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By Susannah Davda | The Shoe Consultant

How to photograph shoes for Ebay

How to photograph shoes for Ebay

** NEW: I’m creating a course all about How to photograph shoes and I need your help. Please email me your questions about shoe photography **

Do you have pairs of shoes you no longer wear? It’s sad to see them accumulating dust, so I strongly recommend a good clear out. It’s cathartic, and also means you’ll find the styles you do wear more easily. If you’re planning to sell your footwear on Ebay or another website, this guide is for you. I let you in on the secrets of how to photograph shoes properly.

Ebay search higher res border

I like to think of selling footwear as turning your unwanted shoes into something else. For me, that’s normally more shoes!

I’ve been selling my own shoes online since 2004. I’ve also assisted on various photo shoots for shoe brands’ ecommerce sites. With the time I spend looking at shoes online, I know how to photograph shoes in the most flattering and lifelike ways.

How to photograph shoes

If you follow these simple steps, you’re more likely to attract buyers and bids to your listing.

1. No clutter

Pink heels

  • Photograph your shoes indoors on a wooden floor or plain carpet (no patterns).
  • Use a white or pale coloured wall as the background.

2. Lots of light

Copper lamp

  • You need as much light as possible to capture a strong image of your shoes.
  • Use natural light from windows and add more light!
  • If you have a standard lamp or desk lamp, use it.
  • No shadows: position your shoes and lamp so there aren’t any shadows of the lamp, you or the camera visible in the shot.
  • Experiment with and without your flash. If there’s enough ambient light, the colour of your shoes might be more accurately represented without flash.

3. Best camera

Panasonic DMC-TZ100 camera

  • Photograph your shoes with a proper camera if you have one, rather than your phone.
  • Cameras usually take better quality images than even the best phone camera. They also have additional settings, so you’ll have more control over the images you create.

4. If in doubt, crop

Cropping

  • The best way to focus your potential buyers’ attention on the shoes you’re selling, is by honing in on them and removing excess borders.
  • Do leave a small gap around the shoes though. It’s more pleasing to the eye than the shoes running off the edge of the page. It also shows you’re not hiding anything.
  • Ebay’s photo upload tool is user-friendly, and lets you rotate and crop your photos then and there.

5. Stuff it

Boot stuffing

  • To make your shoes and boots stand up well and look their best, you should stuff them.
  • The tissue paper which comes in shoes when you buy them works well. You can borrow from other pairs, or keep a stash for Ebaying.
  • The knee-high boot in the photo above is stuffed with an empty 1.5l drinks bottle. When photographed from the side it looks plump and lovely like the images below.

6. The right shots

Ebay photo upload

  • Ebay lets you include 12 photos for shoe listings. Try to use them all as buyers love photos. Below are the angles you should include.

Shot 1 – 3/4 view – Main photo

three quarter

  • This angle is more flattering than a straight 90 degree side view.
  • When the toes are angled a little towards the camera, the shoes or boots look shorter.
  • You can also see more of the toe shape than you would side on.

Shot 2– Front view

Front

  • It’s a good idea to shoot the front view slightly from above. This shows the toe shape better, and is more flattering than the squashed look you get straight on.

Shot 3– Close up of toe shape

Toes

  • This is one of the most important angles. Potential buyers want to know if the toes of their new shoes are pointed, almond or round.

Shot 4– Back view

Back

  • For high heeled shoes, this angle will show the back view of the heel. This is a lovely view.
  • With boots it’s important to get the full length in this shot. Not the most flattering angle, but useful to the buyer, particularly if there are nice details on the back (you’ll also photograph these in close-up later).

Shot 5– Close up of heels

Boot heels

  • This is only necessary for boots. With shoes, just use the back view from Shot 4.
  • If you’re photographing shoes, perhaps add in another detail photo.

Shot 6– Attractive detail

Bows

  • Close-ups of nice details and branding are useful to the buyer. They will use these images to judge the quality of the product, and whether it’s genuine.
  • Any attractive detail is worth photographing in close-up, whether it’s brogue punching, a closer view of a print, or the leather finish.

Shot 7– Useful detail

Arch support

  • Buyers will use these detailed shots to see whether your description and categorisation matches the actual product.
  • Photograph labels like the one above depicting size, brand and country of origin. If you haven’t removed it, shoot the composition label which says whether the product is leather or not.
  • Zips, Velcro, and other functional details are also useful for buyers to see.

Shots 8, 9, 10– Close-ups of defects

Scrape

  • This could be anything from nicks in the leather, to scuffing or creasing. You’ll describe the defects in words, but nothing beats a picture.
  • Some sellers shy away from negative images like these, but in my experience, honesty is always the best policy. Don’t set your buyers up for disappointment.

Shot 11– Soles

Soles

  • The best way to get shoes or boots in position for this shot is to rest them on their backs/heels, and lean them towards each other. The sides of the soles will touch and (with a little patience) you can get them to balance long enough to take the photo.
  • The potential buyer will see how much grip is on the soles, and if there is any dirt.

Shot 12 – Close-up of wear on heels

Heel wear

  • Your buyer will want to know when the heels or soles might need to be replaced, so shoot worn areas as well as you can.

 

Still have questions about shoe photography? I’m creating a course all about How to photograph shoes. Please email me your shoe photography questions and I’ll ensure the course answers your questions.

Back to Shoe News | The Shoe Consultant

About Susannah Davda

I am a professional shoe consultant providing shoe consultancy to startups and established businesses. I enjoy nothing more than working with businesses on a one to one basis and helping them achieve the success they crave. Learn more about how I can help your shoe business.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. John Perez says

    March 23, 2019 at 5:53 pm

    I want to sell women’s shoes. Women love shoes. I know how important pics are to selling and I’m a pretty good photographer but I found your pages to be invaluable. Pls put me on ur list if u like. Thx for sharing ur tips!

    Reply
    • Susannah Davda says

      March 25, 2019 at 8:06 am

      Thank you for your comment John. I’m glad you found this post useful.

      Reply
  2. Esmé says

    November 27, 2019 at 2:38 am

    Thank you Susannah! You have the best info I found for photographing shoes for sale. I’m selling a client’s never worn designer shoes to the NextDoor neighborhood and I’m working to make the presentation as professional and appealing as possible!
    I’ll check out your website (I found you through a search) and keep you in mind for future things.

    Best wishes, Esmé

    Reply
    • Susannah Davda says

      November 27, 2019 at 10:57 am

      Hi Esmé,
      Thank you very much for your kind comments. I’m glad you find the article useful. I’ll send you an email as I’m intrigued as to what you do for a living.
      Best wishes,
      Susannah

      Reply
      • Crystal says

        December 31, 2020 at 7:09 pm

        I too am selling NEVER WORN Designer shoes for a client and it is blowing my mind on how many amazing shoes she bought and never wore! Thank goodness we aren’t the same size or I’d be broke! Lol
        Very helpful tips here! I am having trouble finding the right light so
        I will heed your advise and open my curtains and get my lamps out!

        Reply
        • Crystal says

          December 31, 2020 at 7:10 pm

          *advice* i forgot to proof! Yikes!

          Reply
        • Susannah Davda says

          January 4, 2021 at 9:25 am

          Thank you! I’m so glad you have found this article helpful.
          It really is shocking how many unworn pairs there are in the wardrobes and closets of the world. I hope you manage to shift them all.
          I have found this ring light useful recently.
          Good luck!
          Susannah

          Reply
  3. Essie says

    April 30, 2020 at 12:22 pm

    Brilliant advise, best I have come across

    Reply
  4. Ramona says

    November 5, 2020 at 6:00 pm

    Thank you for the wonderful tips for staging shoes. I am just starting out and had some ideas so it appears I’m on the right track. Awesome 😊

    Reply
    • Susannah Davda says

      November 9, 2020 at 11:44 am

      Thanks Ramona! I’m so glad you found this article helpful. If I were to add anything, it would be to purchase a ring light. I love this one I ordered recently.
      Happy shoe selling!

      Reply
  5. Linnie Heller says

    December 7, 2020 at 12:10 pm

    I am going to be selling on eBay. Thank you for the tips!

    Reply
    • Susannah Davda says

      December 7, 2020 at 3:59 pm

      Thanks Linnie! I’m glad you found this article helpful. Good luck!

      Reply
  6. BootSelect says

    April 28, 2021 at 11:04 am

    Glad to read this useful information.

    Reply
    • Susannah Davda says

      April 28, 2021 at 11:06 am

      Thanks Kristen!

      Reply
  7. Belief says

    August 15, 2021 at 5:21 am

    I’m glad to come across this useful information, l also sell shoes the ones which were not worn before l will photograph the way u said so l can attract many clients, thank you so much

    Reply
    • Susannah Davda says

      August 16, 2021 at 12:45 pm

      Thank you! I’m glad you found it helpful.
      Best wishes,
      Susannah

      Reply
  8. Julie says

    March 20, 2022 at 5:43 pm

    Do find it helpful to include a picture of the box?

    Reply
    • Susannah Davda says

      March 21, 2022 at 11:19 am

      Hi Julie,
      For designer shoes, or if the box is beautiful, I would include an image of it.
      Including the box is an additional way to show that the shoes are genuine.
      Best wishes,
      Susannah

      Reply
  9. DC says

    July 11, 2022 at 7:19 am

    Useful information……….but you should also state that the women’s shoe market on Ebay is FLOODED. Make sure your shoes are interesting or have some type of worth or they will just sit. You also will have to use other social media platforms to drive customers to your listings. There’s just too many shoes and too many people trying to sell them.

    Reply
  10. DC says

    July 11, 2022 at 7:20 am

    Useful information but you should also state that the women’s shoe market on Ebay is FLOODED. Make sure your shoes are interesting or have some type of worth or they will just sit. You also will have to use other social media platforms to drive customers to your listings. There’s just too many shoes and too many people trying to sell them.

    Reply
    • Susannah Davda says

      July 11, 2022 at 11:12 am

      That’s a really good point. Recognised brands and models that people are actively searching for sell much better than generic/unnamed brands and styles.

      Reply

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Susannah Davda
The Shoe Consultant Ltd
Greater London
UK

Email: susannah@shoeconsultant.com

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