Estate services • Vintage finds • Erie, Pennsylvania area

Collecting Guides

How to Photograph a Collectible for Identification

Six photographs that give an identifier or seller a much better starting point.

Show the whole object

Use indirect daylight and a simple background. Photograph front, back, both sides, top, and bottom when the form is not obvious.

Capture every mark

Labels, signatures, stamps, mold numbers, hallmarks, patent information, and handwritten notes may be more important than the decorative face.

Include scale

Give exact measurements and include a ruler in one image when useful. Avoid relying on a hand or household object for scale.

Document condition honestly

Photograph chips, cracks, repairs, wear, stains, missing parts, and replaced hardware. Hiding damage wastes time and creates buyer problems.

Keep related material close

Boxes, receipts, certificates, manuals, photographs, and family notes may support identification or provenance. Photograph them separately and together.


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