Williams called "Tinsmith". I actually have another earlier post in this blog about that color...check it out http://asinglesupermom.blogspot.com/2014/03/my-love-hate-relationship-with-paint.html
Lastly, here is an absolutely precious Santa Dress! It is laid flat on top of my Mongolian Fur backdrop and I added a bow from one of my Christmas packages :-). It looked cute with the dress, so I thought I'd add it for some flair! This dress was also a popular item. Just make sure to list it in late October or so, because you want to always remember to list your items during the right seasons for better sales opportunities!
Hopefully these photos will give you some ideas about how to style your items. There are so many options out there! Be creative, and add your own touch. Just remember, don't make your background so busy that it steals from the actual items you are trying to sell!!! If you have any questions at all, leave a comment and I will be happy to answer them. Happy Selling!!
