Photography Issues.....Is Using Stock Photos OK?

[i-love-my-sheep]

I'm trying to photograph some things to list this afternoon and I'm having big issues. I'm really having issues with purple things, they keep showing up as royal blue. I only have the camera on my newish Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, which normally is spot on with colours, to the point I rarely need to do any touch ups before listing. Even before I take the photo, they are showing up as blue on the screen. I have tried flash, no flash, artificial lighting (LED torch) with flash and no flash. The light coming in from outside is virtually non existant as it's pouring rain and probably about to snow, so quite dark for 2.20pm.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get my phone to recognise purple as purple? If not, I'm wondering if it's OK to use a stock photo, making sure I mention that the main photo is a stock photo, then add a couple of the carppy photos so people can see the actual item they would be buying, even though the colour is wrong?

Thank you wonderful people!

[*crikey*mate*]

I had that probklem with red stuff the other day...

went away eventually...

I did what you suggested - use a stock photo showing true colour and tyhen photos of the actual item etc

also if something has sparkly bits or gets light reflection - I'll include a stock photo then as well

I THINK I saw somewhere a policy about using stock photos though - will have to have a squizz

[essel_emporium]

I had noticed slightly different colours of an object depending upon different background colours. Thetype of light source will affect the outcome too, but you've experimented. It may be the consequence of having a poor quality camera. I feel convinced that's my probem. It could be awkward if someone is buying something based on the colour.  If that's the case it may be worthwhile putting a standard colour in the photo as well; like a paint colour card.  That way the punter can go to a hardware store and get the same colour card and see the exact colour.  So long as you tell them what the colour card code is.

[*crikey*mate*]

Picture policy

Note it says can't use for used items etc

BUT

as eBay has a stock photo album for things such as books which some sellers do use for second hand books - I think that rule means, with no other pictures or something to say - this isn't the actual item, it just shows you an example.

[aussie-picker]

Why dont you try what we used to do back in the old days . Use a normal digital camera and or scanner for best results. 

Stock Photos Suck if selling Second Hand Items , you need to put each one on individualy to be Honest and Fair to buyers

[i-love-my-sheep]

Thanks guys!!! Now I have to hope I can find a photo!

 

[chezzy]

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@aussie-picker wrote:

Why dont you try what we used to do back in the old days . Use a normal digital camera and or scanner for best results. 

Stock Photos Suck if selling Second Hand Items , you need to put each one on individualy to be Honest and Fair to buyers

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Agree here, you can pick up a decent compact digi pretty cheap these days. It is almost criminal how cheap some good cameras, including dSLRs go for. Take your pics, pop memory card in card reader or straight into computer. You don't have to have Photoshop or Lightroom, there are some good freebie programs around which I am sure will help with colour correction too. Sounds like you need to add more warmth (red) or remove blue. I am pretty use to tweaking colour channels to get something closer to how it is in real life. You can edit til the cows come home but the viewer might see the colours differently anyway especially if their monitor/screen is not calibrated.

Yep, MUCH better to supply your own photos that represent the actual item.

I don't know what the current situation is on ebay but when I quizzed them about stock photos recently I am fairly sure they said they are looking to do away with stock photos.

[i-love-my-sheep]

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@aussie-picker wrote:

Why dont you try what we used to do back in the old days . Use a normal digital camera and or scanner for best results. 

Stock Photos Suck if selling Second Hand Items , you need to put each one on individualy to be Honest and Fair to buyers

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My old 10yo digital camera packed it in and I haven't had a scanner for years. My items are mostly listed as new. They've either been in boxes or drawers since I bought them (I had good intentions, and we know what can happen to good intentions LOL!).

I'm hoping to get a new camera when I get my tax cheque back.

[aussie-picker]

A cheap digital camera in good natural light will beat a Dumb Phone hands down any day , for Great Ebay Pics 

[chezzy]

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@aussie-picker wrote:

A cheap digital camera in good natural light will beat a Dumb Phone hands down any day , for Great Ebay Pics 

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I am not a smart phone user but I know they are getting pretty advanced and people have fun playing with their apps.

I am a keen photographer so I tend to use SLRs for a lot of things. But when it comes to ebay I use my trusty little

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-n1 which is probably about 9-10 years old and with its touch screen is pretty advanced for

its age! It does pretty decent macro too! I always keep it in my pocket and is constantly used for ebay photos,

for photographing parcels I am sending off (record of date and packaging, address etc), even photographing

receipts etc because it is quicker than scanning...

As I have never used a phone for doing ebay stuff I don't how the processes compare (getting photos off the device, editing the photos, drafting/uploading listings etc)