Image types

When shooting photography, we express our brand's stories through three primary types of photos: lifestyle, context, and studio.

A watch seller records a product video at a desk, holding up a luxury wristwatch to the camera with additional watches and presentation boxes displayed beside him.

Types

Our three image types vary in focus, ranging from a primary focus on the subject to incorporating broader contextual elements around them. These levels allow us to maximize storytelling and craft narratives around people, passions, and products.

Lifestyle

Zoom out to show subjects in a wider setting.

Context

Focus on the subject within real-life placement and use.

Studio

Remove context to focus entirely on the subject.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle photos show our customers and products in real environments. This creates full immersion into the world around products—with its people, culture, and spaces.

Narrative-grounded

Products and settings create stories. Convey authentic and intentional storytelling by capturing genuine moments, expressions, and imperfections.

Aspirational and real

Showcase sets within authentic environments that extend the story and reflect real-life scenarios in a relatable yet aspirational way.

Dynamic scenes

Capture dynamic scenes that offers a glimpse into the lives of individuals in their element, using our products, deeply immersed in their passions, being real, not taking oneself too seriously and living and sharing your story.

Context

Context zooms in on a product within its environment to show real-world placement and use.

Staging

Always show details of the product that are unique and desirable. Opt to show products within real environments that resonate and speak to passion of our community.

Product placement

Ensure there is a clear focal point on the product in each frame, and intentionality in the use of negative space. Products should not be overshadowed by other elements, ensuring adequate brand visibility at all times.

Simplified composition

Streamline set styling, elements, and overall composition and simplify to only what is necessary to tell the product story.

Studio

Studio removes all distractions and focuses completely on a product or person. It’s clean and minimal, allowing the subject to shine.

Narrative-driven sets

Narrative brings forth the humanity behind the product, telling stories through creative styling, set design, and art direction that evoke real-life scenarios in an aspirational yet real way.

Color and texture

We naturally incorporate eBay's brand colors into our backgrounds, outfits, and styling. We harmonize the products, outfits, and props with the backgrounds to create contrast or tone-on-tone effects and show our brand presence naturally and organically.

Set props

Styling props humanize products, giving them personality and elegance without overshadowing them. The way products are styled speaks as much as the products themselves. They should be real, relatable items that naturally complement the product's story.

Listing imagery

Apart from photos shot in-house, it's also possible to use photos that sellers upload to their product listings on eBay, known as listing images. These pictures are essential for presenting the product and influencing prospective buyers' decisions to buy. Only use images from a listing on eBay, provided by a partnering brand, from approved stock image sites, or from an eBay photoshoot. Learn how to use these types of assets in Listing imagery.

High-fidelity

Product images should convey the item's quality and details accurately, depicting its true condition and colors.

Product angles

Opt for orthographic product angles for their adaptability and scalability across various designs. Use dynamic angles when showcasing the product as the focal point.

Continuous lighting

Choose well-illuminated listing images captured with soft, diffused lighting, ensuring that all product features are clearly depicted in true-to-life colors.