Styling Photos on Poshmark, eBay and Etsy

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!!

Selling on eBay

Today started with a call from a dear friend back home in South Florida (yes, I still call it my home). She started by telling me the most wonderful news which was about her youngest son. She's been through the toughest times with him as he was diagnosed early in life with autism. Thankfully it wasn't severe. As any mother would do, she researched it thoroughly and searched for ways to treat it. Her son is now in Kindergarten in a public school and thriving! Just hearing that brought me to tears...but of sheer happiness. The sad part was that she was on her way to file bankruptcy. Her medical bills which had been funded through credit cards, was extreme. So extreme that she couldn't pay it anymore. She told me this apologetically and with embarrassment. I told her she need not be embarrassed. True love will cause you to sacrifice anything you can just to help. Lord knows, I'd of done the same.

It got me to thinking about all of the people in my life who have lost a job, a house, or something else. It's tough right now and who knows how long it will last? I've learned since age 16 when I was out on my own, that if I couldn't pay my bills, I'd be out on the street. Believe me, you learn quickly just how to make money if you need to. I'd be working 5 jobs sometimes just to make ends meet. For whatever reason, I always wanted to live comfortably, but more than that, I guess I never wanted to fail.

11 years ago I started selling things on eBay. It wasn't as well known at the time since it was fairly new. My first item was a silver bracelet by a well known designer that had been a gift. I knew I'd never wear it, so I figured I may as well try and sell it. So, I took the eBay tutorial on their site, and listed my first item. I started bidding at 99 cents. It listed for the average auction time of 7 days and ended up selling for $150.00! Well, I was thrilled. It was easy money, and it really didn't take much time or effort to achieve. I've since sold about 700 items on eBay which range from clothing, shoes, jewelry, small technical items, etc. I've tried to stick to things that can ship easily and that I know well. I also buy things on eBay (even a car) and have developed a knack for winning the items I want at rock-bottom prices. This is something I teach to my students when I hold an eBay class. I mainly find things to sell at garage sales and thrift stores, or even discount stores like Marshalls and TJ Maxx. I look for items in excellent condition that will sell well. I have a paypal account (www.paypal.com) and ship them from home too. It's worth investing in a weight scale to be able to do so.

My point in all of this is to tell you that anyone can do it. It takes a little time to list your first item and understand what you are doing. However, you can then keep your auction template and use it to keep re-selling items easily. You can do it from home, in your own spare time, with little investment. The sky is the limit as to what you may want to sell. If you know antiques and more valuable items, you could do very well! I'm sure there are things in your closets, garage, cabinets, bookshelves, etc., that you could sell right now.

It probably won't be a full-time job, yet, it can certainly create a financial cushion for you. Check it out . They have so many forums now to help you. Go directly to the site-map for easy navigation

Good luck to you and happy selling!

Paying it forward and planting a garden...

Just went through my son's clothes again. He grows so fast it's hard to keep up with him anymore! Though I do sell some of his things on eBay and at the Kids Consignment, I mainly give his things to others in need. There are so many hurting families these days especially. In fact, I just spoke to a friend today and found out they lost their home. It's heartbreaking. They have a little boy themselves, so, that is where a "care package" went today full of my son's things. She was grateful, and I was happy to do it. It's all part of "paying it forward" folks. It's the right thing to do, and the bonus is that it makes you feel good! Since I am a garage sale Queen, I often pick up things for others when I see them. I am tickled when I see their kids using what I have passed onto them.

On another note, today I seriously started working on a vegetable garden. I preface this with the hope that the deer will not come to kill it, or whatever land digging monster I have that continually turns up my shrubs and lawn!! I purchased a short fence which should help...I hope. I have several vegetables that I am planting. My goal is to eventually have enough that I can just go to my garden when I want fresh vegetables. So much cheaper, healthier, and convenient. Plus, what a wonderful thing to do with my son. He has his own little watering bottle and loves to help me. It's the simple things that bring the most joy, and this is one of them. Why don't you try one too? Even if it is just in a window box in an apartment! Enjoy!

Craigslist, Garage Sales, eBay, and Thrifts....

Well, I have learned that if I wait long enough, the item I seek will appear on Craigslist. Yes, I know I am not shopping for fashion items (Boo Hoo), but, every now and then I do find something wonderful for my home! Today I found an almost new Chiminea for my back deck, and some great outdoor lawn Christmas ornaments (OK, I know it is only June, but that is the time to buy them cheaply folks)!! Everything was a steal of a price, and a fraction of retail price.

So, what I do on most Saturdays, is go garage sale and thrift shopping. I find treasures and re-sell them on Craigslist and eBay too. I have been selling on eBay for 10 years now. Listen folks, anyone can do it! I have even taught classes at the local college about it. It's not that difficult and we all could use some extra money right?! So, when I don't find something that is a keeper for me, I hunt for potential resale items. I find that baby and kid items always sell well. Also sporting goods. I mainly sell those on Craigslist. The fashion items I end up re-selling on eBay (as long as they are in excellent shape and designer names). Anyone can do this from their home! eBay has excellent beginner tutorials to learn this. Youtube has videos too. There are also tons of community forums on eBay that will help you get started. Check it out!