Photo Shot Guide
Exactly which photos to take for each type of appliance.
Before you start
You need at least 6 photos of a used, open-box or refurbished unit (4 for new in box), plus a photo of the rating plate. Up to 20 are allowed.
- Wipe the unit down. Fingerprints and dust read as neglect.
- Plain wall or backdrop; clear the clutter, people, pets and house numbers out of the frame.
- Daylight or even overhead light. Turn the flash off — it makes stainless steel look scratched.
- Phone held level, landscape for most shots, about two metres back for the whole unit.
- Tap the screen to focus before every shot. Blurry photos are refused.
Use the largest size your phone offers. Photos under 1000 px on the long edge are refused; 1600 px or more looks best.
Shots every unit needs
| Shot | How |
|---|---|
| Front, whole unit | Doors closed, the entire appliance in frame, straight on. |
| Back or side | Show the side panel and the back — customers want to see where it hides against a wall. |
| Inside | Doors or lid open, shelves and drawers in place. |
| Controls, powered on | The display lit, so it is clear it works. |
| Every defect, close up | A coin or ruler next to it for scale. If in doubt, photograph it — hiding a mark is what causes returns. |
| Accessories | Everything that comes with it, laid out together. |
| Rating plate (private) | Model and serial number sharp enough to read. Only our reviewers ever see it. |
By type of appliance
| Appliance | Also photograph |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator or freezer | Both doors open (fridge and freezer sections), the shelves and crisper drawers, the water and ice dispenser, the door seals, the control panel on. |
| Range, cooktop or wall oven | The top with all burners (or the glass surface), the oven interior and racks, the control panel on, every knob in place, the anti-tip bracket if it has one. |
| Dishwasher | The racks and spray arms, the tub, the door seal, the control panel. |
| Washer or dryer | The drum, the door gasket, the detergent drawer or lint trap, the back (hoses, vent connection), the controls on. |
| Microwave or range hood | The interior, the turntable and roller ring or the filters, the controls, the mounting bracket and hardware. |
New in box
- The box, showing the label and an unbroken seal.
- The unit out of the box, front and back.
- The accessories and paperwork.
- The rating plate (private).
What gets a photo refused
- Out of focus, too dark, or too small.
- Pictures from the manufacturer, a website or another seller instead of your unit.
- Watermarks, logos, phone numbers, web addresses, text laid over the picture, borders or collages.
- People, pets, house numbers or anything personal in frame.
Every photo is re-saved by us, which removes its hidden information, including the location it was taken.
Take the photos once
Photograph the unit before you list it and keep the files. If we ask for a clearer picture of a mark, you will have it ready — and if there is ever a dispute about a unit's condition, your own dated photos help you as much as they help us.