eBay listing image editing cost

What drives image editing cost

Number of photos

Up to 24 per listing on eBay; more photos mean more editing.

Edit depth

Background work takes longer than cropping.

Original quality

Poor light and clutter need more correction.

Item type

Shiny, transparent or detailed items are harder to edit well.

Turnaround

Faster turnaround may cost more.

Ask for a price for each edit level, so you can choose a light edit for most photos and more for main photos.

Edit levels compared

How editing is priced

Comparing quotations

Check whether each quote includes a sample batch, an agreed standard, file naming, spot checks against originals and rework if photos do not meet the standard. Make sure every quote states that flaws will not be retouched and colours will match the item. A very low per-photo rate may be an automatic process with no checks.

Example: main photos edited more deeply

Judging the value

Compare views and sales for listings with edited photos against similar listings without, over the same period, and track returns for colour or condition. Better main photos may raise views; accurate photos should lower 'not as described' returns. Allow four to six weeks before judging the results.

Better originals cost less

Good light, a plain background and a steady camera reduce editing needs. If you photograph regularly, a small investment in a light and backdrop may lower editing costs more than any discount. Ask the provider which changes would reduce your editing needs most; the answer will be specific to how you photograph now.

Why a sample batch helps the quote

It is hard to price editing accurately from a description of your photos. A sample of ten to twenty photos, edited to a proposed standard, shows how long each takes and what result you get. Some providers price the sample separately or credit it against the main job. Use it to agree the edit level for each kind of photo before committing to the whole range.

Difficult items

Shiny metal, glass, jewellery and items with fine detail are harder to photograph and edit well: reflections, transparent edges and small marks all take care. Expect a higher rate for these, and consider whether improving the original photos, with diffused light for example, would save more than editing can. Ask to see a sample of these items first, since results vary.

Turnaround

Ask how quickly batches are returned and whether faster turnaround costs more. For regular listings, a steady weekly batch with a fixed turnaround is easier to plan and price than urgent one-off requests. Agree how photos needing reshoots are reported.

Rework

Check that the quote includes correcting photos that do not meet the agreed standard, without extra charge. Agree what counts as meeting the standard, ideally by pointing to the approved sample batch, so there is no disagreement later about which photos need correcting. Photos that cannot be fixed because the original was too poor should be flagged for reshooting instead, at no charge.