01 — light setup

→Use a lightbox or DIY diffusion tent — eliminates harsh reflections on metal
→Two light sources at 45° either side, never direct overhead flash
→Daylight-balanced bulbs (5000–5500K) keep gold gold, silver silver
→Overcast window light is free and works — just use a reflector on the shadow side
→Never mix colour temperatures — one warm + one cool = colour casts no edit can fully fix

02 — camera & stability

→Tripod is non-negotiable for macro and close-up work — handholding loses detail
→Use self-timer (2s) or remote shutter to eliminate camera shake
→Macro mode or a dedicated macro lens for stones, hallmarks, and engraving
→Set ISO as low as possible (100–200) — noise destroys gemstone detail
→f/8–f/11 aperture for rings and bracelets — enough depth of field to keep the full piece sharp

03 — working surface

→White or off-white matte card — neutral, non-reflective, eBay compliant
→Black velvet for diamonds and transparent gems — maximises sparkle contrast
→Ring holder or folded card keeps rings upright for the hero shot
→Lint roller before every session — fibres read sharp under macro
→Clean jewellery with polishing cloth first — fingerprints and tarnish are permanent in photos

04 — required shot list

Hero

Full piece, front-facing, clean white bg

0°

Side profile

Shows depth, setting height, band width

90°

Back & clasp

Hallmark, maker's mark, closure type

reverse

Stone close-up

Clarity, inclusions, colour accuracy

macro

Hallmark

925, 750, 585 — readable text wins trust

macro

Scale shot

Ruler or hand — buyers misjudge size constantly

context

05 — what to photograph honestly

always show

+All chips, scratches, and wear

+Missing stones or prongs

+Repairs, solder lines, resizing marks

+Tarnish or patina on vintage pieces

+Loose stones visible under movement

never do

–Retouch out damage in post

–Over-sharpen to fake sparkle

–Use stock photos for your listing

–Shoot in incandescent light and call it "warm gold"

–Omit the scale — buyers will return

06 — image quality targets

1600px

minimum long edge

sRGB

colour space for web

72–150

PPI for upload

eBay zoom tool activates above 1600px — buyers can inspect stone detail, hallmarks, and surface condition. Below that threshold, zoom is disabled and buyers cannot verify what they're buying. Shoot at the highest resolution your camera allows, then export to meet the minimum.

07 — common mistakes ranked by return risk

low risk medium risk high risk return guaranteed

criticalConcealing damage — hidden chip, crack, or missing stone photographed out of frame
criticalNo scale reference — buyer receives a pendant half the imagined size
highWrong colour balance — yellow-gold reads silver, rose gold reads copper under mixed light
highBlurry hallmark — buyer cannot verify metal purity, disputes the listing
mediumReflective surface showing photographer or room in the shot
mediumOnly one photo — clasp condition, back marks, and wear are unknown to the buyer
lowSlightly uneven background — distracting but rarely drives returns

Format · JPEG, sRGB

Minimum shots · 6 per listing

White balance · 5000–5500K custom or Daylight preset

Post-processing rule · correct colour and exposure · never retouch condition