You know I suggest (heck, demand! That’s how strongly I feel) that resale, thrift and consignment shops
use photos of their merchandise
everywhere they can, from their tweets and Facebook messages to their blog and web site. In fact, the largest file on my computer is “good examples to use.”
So I thought I’d clear out the clutter, and leave here the
bad examples of taking photos of your merchandise.
If your photo’s here, don’t worry, I won’t tell ’em it’s you. And thanks for educating your peers and maybe even making us laugh.
Let’s start off with
A wedding gown. That looks like it lived the last few months in a car trunk. Lesson: If it’s not worth steaming it’s not worth posting. (And a few props or accessories wouldn’t go amiss either.)
Cute cardigan, but we’re a mite distracted, wondering what the story is on her lost pants… Lesson: Crop, if you forgot to properly frame the photo.
Kinda hard to imagine this in your home. That green doesn’t go with anything. Lesson: Lose the rope. No one’s gonna sit in it anyway, when you’re there with your camera.
Unless your shopper is a Christo fan, let them see what you’re showing them. Lesson: First snap the photo, then get out the plastic wrap.
If it’s worth photographing, it’s worth stuffing and standing up. And maybe finding a more compatible backdrop. Lesson: Just like a shopkeeper, sometimes our goods need a little primping before they have their portrait taken.
This is probably a lovely suit, but who can tell? Lesson: Lighting solely from above is a killer. For photos, for display windows, for you. Add plenty of side lighting.
Okay. So some shopkeepers like order. But no one likes a half-empty display or rack or room vignette… the selection looks picked over. Lesson: Fill ‘er up. (Oh, and give it some light to make it sparkle, and, dearie me, focus the camera.) Compare the appeal of this photo with this one from my Pinterest site.
Later on, I promise to show you some GOOD examples.
Now I want to hear from you. What have you learned to watch out for when you snap merchandise shots? What’s the hardest part of this task for you in your shop? Comment, below.
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
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Thanks for not using my pic even though I’m sure you could have found some examples. My excuse: I’m in a hurry and just want to post some pics and move on to other things on my to-do list. But, you are spot on, and I needed a reminder of how important good photos are. Thanks!
Which raises a Zen-type question, Selective: is it better to have SOMEthing pictured on social media, even if it’s not up to the professionalism you want to exude… or no picture, maybe just a “Frantically tagging armloads of great stuff” to remind your followers that they’re missing out if they don’t stop in? (Hey, I think I just coined a new phrase!)
Thanks Kate…I was hoping none of the photos were going to be mine! lol, I know I need some work. Great tips, I will be using them 🙂
Kate…I have been paying a stylist to do our windows whicch are imaginative and effective. All the while I have been meaning to change out the absulutely dreadful lighting. Thanks for the nudge.
I’m surprised your stylist didn’t insist! 😉
Auntie Kate: great post! I find it challenging to find time to photograph lots of the items that come in. I will note that we got a cute Clifford the Big Red Dog Halloween costume and find an image on Google images (also lots on Pinterest) to post. Typically those photos come from the item’s manufacturer, have better lighting/photography and a cute kid posting.
My other idea is that periodically I’ve asked girls (typically age 4+) when they are in the store to “model” what they are already trying on. Often some cute shots, which I’ve been able to use in my store communications.
Thanks Sharon for the comment. I’d like to take this opportunity to talk a bit about copyright. I urge that we all watch our use of other people’s photographs. If you DO use a photo from a professional source to promote your business, be sure to credit and link it… and still, that’s not going to prevent the owner of the photo from taking offense. Best to avoid, if possible, or perhaps pin the image onto your shop’s Pinterest boards directly from the source, which automatically keeps the image linked to that source, then refer your shoppers to your pin.
Kind of a roundabout way, and copyright on the Internet is getting more and more complicated by the day, but for sure, if you use someone else’s photo to sell your goods, be as careful of stepping on toes as you can manage. And that’s the sermon for the day.
i think that i’ve learned that i can often OVER analyze, sometimes i pick at the photo for tooooooooo long & end up wasting forever on it…when everyone knows i have one grillion other things to do…i like it to look GOOD, LIT, STUFFED, STEAMED & PRETTY….oh & kinda artsy…sometimes i over think it 😦
Cropping is important…that’s one I’ve learned the hard way. Particularly when you are posting the pic to FB because only part of the picture may actually show on your wall. Until they click on the pic — and if it’s not great, drawing their attention right away, why would they? — they won’t see your great item unless you have appropriately cropped out the extraneous.