To show an item's condition in photos, take a series of shots following a single plan: overall view, scuffs and defects, details that identify the model without revealing your data, and everything included in the kit. Shoot in diffused light, add a scale reference, and remember: some things a photo simply cannot confirm.
A photo doesn't replace an inspection, but it sets the boundaries of the conversation. The buyer sees exactly what you're selling, the seller doesn't waste time explaining the obvious, and any disputed points stay in the chat rather than in memory. For phones and accessories this matters especially: a scratch on the screen, a worn button, a scuffed case edge, or a missing cable shift expectations more than any written description.
Below we'll cover which shots to take, how to set up lighting with ordinary household items, how to show scale, and what you won't be able to capture no matter how hard you try. Below are a shot checklist and a separate privacy checklist you can keep open while shooting.
Which shots are essential for a phone and accessories
Below are six shot groups, not six individual photographs. Each group may need several frames. They cover external condition, what's included, and the model, and they reduce the number of follow-up questions in chat.
- Overall view front and back: the device lies on a flat, plain surface, fully in frame, with no cropped corners.
- Four side edges separately: frame, buttons, card tray, charging port.
- Screen off at an angle so scratches that aren't visible straight-on become apparent.
- Screen on against a plain light background: this reveals dead pixels, spots, and uneven backlighting.
- Defects in close-up: each crack, dent, or scuff in its own frame, not "somewhere in the wide shot."
- The full kit: box, cable, power adapter, case, and instruction manual if included. Only show pages without personal data, and cover identifiers on the packaging.
For accessories the logic is different. A case is photographed from the outside, from the inside, and on the device if it fits. A cable is shown from both connectors, since that's where wear happens. Headphones are shot separately for each earbud and ear tip.
How to convey scuffs and defects without exaggerating them
A defect should be visible but not scarier than it really is. Side lighting works best: it emphasizes the texture of a scratch without making it look deeper than it is. Direct flash, on the other hand, creates glare and hides small marks.
Shoot the defect twice. First frame with overall context so it's clear where on the body this area is. Second in close-up showing the edges of the damage. That way the buyer won't think the scratch covers half the screen or that you hid it.
Don't retouch photos or digitally remove dust. If the photo shows more than the description, it builds trust. If it's the other way around, any discrepancy on delivery becomes grounds for a dispute.
Small scratches on the camera glass, a worn logo, yellowed plastic at the body seam-show them as they are. For a used device this is normal wear, and the buyer has the right to see it before agreeing.
How to get lighting and scale right with ordinary household items
You don't need a studio. A window, a sheet of paper, and a ruler are enough. Here's a sequence that's easy to repeat at home.
- Place the item near a window on an overcast day or an hour before sunset: the light is soft, with no harsh shadows.
- Replace flash with a sheet of white paper beside the item: it will fill the shadow side.
- Put a plain cloth or paper underneath the device, with no pattern to distract from defects.
- Place a ruler or an A4 sheet of paper next to it: their dimensions give a sense of the real size.
- Hold the camera parallel to the surface for the overall shot. For details, choose a distance where the camera focuses sharply; check the sharpness of the shot before uploading.
- Wipe the lens of the phone you're shooting with: a greasy film creates softness that later gets mistaken for a defect in the item itself.
Scale matters for accessories that come in different sizes: cases, adapters, cables, mounts. A ruler helps estimate size, but compatibility needs to be checked against the model and exact measurements.
Which details to show and what stays out of frame
Identifying the model is useful, but personal data in frame is not needed. Show the model name, general markings, and what's included. IMEI, serial numbers, and personal data on the device and box should be covered before shooting. A photo of these details alone doesn't prove the device is genuine. Remove anything that relates to you rather than to the item.
Before publishing, check the frame against this list.
- Turn off the screen or dismiss notifications: names, numbers, and messages must not appear in frame.
- Cover the IMEI and serial number with an opaque strip of paper before shooting; also check the labels on the box.
- Remove personal documents, receipts containing personal data, bank cards, and keys from the frame. An instruction manual can be shown if it contains no personal data.
- Check reflections in mirror surfaces: laptop screen, glass table, window.
- Shoot on a plain background without location landmarks if you don't want to show your area.
- Don't publish photos of packaging with the sender's address if it's printed there.
It's worth mentioning separately what a photo cannot confirm at all: battery performance under load, whether speakers and microphones work, the absence of moisture inside the body, repair history, and the device's origin. This isn't a reason to skip photos-it's a reason to arrange an inspection at a meetup or a video call with a demonstration.
Example description: before and after
Compare two descriptions of the same hypothetical device. This is an illustration of the approach, not a real transaction.
Before: "Phone in good condition, everything works, has minor signs of use." This text says nothing. The buyer doesn't know what counts as "minor signs" and asks the same questions in chat.
After: "Body has scratches on the bottom edge near the charging port, visible in the third and fourth photos. Screen has two scratches in the top right corner, noticeable at an angle. Buttons and tray work, charging tested. Includes box, cable, and case; no adapter. Battery not tested under load, so I suggest a meetup with inspection." The second version doesn't idealize the item, but it removes misunderstandings.
If you're posting a listing on a platform where seller history is visible, it's worth reading the listing rules first, and only then preparing photos and text. Browse the phones and accessories category on EX & GO to compare condition descriptions and photo angles in other listings.
Before publishing, it's also worth checking your wording against the terms of use so the description doesn't promise more than you're prepared to confirm.
Frequently asked questions
How many photos do you need for a phone?
The number depends on condition and what's included. The checklist has six shot groups, not six photographs: front and back, side edges, screen off at an angle, screen on, defects, and the full kit. Take as many separate frames per group as needed to keep details sharp. Show each defect in context and in close-up.
Can you photograph with flash?
Better not. Flash creates glare on glass and the body, making small scratches either disappear or look deeper than they are. Replace it with daylight from a window and a sheet of white paper on the side to fill shadows. If it's too dark without flash, shoot on a plain background a few steps from a lamp rather than right next to it.
How do you show an accessory's size in a photo?
Place an object with known dimensions next to it: a ruler, an A4 sheet of paper, or a coin. A ruler gives the most accurate sense of scale, A4 works well for larger items, and a coin suits small ones. The key is to keep the reference object in the same plane as the accessory, otherwise perspective will distort the size relationship.
What can a photo not confirm?
Battery performance under load, whether speakers and microphones work, moisture or repair traces inside, service history, and the device's origin. A photo only shows external appearance and what's included. So arrange an in-person inspection or a video call where the device can be turned on and sound, charging, and core functions can be checked.
Your next step
Pick up your phone, place it near a window, prepare a sheet of paper for scale, and go through the checklist of six shot groups. Once the series is ready, review each photo for personal data in frame, then write a description where every defect is named separately. That pair-photos and honest text-is what reduces unnecessary questions and disputes.