Taking Better Listing Photographs

Clear photographs help buyers understand exactly what is being sold. They can reduce unnecessary questions, make faults easier to assess and give a buyer more confidence that the listing is accurate.

Kidora requires at least one photograph when an item is listed, but several useful images from different angles will usually create a stronger listing than one general photograph.

Good photography does not mean hiding signs of use. The aim is to show the actual item honestly, clearly and in enough detail for a buyer to make an informed decision.

How to Use This Guide

These are practical ways to photograph items honestly. Photos, AI-assisted listing features and image moderation cannot verify the identity, authenticity, quality or safety of a product. Use current Kidora rules and product instructions.

Trusted UK and Kidora Resources

These links lead to the original guidance or current Kidora rules. Check them for the latest details before acting.

• Kidora: listing and AI image checks
• Kidora: Terms and Conditions
• GOV.UK: product recalls
• GOV.UK: safe second-hand goods

Prepare the Item Before Taking Photos

Before photographing:

• Check the item is suitable to sell
• Clean it according to its care label or manufacturer instructions
• Remove unrelated belongings
• Put all included parts together
• Check pockets and compartments
• Remove or cover unnecessary personal information
• Identify every fault that needs to be shown

Do not use cleaning, folding or staging to conceal damage.

Use Natural Light Where Possible

Soft daylight usually shows colour and condition more accurately than a strong flash.

Good locations may include:

• Near a bright window
• Outside in open shade
• A well-lit room during the day

Avoid direct sunlight that creates harsh shadows or makes pale areas look washed out.

Avoid Using Flash

Flash can create glare, strong shadows and inaccurate colours. It may also hide texture or make marks difficult to see.

If the room is too dark, move the item closer to natural light or photograph it at another time rather than relying on heavy flash.

Choose a Plain Background

A simple background keeps attention on the item.

Suitable options include:

• A plain wall
• A clean floor
• A neutral sheet
• A tidy table
• A clear outdoor surface

Avoid clutter, laundry, open cupboards, personal documents and unrelated household items in the frame.

Make the First Image Clear

The first photograph should help a buyer recognise the item immediately.

Use a full, well-lit view that:

• Shows the actual product
• Fills most of the frame
• Is in focus
• Has no unnecessary text or stickers covering it
• Matches the listing title

Do not use a photograph of the packaging as the main image when the actual item is available to show.

Take Multiple Angles

For most items, photograph:

• Front
• Back
• Both sides
• Top or inside where relevant
• Important moving or functional parts
• Labels
• Accessories
• Faults

The number of photographs should reflect the complexity and value of the item.

The most useful sequence depends on the item. A jumper may need only a few photographs, whereas a pushchair may need extra views of the frame, wheels, folding controls and included accessories.

Show the Actual Item

Manufacturer photographs can sometimes provide context, but they should not replace photographs of the product the buyer will receive.

The buyer needs to see:

• Its current condition
• Its exact colour
• Included parts
• Wear and repairs
• Labels and model details

Do not use another seller’s photographs.

Kidora’s selling guidance asks for photographs of the actual item and clear disclosure of faults. AI image screening cannot check the physical item or its hidden history.

Photograph Every Fault

Show stains, fading, scratches, repairs, cracks, worn fabric, missing decoration and other relevant faults.

For each fault:

• Take one wider image showing where it is
• Take one close-up showing the detail
• Describe it in the written listing

A close-up without context can make it difficult to understand which part of the item is affected.

Try pairing a wide photograph, which shows where a flaw is located, with a close-up, which makes its size and appearance clearer. Written disclosure is still needed even when the fault is visible.

Keep Colours Accurate

Photograph in neutral light and avoid strong filters.

Before uploading, compare the photograph with the real item. If the colour still looks different, mention this in the description where relevant.

Do not digitally change the product colour or remove visible wear.

Keep Photographs in Focus

Hold the phone steady and tap the item on the screen to focus before taking the photograph.

For small labels or faults:

• Move closer gradually
• Use good light
• Keep the phone parallel to the label
• Check the image before moving on

Retake blurred photographs rather than uploading them.

Use a Consistent Image Order

A useful order is:

1. Main full-item view
2. Alternative full views
3. Important features
4. Brand, model and size labels
5. Included accessories
6. Faults and wear

This lets the buyer understand the product before examining the detail.

Photograph Clothing Flat or Neatly Hung

For baby and children’s clothing:

• Lay it flat or hang it neatly
• Smooth major folds
• Show front and back
• Photograph the size label
• Show the fabric and pattern clearly
• Photograph stains, repairs or wear
• Show fastenings where relevant

Do not crop off sleeves, hems or important details.

Photograph Clothing Bundles Clearly

Kidora buyers can create bundles from a seller’s separate listings, but sellers may also list a prepared clothing bundle as one item.

For a prepared bundle:

• Lay every item out visibly
• Take one complete group photograph
• Photograph smaller groups or individual premium pieces
• Show any item in a different size
• Show faults separately
• State the exact number of pieces

Do not stack items so that only the top piece can be seen.

Photograph School Uniform

Show:

• Full front and back
• School logo
• Size label
• Care label
• Cuffs, elbows, knees and hems
• Any fading, shine or repairs

Remove or conceal the child’s name without removing manufacturer or care information.

Photograph Toys and Games

Show:

• The complete toy or set
• Every included piece
• Age guidance and warning labels
• Battery compartment
• Controls or moving parts
• Damage or missing pieces
• Packaging and instructions if included

For puzzles and games, lay out the contents so the buyer can assess completeness.

Photograph Books

For books, photograph:

• Front cover
• Back cover
• Spine
• Page edges
• Writing, tears or water damage
• The full group when sold as a bundle

Photograph Pushchairs and Prams

Use enough space to show the complete product.

Photograph:

• Full pushchair from several angles
• Frame
• Wheels and tyres
• Brakes
• Harness and buckle
• Seat or carrycot
• Folding mechanism
• Storage basket
• Brand and model label
• Every included accessory
• Scratches, fabric wear and repairs

If the product has different configurations, show each configuration that is included in the sale.

Clear model, warning and component photographs can help a buyer research the product, but they do not replace the manufacturer’s instructions or the official UK recalls database.

Photograph Nursery Furniture

Show the furniture assembled where practical so buyers can assess its shape and condition.

Include photographs of:

• Full item
• All sides
• Joints and fixings
• Drawers, doors or moving parts
• Model labels
• Instructions and included fittings
• Damage, chips or repairs

If it will be collected dismantled, photograph all parts and fixings before packing them.

Photograph Bikes and Scooters

Show:

• Full side views
• Frame and fork
• Handlebars
• Brakes
• Wheels and tyres
• Chain and gears
• Folding mechanism where relevant
• Size or model information
• Scratches, rust or damage

Photograph Electrical Items

Include:

• Full product
• Manufacturer and model label
• Plug and cable
• Power supply or charger
• Battery compartment
• Controls and display
• Visible damage

Do not photograph personal account information shown on a connected device. Reset or remove personal data where appropriate before sale.

Show Labels and Model Numbers

Clear label photographs can help buyers check:

• Brand
• Model
• Size
• Batch or serial number
• Warnings
• Age or weight limits
• Care information

Check official recalls before listing through the UK Product Safety Alerts, Reports and Recalls database.

Protect Personal Privacy

Before uploading, inspect the background and reflective surfaces.

Remove or hide:

• Addresses
• Letters and parcels
• School documents
• Children’s full names
• Family photographs
• Vehicle registration numbers
• Computer or television screens showing private information

Do not publish a home address in the listing photographs. Kidora advises sellers to share collection details privately through Kidora messaging after a purchase has been made.

Check reflective surfaces, parcel labels and the background as carefully as the item itself. A photo intended to show a toy can accidentally include a child, an address, a school name or another person’s document.

Avoid Photographing Children Wearing the Item

For ordinary marketplace listings, photograph clothing and equipment without showing a child wherever practical.

This protects privacy and keeps the buyer’s attention on the product’s condition, size and features.

Do Not Add Misleading Text or Graphics

Avoid:

• Large promotional text covering the item
• False “new” or “perfect” labels
• Price stickers that conflict with the listing
• Watermarks from another marketplace
• Graphics that conceal faults

Put measurements, condition and other details in the listing fields and description.

Check Images Before Publishing

Before adding the listing, confirm that:

• The first image is clear
• The correct item is shown
• Every image is in focus
• Colours are reasonably accurate
• Faults are visible
• All included pieces appear
• No private information is visible
• The images match the written description

Update Photographs When the Item Changes

Replace or add photographs when:

• New damage occurs
• A part is lost
• An accessory is added or removed
• The item is repaired
• The original images no longer show its current condition

Do not continue using older photographs that make the item appear better than it now is.

Common Listing Photography Mistakes

• Using only one distant image
• Taking photos in a dark room
• Using flash glare
• Uploading blurred labels
• Hiding faults
• Showing only manufacturer images
• Leaving clutter in the background
• Failing to show bundle contents
• Showing private information
• Using photographs that no longer match the item

Listing Photography on Kidora

A clear photograph can help outgrown children’s things reach the right family. On Kidora, UK parents list suitable clothes, toys, books, pushchairs, school uniform and other items without seller fees, using honest images and descriptions.

Good photographs complement the seller’s product checks; they cannot reveal hidden damage or establish safety. Kidora may use AI-assisted listing and image moderation, but sellers should review the final description and photos themselves. Parents may also offer suitable items as FREE for local collection. Learn more in Kidora’s selling guide.

A Listing Photography Checklist

• Clean and inspect the item
• Use natural light
• Avoid flash where possible
• Use a plain background
• Take a strong first image
• Photograph multiple angles
• Show all included parts
• Show every fault clearly
• Photograph labels and model details
• Remove personal information
• Check every image before publishing

Related Kidora Parent Hub Guides

Explore these related guides for more information about the buying and selling journey.

• Selling Preloved Children’s Items
• Pricing Children’s Items for Resale
• Product Safety for Preloved Items

Frequently Asked Questions

About This Guide

Prepared by: Kidora Team.

Sources: Kidora’s public listing and photo guidance, and GOV.UK product-safety resources, with direct links above and throughout this guide.

Editorial sources checked: 15 October 2026. This was a source and editorial review, not a legal, clinical, financial or product-safety expert review. Information and platform features may change; check the linked original sources for the latest guidance.

Important: Kidora does not authenticate or certify items based on photographs or automated checks. This guide does not replace manufacturer guidance, privacy requirements or marketplace rules.