photography

Posh Tip: Take Your Covershots To The Next Level

June 10, 2015Community, Posh Tips2 Comments

Making a good first impression is vital, especially when it comes to listings in your Poshmark closet. The covershot is the first image that users see and can often determine whether they like or buy the item or follow you. And like your first impression, you want to show potential buyers just how awesome you and your listings are.

So how do you capture this in a covershot? How do you entice users to click on a listing and look at the rest of your closet? Lucky you, we have some tips for you to take amazing and authentic covershots.

Clean and Clear

No, we’re not talking about the facewash. A clean and clear covershot is one where the eye naturally falls on the item you are selling. You can assist potential buyer eyes by making sure that there are no competing objects in your covershots. See the difference?

Accentuate and Highlight

Taking a clean and clear covershot doesn’t mean the exclusion of accessories. Instead, other items can help highlight its features, such as color or texture. Just remember, there is a difference between a well styled layout and one that is haphazard. You won’t want to cover up important details that make it hard to figure out the essence of the item.

Background

Choosing the right background is vital to taking a great covershot. You can even use the background to help highlight the item. By choosing a complementary color, you can help an item’s color pop and help capture the item’s true color. Whereas a white background is great to highlight texture or the details of an item, as you’ve seen in the other above examples.

With these tips, you’re sure to get your item sold in no time. Have tips of your own? Share them in the comments!

5 Photo Tips for Capturing Tricky Materials

November 20, 2014November 19, 2014Community, Posh Tips1 Comment

Trying to list an awesome item, but having a tough time photographing it perfectly? Some of the best clothing and accessories are sometimes the most difficult to capture. Don’t fret! We have you covered with snapshot solutions for your covershot troubles. Below are some common items that can be tricky to photograph and a few skillful ways to get the perfect shot.

1. Patent Leather and Reflective Materials

You know it’s all about good lighting to get the perfect shot, but what happens when the item is shiny? Metals and patent leather can often times pose a problem for photographing. The key to these shots is to avoid using flash. We definitely recommend taking photos during the daytime in natural light to avoid any glare.

2. Sequins and Glitter

Capturing true iridescence is important with sequins and glitter. Be sure to take photos closer up to show craftsmanship details and use natural lighting. Taking photos outside in partial shade or near a window can also be helpful in diffusing harsh, direct sunlight. We again recommend avoiding flash as sparkly items are also reflective!

3. The Color Black

Capturing the true color of a black item can be tricky. More contrast can lose the details of your item, while too much brightness can fade out the color. The best way to capture true black is to take the photos outdoors in even light against a lighter backdrop. Even natural light will help highlight all the details and represent true color. A well-lit room with a swivel neck lamp to maneuver light may also help with indoor photos.

4. Pants

Photographing pants in their entirety can be tough in square photo formats. Aerial views can be used by taking photos standing on a chair or higher level surface, and pointing the camera downward at the item. Hanging items on a wall and taking a more distant shot is also effective. There are also great photo editing apps such as InstaSize which will convert any regular size photos to fit into square photo format.

5. Texture

Items with great texture and detail can get lost. We recommend laying the item on a flat plain surface in a basic contrasting color. Close-up photos from different angles can help show the details and material, along with photos of the item in its entirety.

Covershots That Shine

July 22, 2014August 13, 2014Community, Posh TipsLeave a Comment

@riavianna / @elissaemoto

By now, we all know the importance of an A+ covershot. It’s your first, and sometimes only, chance to get someone to notice the item you’re selling–so you’d better make it count! A well-styled snapshot just may be your ticket to your next Poshmark sale. Looking for a bit of inspiration? Peep these pretty photos that caught our eye lately and be sure to follow our Covershot inspiration board on Pinterest!

@jules2209 / @methodclothe

@susanrfisher / @yuanwang1

@hurrlynnn / @cherie_candice

Best Practices for Using Images from the Web

January 16, 2014July 30, 2014Poshmark9 Comments

We know at times it can seem intimidating to try to take the perfect Covershot, and you may think it’ll just be easier to use a beautiful photo that someone else took. That’s when the thought crosses your mind: Is that okay to do?

Read on to get some best practices for using photos you didn’t take:

Even though we’re big fans of their great photography and beautiful pictures (hello, Instagram), whoever took the photo is the copyright holder of that image. They can sell or give permission to use it if they wish. They might even be open to their images being used if you reach out and ask. Others may not mind someone else using their photos at all! However, unless you took the photo, it’s best to assume you don’t have the right to use it.

What if you still want to use photography that isn’t yours? We strongly recommend to:

1. Get permission from the image owner – whether it’s an individual or a company. Don’t be shy! Reach out to the owner of the image for their go-ahead. Most image owners don’t mind as long as you’ve cleared it with them first.
2. When posting the picture, make sure you mention the original owner, link or tag them and other necessary ways to show the image’s source.
3. If you don’t receive permission, use a different image altogether to avoid any sticky situations! Let your personality and creativity shine and take your own photos for listings – it’s the best way for your potential buyer to know exactly what they’ll get when they buy the item!

For more tips on taking Covershots and other product photos, see the links below:

Make Your Covershots App-solutely Stunning!

Photo Tips From Power Poshmarker, Simonett

Take Better Product Shots

Posh Tip: Take Better Product Shots

December 19, 2013August 21, 2014Community, Posh Tips, PoshmarkLeave a Comment

We’ve shared a lot of advice on how to take Covershots in the past, but what about the other three photo shots? Once your Covershot has caught a potential buyer’s eye, you can seal the deal with other amazing shots. Read on for our tips on taking a great product shot:

Get Steady

Your photos will come out clearer if you brace your arm or camera on something stationary. This is especially important in low light situations.

Be Mindful of Your Surroundings

Make sure your foreground and background are clear of anything that may take away from your product shot.

Take Multiple Shots

Multiple shots means more chances at a perfect product shot. Use your device’s camera app to click away as many times as you need to get the shot.

Use Flash Sparingly

Your photos will turn out much better and look more like they do in real life if you keep the flash off and use natural light. If natural light isn’t available, try a brightly lit room rather than overexposing one area of the item you are photographing.

Tap the Screen to Focus

Avoid blurry images by tapping on the item you’re photographing to make the focus crystal clear. This tip is especially important when taking close up shots of your image.

Don’t Over Edit

Sometimes less is more when it comes to after effects. Make sure your additions and changes don’t take away from your amazing photography skills!

Try Something New

Experiment with the types of product shots you take. Get inspiration from fellow Poshers, try arranging items differently and give new angles a try.