UK · Updated 2026 · How-to
Photos That Sell Surplus Materials: A Seller's Checklist
Bad photos kill listings. Good photos sell in under 48 hours. This is the 12-point checklist our top-performing UK sellers use — no studio kit required, just a phone camera and good daylight.
The 12 rules
- Shoot outdoors, cloudy day
- Never use flash
- Include a scale reference (tape, brick, ruler)
- Photograph any damage honestly
- Show the pallet label / batch code
- Wide shot + close shot of every listing
- Clean the stock before shooting
- Neutral background — plain wall, not a messy yard
- Landscape orientation for the hero image
- 5–8 photos minimum
- Show quantity clearly (rows counted)
- Add a video for high-value lots
Frequently asked questions
+How many photos is too many?
Diminishing returns after 10. Buyers scroll fast — prioritise the first three.
+Should I edit photos?
Straighten and crop only. Never brighten or filter — buyers spot fake photos in seconds.
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