Picking Photo Counts by Category
Jun 5, 2025
Consistency in imagery is often what separates professional resellers, auctioneers, and online shops from those who appear disorganized or rushed. A shared photo guideline ensures that your team knows exactly how many photos to take for each type of item. This reduces confusion, speeds up cataloging, and increases buyer confidence when browsing your listings.
Why Photo Counts Matter
Images sell products. In resale and auction environments, buyers do not have the luxury of physical inspection. The number of photos provided directly impacts trust, click-through rates, and final sale prices. Too few photos and buyers assume you're hiding flaws. Too many, and you waste shooting, editing, and uploading time—bogging down your workflow.
Principle: Match Photo Count to Item Complexity
The rule of thumb is simple: the more complex or detail-dependent the item, the more photos you should provide. Conversely, with simple items where condition and scale are clear in fewer angles, a smaller set of photos is both sufficient and efficient.
Suggested Photo Counts by Category
Jewelry and Watches (8–12 photos): These require detailed shots from multiple angles, close-ups of markings, clasps, gemstones, and any certificates or packaging. Buyers need assurance of authenticity and condition.
Antique Furniture (10–20 photos): Capture each side, joints, close-ups of wood grain, and potential flaws like chips, scratches, or repairs. Scale matters—so include at least one photo with context (such as next to a chair or measuring tape).
Small Electronics (6–10 photos): Include every side, connection ports, power cords, accessories, plus screen-on photos if possible. More photos help distinguish working from questionable units.
Fashion Apparel (5–8 photos): Front, back, labels, and detail of fabric textures are key. High-value items benefit from adding closer shots of zippers, buttons, or wear areas.
Books & Media (3–5 photos): Cover (front and back), spine, copyright page, condition of edges. Higher-value editions warrant additional photos of unique features or provenance.
Home Goods (3–6 photos): Dinnerware, décor, and tools are typically straightforward—clear shots from two or three angles, plus any markings or flaws.
Vehicles & Heavy Machinery (20–40 photos): Every angle, interior shots, dashboard, undercarriage, odometer, VIN, engine bay, and any identifying plates or certificates. Transparency here is non-negotiable for buyer trust.
Building a Team-Wide Photo Guide
Without a written, shared standard, different team members will approach photo documentation in different ways. Some may over-shoot, others may undershoot. That inconsistency can frustrate buyers and create a backlog in your workflow. Having a single source of truth prevents this.
Create a living document (such as a shared Google Doc or Notion page) with your category-by-category photo counts spelled out. Include example sets per category. Encourage your team to reference it regularly and update guidelines as new item types are cataloged.
Practical Workflow Tips
Pre-set Angles: Use a checklist per category (e.g., Front, Back, Left, Right, Detail of Marking).
Batch Shooting: Photograph similar items in groups using the same lighting and setup for efficiency.
Quality Control: Assign a final reviewer to ensure correct counts and clarity before upload.
Template Labels: Keep file naming conventions organized to prevent errors when uploading images into your catalog.
Tools That Can Help
Resale-specific software can streamline image management. For example, Gavelbase allows teams to enforce consistency in cataloging, including attaching multiple photo sets per lot. General photo organization tools such as Google Photos or Lightroom are also useful but lack the integrated cataloging workflows professional resale platforms provide.
Consistency Builds Buyer Confidence
A clear and consistently applied photo count strategy is as important as quality photography itself. Categories with high variation in condition or authenticity risk (jewelry, antiques, machinery) demand more photos to build trust. More straightforward products can and should be photographed quickly with fewer images. Over time, buyers recognize which sellers consistently showcase inventory well, and they return to those catalogs with confidence.
Final Takeaway
Don't leave photo counts to guesswork. Build a written, shared guide that breaks down expectations by category. Train your staff to follow it. Review and update it regularly to reflect actual buyer needs. This not only makes life easier for your team but also improves your bottom line by increasing buyer trust and reducing disputes.