Photography Setup For Resellers

Are you are a beginner or looking to improve the quality of your product photos for resale? As a seasoned expert in the field, let's explore the essential supplies you need to elevate your photography game and attract more buyers. This photo above is my actual setup. This is how you can recreate it. And don't forget that it's all tax deductible!

Camera

I tried using the very expensive Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 Digital Camera (Paid Amazon Affiliate Link) recommended by some YouTubers but found it tedious and didn't take photos any better than my trusty iPhone so I returned it. It was, however, nice to have when your friends are texting you all the time while you are trying to get photos taken.

I have recently started using a camera app on my phone called ProCamera that I am liking very much. The new iPhone iOS update allows you to add shortcuts to the lock screen for some apps including ProCamera. So I now have two camera shortcuts on my lock screen. I use the iPhone's camera shortcut for personal and have it set to 4:3 and the ProCamera shortcut for my resale photos set to 1:1. So many times I took personal photos in 1:1 and wished it was 4:3 and this solves this problem and saves me time switching back and forth.

ProCamera is easy to use for basic use and has tweaking abilities for those who know how to use them which is not me. I also like how it is one tap to 2x zoom. iPhone camera used to have this but no longer does. I also like that you can photograph with your phone vertical and the photos will upload everywhere correctly with no need to rotate. You can also lock the orientation so if you turn your phone slightly it doesn't rotate the photos. You do have to remember to hit that lock button every time you open the app. I also like that it has the ability to set and lock your white balance and also lock exposure and focus and any can be unlocked with the other still locked.

Lighting Equipment

Proper lighting is key to showcasing your items effectively. Use softbox lights or a ring light to eliminate shadows and create a well-lit environment for your photos.

For large items and clothing I have had this RALENO Softbox Lighting Kit (paid Amazon Affiliate link) since 2019. It looks like they have since upgraded them. They provided me with florescent bulbs that are still going strong and now they provide LED lights:

For smaller items I have had the Amazon Basics Portable Foldable Photo Studio Box (paid Amazon Affiliate link) since 2018:

You are supposed to shoot through that slit in the front but I don't bother. I just flip the front up and shoot through the front fully open. It gets scuffed and dirty but it is easy to clean with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (paid Amazon link).

For the occasional item that I am having a hard time getting the color or darkness correct for, I will lock the white balance using Anwenk Grey White Balance Card (paid Amazon Affiliate link). I use the white side.

I also have a simple LED worklight above the photography table but I wish I had this Metalux 4SHP3240BTS 43", LED Shop, Bluetooth Speakers, 3,400 Lumens Cooper Light, White (paid Amazon Affiliate link) so I could play music while I work:

 

Backdrop Materials

Choose a neutral backdrop such as a white seamless paper roll or a fabric backdrop to make your items stand out. Avoid busy patterns that may distract from the product. 

I just painted the wall white but before I painted it white I tried a few different backdrops. The muslin fabric ones say they are wrinkle resistant but are the opposite. I found stapling a roll of Savage Seamless Background Paper (paid Amazon Affiliate link) to the wall worked best.

Some YouTubers recommend a light gray background. I have tried both and found white to be the best. Their thinking is that professional photographers use a "gray card" to set their white balance so it must be good for backgrounds. But if it was better, then light boxes would have gray and not white backdrops. Do some online research yourself if you heard the gray is best from some YouTuber before spending money on it.

My table wasn't white so for my tabletop I bought rolls of White Vinyl Self Adhesive Contact Paper (paid Amazon Affiliate link). Peels off easily and won't ruin the table.

 

Other Items

To display my shirts I have tried everything. Flatlay, a giant hanger, a wall hanging half mannequin, and free standing half mannequins. Flatlay and giant hanger just doesn't look professional and I found myself wasting time trying to get the sleeves just right. I found the wall hanging mannequin was killing my back leaning over the table to hang it (same issue with the large hanger). The free standing half mannequins are by far the easiest and healthiest for mind and body. I still fiddle with the sleeves being just right but I'm not leaning over a table to do it. I have been using these DisplayTown Black Male and Female Mannequin Torso with Metal Stand (paid Amazon Affiliate link) for years:

The problem with them is that the bases come unscrewed when used frequently. I tried adding lock washers and that helped but still needed tightening occasionally so I decided to rig a UBeesize Phone Tripod Stand (paid Amazon Affiliate link) to it and it was perfect. Becoming much lighter was an added bonus. I did have to drill out the bottom hole wider to fit the tip of the tripod through it. I spray painted them white to make them less noticeable.

I use this styrofoam head for my hat photos:

Male Wig Display Mannequin Head Stand Model Styrofoam Foam White (paid Amazon Affiliate link)

I use this watch stand for photos of watches:

RY DISPLAY 10 pack of Watch Display Stand Holder (paid Amazon Affiliate link)

For photographing pants, I use these clip hangers which I hang from a hook on the wall:

GoodtoU Pants Hangers with Clips (paid Amazon Affiliate link)

To remove pilling on clothing, I like this sweater shaver after trying many brands:

Electrolux Rechargeable Fabric Shaver & Lint Remover With LED Display (paid Amazon Affiliate link)

For lint removal, I buy these lint rollers in bulk:

PetLovers Extra Sticky Lint Roller (paid Amazon Affiliate link)

I also use this lint brush:

2-Sided Reusable Lint Brush (paid Amazon Affiliate link)

To remove price tags and other stickers from an item I use either Scotty Peelers Label & Sticker Remover (paid Amazon Affiliate link) or EHDIS Plastic Razor Blades (paid Amazon Affiliate link).

When photographing stains in flat lay photographs when the graphic is showing through from the other side, I place a piece of blank white cardboard inside the shirt so the graphic doesn't show distracting from the stain or looking like more stains to the buyer. 

When it comes to listing my items, my only tools are a MacBook Pro and a mouse so I won't make a blog about listing but I wanted to strongly recommend the Logitech MX Vertical Ergonomic Wireless Mouse (paid Amazon Affiliate link):

It takes some getting used to but my wrist rarely hurts after long day of listing anymore. I also suggest setting up the buttons to do tasks quick for you. I have the two thumb buttons set to immediately go to either the top or bottom of web pages.

Editing Software

After capturing my photos, I use the PhotoRoom app or website to remove the background of my main photo. You can also add different backgrounds. You can even create your own backgrounds with their ai tool. You can do a lot with it and it is by far the best background remover out there. And if it does remove too much or too little of an image, it is easy to fix.

By equipping yourself with these essential supplies, you can elevate the quality of your product photos and attract more potential buyers. Remember, high-quality images are crucial for making a lasting impression and driving sales in the competitive world of online resale. Buying from my links above gets me a commission from Amazon which helps pay for this website so I can continue to provide helpful content. Thank you.