Although at various times in history they have been predicted to disappear, as they have recently with the rise of e-readers and iPads, books have stood the test of time. Many readers have remained loyal to this century-old format.
For them, books are something personal, a collector’s item or even a part of history. It is important to capture the unique qualities of a book in great detail, so that the potential buyer knows what to expect when the package arrives on their doorstep.
- Lots of light
Make sure the book is well lit and visible. It is best to show it against a plain background, without using flash or filters, so that the colors and quality of the cover are clearly visible and true to life.”
Using a tripod and a DSLR camera with the shutter speed set low can allow you to get more light in the image if natural lighting is not sufficient.
Using a softbox can make this task much easier. This way, you won’t have to worry about finding a suitable background and the lighting will be much easier. You can make the investment pay off in no time, as I’m sure that well-presented lots translate into higher revenues.
- Show details
When photographing books, start with general images of the outside of the book: front cover, back cover and spine. If the book has a dust jacket, be sure to photograph the cover on all sides, with and without the dust jacket. Photograph the front cover and also the spine.
You may have a predisposition to avoid photographing damage or creases, these are aspects that need to be captured to build confidence. Photographs of minor damage and marks should be included, as they can affect the value of the books. If you don’t show them, you risk having an unhappy customer.
Some items can also affect the value of the book in a positive way. Books of all ages that have attractive illustrations or engravings are considered very desirable, especially when they are limited edition publications.
It is therefore important to capture these elements as well. This also applies to other important details, such as signatures. It is important that bidders have a clear view of the contents of the book (or books if there are several) in order to bid with confidence.
- Less is more
Showcasing a book on Instagram requires a very different approach than photographing books for the purpose of selling them.
While on social media it can be interesting to style a book with a few props, such as pens or other books, but when selling online, less is more. The most common mistake I see is the presence of other elements in the image. People are looking for a book, so when there are other elements in the image, it can be distracting and confusing.
Other common mistakes to avoid: make sure your images are sharp! This sounds easy enough, but you wouldn’t believe how often sellers upload blurry images.
