The importance of photography when selling antiques online.

A picture speaks a thousand words…

5 min readFeb 26, 2019

Times are changing

Things have changed in the antique world. The days of loading a van and selling at a fair are becoming less. The new age of antique dealers (like myself) are changing the way antiques are being sold. I firmly believe that if you are wanting to make a career from selling antiques, then selling online is essential.

Selling online isn’t an easy task, and the best way to be successful is to make your products stand out. How do you do this? To put it simply — good photography.

Quality photography when selling online in any industry is important but even more so in the antique world. No matter how beautiful an item is, if the photos are poor, you WON’T make sales. In this blog I’m going to give you some photography tips, do’s and don’ts and the best equipment you can use to better your photographs.

Tip 1 — A decent backdrop

A good backdrop is a good way of making your images stand out. What makes a good back drop I hear you say? For me, a plain & simple backdrop is the most effective when photographing products, no patterned wallpaper and nothing that will distract your attention from the item in situ. If you are able to set aside a specific photography area, this will definitely make a difference — even better if you are able to plaster & decorate the photography area. In terms of colour, a nice, clean white always works well, especially if you sell a mixture of different styles. If you sell mainly mid-century, then you may choose to add a bright pop of colour. If you are a dealer of antique furniture, then grey compliments the darker tones of antique pieces.

Tip 2 — Declutter!

This should really be a no brainer — make sure when you are photographing that the area you are working in is free of clutter. First of all, you don’t want anything in the photo to distract from the item itself — this should be the main focus; secondly, a clear space without random hoovers/shoes/cats etc. Looks more professional therefore showing your boutique off in the best light possible. Take 5 minutes before you start photographing to clear your work space, brush the floor and move any distracting items that could appear in the photo.

Tip 3 — Positioning

By positioning, I mean think about the space that you are taking your photos in — are you able to take a full shot of this 2m sofa without the end being cut off? Can you get a decent image of the whole sideboard without having a light switch, plug socket or door frame in there? Obviously, this is not always possible dependant on where your photography area is but I would always recommend shooting in a space that best fits your items

Tip 4 — Lights, camera, action

Never underestimate the importance of good lighting! Natural light works best, although is not essential and definitely not always possible. Luckily, light boxes are an excellent alternative and don’t have to be expensive. Even with natural light, additional lighting will still be needed in order to highlight every angle of your item so this would definitely be a worthwhile investment.

Here’s a link to the top 10 soft box lighting of 2019: https://www.topbest10reviews.com/top-10-best-light-softbox-reviews/

Tip 5 — Work the angles

Most online selling platforms allow to upload a number of photos and this is definitely a tool that you should use to your advantage! Take as many photos as you can from as many angles as you can — potential buyers want to see the item in the best possible light and showing any imperfections(if any) so they can ensure they know exactly what they are purchasing.

Tip 6 — Style it out (if you want to!)

Styling a photo with a few choice pieces of dressing out is a great way to show prospective customers what the item would look like in situ. Using simple every day things, such as vases, lamps, laptops etc. can help to make your product stand out and to also help the buyer to imagine how the product could look in their own home. Styling shots are not always necessary and can complicate a shoot whilst also making the process last longer — for some this is worth it, for others not so much. Try it out and see what you think before making the decision either way.