Photograph vintage and antique items to document the actual object: overall form, construction, maker's marks, wear and repairs. Pair attractive overview images with condition views that deliberately reveal flaws. Patina, a signature or an old-looking surface is something to record, not proof of age or authenticity on its own.
Make a condition map before styling
Inspect the object without cleaning, polishing or dismantling it beyond your competence. Note visible damage and the location of each mark. Then photograph front, back, sides, top and underside where accessible, using a stable support for fragile pieces.
For every important issue, capture a close view and an overview that shows where it is. A chip filling the entire frame is difficult to interpret without scale or location. Keep the raw or original files so there is a record of what the camera captured before presentation edits.
Change the light to reveal, rather than disguise
A soft frontal light gives a readable overall image. A second photograph with light grazing the surface can reveal scratches, cracks, dents and uneven repairs. Use both: neither lighting style describes every aspect of condition.
Rotate a reflective object gently or move the light until a suspect area is visible. A scratch that disappears in one reflection angle is still present. Do not clone it away because it interrupts a smooth highlight.
| Material | Detail to record | Handling or interpretation limit |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramics | Rim, foot ring, glaze crazing and chips | Crazing alone does not establish age |
| Glass | Rim, base, inclusions and repaired areas | Reflections can hide cracks; use more than one angle |
| Wood furniture | Joints, underside, veneer edges and hardware | Construction details support investigation, not automatic dating |
| Metal | Marks, corrosion, plating wear and dents | Polishing can change the condition being documented |
| Paper or textiles | Edges, folds, fading and repairs | Avoid flattening or stretching fragile material for symmetry |
For color, use a neutral reference under the same light. Do not remove genuine yellowing as if it were an unwanted white-balance cast. The color-accuracy guide helps distinguish those tasks.
ShotBG removes backgrounds in seconds with AI. Free for your first image — no signup required.
Record marks with their context
Photograph a maker's mark or signature straight on when possible, then with side light if an impression is shallow. Add a wider view of its position on the object. Do not trace over illegible characters or let an enhancement invent missing letters.
Transcribe only what can be read and distinguish observed markings from an attribution. A photograph of a stamped name cannot establish that the stamp is original, that every component belongs together, or that a previous owner's story is accurate. Use documentary provenance or appropriate specialist assessment for those separate questions.
Measure the part the buyer needs
For furniture, distinguish outside dimensions from usable internal space. Show the opening as well as the interior if a drawer, cabinet or case has to accommodate something. For a vessel, state whether height includes a lid or stopper.
Place the measuring tool in the same plane as the dimension and state the units. A decorative coin or hand may help scale but is less precise than a measured reference. Do not derive capacity from a photograph of an irregular container.
For collectible books, the book photography guide adds binding, jacket and publication-page checks. Keep fragile bindings supported rather than forcing a flat spread.
Edit the setting while retaining the item's evidence
ShotBG background removal can simplify an overview. Compare the output around chipped edges, frayed fibers, pierced ornament and handles. An automatic selection may mistake irregular wear for unwanted background.
Keep the detailed condition views close to the original capture. Avoid generated missing pieces, reconstructed labels or artificial surface smoothing. A staged period room is a presentation choice, not provenance.
For resale, eBay's picture policy prohibits photographs that inaccurately represent the item and stock photos for used or damaged items. The eBay photo-background workflow can assist the hero image, while your own documentation provides the evidence buyers need to judge condition.
