Good photos give buyers a clear sense of what you're selling before they reach out. This guide will walk you through how to take great photos and videos for your listings.
Equipment
The right setup matters. Here are a few inexpensive additions that can make a real difference:
- Camera: You don't need a fancy camera; a smartphone is more than capable of producing great listing photos.
- White foam board or poster paper: Creates a clean, distraction-free background. Two boards — one as a backdrop and one as a reflector — can help fill in shadows.
- Mini tripod: Eliminates camera shake, keeps your angles consistent across multiple listings, and makes it easier to shoot video.
- Ring light or desk lamp: Useful if you're shooting in a room with limited natural light. Look for a daylight-balanced bulb (5000–6500K) to avoid the warm yellow cast from standard bulbs.
Tip
After shooting, use your phone's built-in editor to adjust brightness and crop before uploading. Avoid over-editing — an overexposed or heavily filtered photo can misrepresent your item's true color and condition.
Get the lighting right
Good lighting shows accurate colors, reveals textures, and helps your item look its best. The simplest and most effective source is natural light from a window.
Set up near a window and position your item so the light falls on the front of it, not behind it. Overcast days work especially well! Clouds spread light evenly and eliminate harsh shadows.
If natural light isn't available, standard household bulbs can cast a warm yellow tint that may make colors look off. A ring light or two lamps on either side of the item can help provide more consistent, neutral lighting.
Tip
Take your photos close to a window but not in direct sunlight. If shadows fall on one side of your item, try placing a white piece of foam board or cardboard on the opposite side to bounce light back and fill them in.
Use a clean background
Your item should be the main focus of every photo. A cluttered or busy background can take the focus away from your item.
A plain white or neutral background works best. A white foam board, blank wall, clean tabletop, or sheet on the floor all work well.
Tip
For a more polished look, a roll of white poster paper swept from a wall down onto a table creates a seamless background.
What photos to include
You can add up to 12 photos. Before you start shooting, give the item a quick wipe down — dust and fingerprints are surprisingly visible in photos. Here's what to include:
- Full item: Show the entire item from a straight-on angle. This is usually your cover photo.
- All angles: Photograph the front, back, and sides to give buyers a complete view of the item.
- Close-ups: Zoom in on textures, hardware, stitching, screens, or any detail that helps buyers understand the quality and condition.
- Item in action: Open drawers, lift lids, power on devices, show zippers zipping. Demonstrate how the item works.
- Brand and labels: Capture tags, model numbers, serial plates, and care labels. These help buyers verify exactly what they're getting.
- Flaws and wear: Any scratches, stains, chips, or signs of wear should be photographed clearly.
- Size reference: Place the item next to a common object like a hand, a coin, or a standard item so buyers can judge scale.
- What's included: If accessories, cables, a remote, or original packaging are included, lay them out together in one shot.
- Styled shot (optional): Show the item in its environment to help buyers picture what it might look like in their own spaces. For example, if you’re selling a side table, consider including a shot of it styled with a lamp, book, and positioned next to a chair.
Photo rules
Our Posting Rules include specific requirements for listing photos. Here's what you need to know:
- Every listing must include at least one photo. Listings with no photos, or photos that contain text only, are not allowed.
- Photos must show the actual item you're selling. Don’t use a catalog image, stock photo, or a similar model.
- Use your own photos. Don't copy images from other listings, manufacturer websites, or anywhere online.
- No text overlays. Don't add phone numbers, email addresses, prices, or promotional text on top of your photos. Exceptions apply for verified businesses.
- No stickers or filters that obscure the item. Decorative overlays can hide condition issues and aren't allowed.
- No personal information. Make sure your photos don't accidentally show your home address, license plates, or other personal details.
- Edited or misleading photos. Photos that hide defects may result in listing removal.
- Keep photos clear and well-lit. Blurry, extremely dark, or very low-resolution photos are not allowed.
Choose a strong cover photo
The first photo in your listing is the cover photo. It's the first thing buyers see when browsing and when they open your listing.
A strong cover photo:
- Shows the whole item.
- Uses a plain or contrasting background so the item stands out.
- Is taken in good light with no blur.
- Shows the item on its own, not inside bags, boxes, or mixed with other objects.
Close-up shots are great for detail photos, but save those for later in your listing. The cover photo should give buyers the full picture first.
Note
To change your cover photo, edit your listing and reorder your photos so your preferred image appears first. See Update an item listing.
Be honest and show flaws
Showing defects isn't bad for sales — hiding them is. Buyers who receive an item that looks worse in person than in the photos may be disappointed and less likely to leave a positive rating. Being upfront about flaws helps set the right expectations for buyers.
Take a close-up photo of any scratch, crack, stain, worn edge, or missing part. A good flaw photo is taken in good light, shows the defect clearly, and gives context for where it is on the item.
Add a video to your listing
Videos give buyers additional context about your item's size, condition, and features. You can add one video per listing in the OfferUp mobile app.
Use the same lighting and background you used for your photos. Move slowly around the item, open any compartments or doors, power it on if applicable, and end with a close-up of any wear or damage. Slow, steady movement is much easier to watch than fast panning.
Video rules
Listing videos must follow our Video Community Guidelines. Here are some things to avoid:
- Stock footage or videos taken by someone else. Your video must show your actual item.
- Edited footage that hides defects or misrepresents the item's condition.
- Sending buyers to other websites, apps, or social media accounts.
- Promoting MLMs, investment opportunities, or get rich quick schemes.
- Weapons, drugs, adult content, or any prohibited item on OfferUp.
- Personal information. Check that phone numbers, home addresses, and license plates aren't visible in frame.
- Violence, harassment, hate speech, or content targeting other users.