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Photo Book Reviews

Shooting for Dollars: Simple Photo Techniques for Greater eBay Profits (Peachpit Press) by Sally Wiener Grotta and Daniel Grotta Reviewed by José M. Gonzalez When browsing through eBay, the items that most often catch your eye are the ones with well-taken pictures.  If you're an eBay seller, be sure to check out this book which is sure to help maximize your profits. Article rating: 6.33

Photography and cuisine have much in common. There are times when you don’t need a filet mignon; however, the burger you want still has to be made well. Not all photography situations require expensive cameras, far off locations, or even a great sense of aesthetic. Shooting for Dollars: Simple Photo Techniques for Greater eBay Profits, by Sally Wiener Grotta and Daniel Grotta, is a how-to photography book that was specifically written for the eBay vendor, who needs photography to display their wares on the internet market.

Product photography is different from art photography in many ways; however there are many similarities with other forms of photography in terms of basic technique. Clarity and contrast are the two main themes that the Grottas are trying to relay to the reader. The goal is not to show a vase just for its form within a certain lighting scheme, but to display it so that the prospective buyer can see what they will get when they click on the bid button. This is the main aesthetic that the Grottas are trying to impart to their readers; simplify in order to make the consumer feel confident in what they see. They go so far as to tell the eBay vendors to show blemishes in the pieces so that buyers know what they will receive.

Shooting for Dollars also has numerous chapters dedicated to the basics of photography, which is essential in beginning any type of picture taking. Setting up shots with backdrops and light boxes, necessary lights and setup, setting up a low cost and effective studio, using software to make pictures stand out, without reinventing reality, exposure, focus, color, and camera settings depending on situations are all key topics that are discussed in the book.

Porcelain Figurine on White Background, and on Black Background (©2005 Sally Wiener Grotta and Daniel Grotta)

Ring Displayed on Hand, Ring Displayed on Black Velvet (©2005 Sally Wiener Grotta and Daniel Grotta)

The section on buying the right digital camera is not surprising. Because eBay photography won’t, at least any time soon, be hung on gallery walls, the Grottas suggest buying a decent consumer digital camera in the three-hundred to four-hundred dollar range with about four mega-pixel quality.

The amount of eBay-ers that need this book is staggering. I went on eBay, and it occurred to me that I never noticed how bad most of the pictures of the products were. But, as I stared at the screen, I was shocked. All most of them needed were proper lighting, a lesson on focusing on the item they are trying to sell, and how to frame a shot.

Shooting for Dollars has easy to read diagrams, as well as many comparison images, that quite easily develop a proper aesthetic on photography. The reasoning in this book is that if people don’t know what makes a good picture, they will never be able to discern how bad their previous and future pictures are.

Daniel Grotta and Sally Wiener Grotta are PC Magazine's digital camera experts. They have been buying and selling on eBay since 1998 and teach eBay digital photography workshops at the eBay University. Shooting for Dollars provides readers, who don’t know much about digital photography with an invaluable introduction into the world of photography, and will help them gain more profits on auction listings with a few simple techniques.

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