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On OurBazaar, your listing photo is your shopfront window. Buyers scroll through dozens of items in seconds — a crisp, well-lit photo stops the scroll. A dark, blurry one doesn't. The good news: you don't need a professional camera. Your phone is enough. You just need to use it right.
1. Use Natural Light — Always
Place your item near a window during the day. Soft, diffused daylight is far more flattering than harsh indoor bulbs, which cast yellow tints and create unflattering shadows. Overcast days are perfect — no direct sun means no harsh shadows at all.
Tip
Avoid shooting in direct sunlight — it causes blown-out highlights and makes colours look washed out. A north-facing window gives the most consistent light throughout the day.
2. Use a Clean, Neutral Background
A white wall, a plain bedsheet, or a clean wooden floor works perfectly. The background should not compete with the item. Cluttered backgrounds make listings look unprofessional and can hide important details — which erodes buyer trust before they've even read the description.
3. Shoot from Multiple Angles
OurBazaar allows up to 10 photos per listing — use them. Shoot the front, back, sides, label, and any areas of wear or damage. The more a buyer can see, the more confident they feel, and the fewer questions you will receive in chat.
- Front and back of the item
- Close-up of brand labels or tags
- Any visible wear, marks, or imperfections — honesty builds trust
- Size label or measurements next to a ruler
- Flat lay + folded or hanging shot for clothing
4. Fill the Frame
Your item should take up 70–80% of the photo frame. A tiny item floating in the centre of a large background looks amateurish. Move closer, or crop the photo afterwards — most phone cameras let you crop without losing meaningful quality.
5. Keep Your Phone Level and Still
Use both hands or rest your phone on a stable surface. Camera shake makes photos look blurry even in good light. If you're shooting on a phone, tap to focus on the item before pressing the shutter.
6. Turn Off the Flash
Built-in phone flashes create harsh, flat lighting and cause reflective items (jewellery, electronics screens, patent leather) to blow out completely. Turn it off and rely on ambient or window light instead.
Important
Flash photography on electronics often reflects off screens and makes the item look damaged. Always turn flash off and use window light when photographing phones, tablets, or laptops.
7. Show Scale
Include a common reference object in one shot — a ruler, a coin, or your hand — so buyers instantly understand the size. This is especially important for decorative items, collectibles, and homewares where scale is often misjudged.
8. Edit Lightly
A small brightness and contrast boost goes a long way. Use your phone's built-in editor or a free app like Snapseed. But do not over-edit — do not make the item look better than it is. Accurate colour representation prevents disputes.
9. Iron Clothes Before Shooting
A wrinkled shirt looks worn out even if it is brand new. Taking 60 seconds to iron before your photoshoot can add hundreds of rupees of perceived value to your listing. Lay clothing flat on a clean surface or hang it — both styles work.
10. Shoot the Defects Too
Include close-up photos of any scratches, stains, or signs of use. Counter-intuitive? Yes. But listings with honest damage photos receive fewer disputes, better reviews, and — because trust is established upfront — often more bids. Buyers would rather know before they buy.
Applying even five of these tips to your next listing will noticeably improve your click-through rate. Good photos do not just attract buyers — they attract the right buyers, which means fewer time-wasters and faster sales.
Note
Pro tip: Set aside 30 minutes on a bright morning to shoot a batch of listings all at once. Batch photography is far more efficient than shooting one item at a time.