Listing Photo Lab

Category

How to take pictures of shoes to sell

6 min read

Photograph the pair together first, then each side, the toe, the heel, both soles, the insoles, the size tag and every flaw, on a plain background in soft light with no flash. The soles and the size tag settle the two things a buyer of used shoes can't check through a screen: wear and fit.

What photos do you need to sell shoes?

As a rule of thumb, a used pair of shoes needs ten to twelve photos, shot in the same order every time. The order below starts with the photo that earns the click and ends with the ones that answer condition questions. It's the same shoe set the shot list builder gives you, with the reasons spelled out.

  1. The pair, together, at an angleBoth shoes side by side, turned about three-quarters toward the camera, toes pointing the same way. This is the main photo, so show the whole pair and nothing else.
  2. Outer side of one shoeStraight side-on, camera at shoe height. Shape, logo and midsole.
  3. Inner sideEasy to forget, and scuffs from the other foot collect here.
  4. Toe, straight onCreases across the toe box show here first.
  5. Heel, straight onHeel wear, a collapsed heel counter, the heel tab.
  6. Top downLaces, tongue and opening, shot from directly above.
  7. Both soles, flat onSoles side by side, facing the camera. The tread shows how the pair was worn.
  8. The insolesPull one out if it's removable. Insole wear shows use better than the outside does.
  9. The size tagInside the tongue or on the inner wall, sharp enough to read every character.
  10. Every flaw, close and wideOne close photo so the flaw is unmistakable, one wider so the buyer sees where it sits.
  11. The box and extrasIf you have the box, one photo of the box and one of its label. Spare laces, dust bags, tags.

How do you set up shoes for photos?

Set shoes up on a table, not the floor. On the floor you shoot down at them, which shortens the shoe and hides the sides. Put the pair on a table against a plain wall or a sheet of card, and bring the camera down to shoe height for the side shots.

  • Clean them first. Wipe the midsoles, brush the uppers, knock the dirt out of the tread. Dirt photographs as wear.
  • Stuff them with paper so the toe box holds its shape. Nothing that shows.
  • Lace both shoes the same way.
  • Use a plain background: white for dark shoes, light gray for white shoes, so the edges don't disappear.
  • Use soft light: a window to one side, or two matched lamps, one each side, aimed through white paper. Turn off the flash. eBay's help page says to avoid flash to cut glare.

The lighting guide covers the window and card setup that works for shoes and everything else.

How do you pose shoes for a listing photo?

Pose shoes to answer a question, not to look styled: the pair at a three-quarter angle, one shoe side-on, both heels to the camera, a top-down shot and the soles up. Each pose shows something a buyer needs to see:

Shoe poses and what each one shows
PoseHow to set itWhat it shows
Three-quarter pairBoth shoes angled toward the camera, one slightly ahead of the otherThe whole pair. This is the main photo
Side profileOne shoe, camera at shoe height, square to the sideShape, logo, midsole height
Heels to cameraBoth heels facing you, side by sideHeel wear, even or uneven
Top downCamera directly above both shoesLaces, tongue, toe box creases
Soles upBoth shoes on their sides or upside down, soles to the cameraTread wear and heel drag

Skip on-foot photos for the main set. They hide the soles and the insides, which are what buyers of used shoes check. If you add one, put it after the full set, never first.

How do you photograph soles, creases and wear?

Light used shoes from the side to show wear honestly. Flat light from the front hides creases and scuffs, and a buyer who finds them after delivery has a reason to send the pair back. Move the lamp or the shoe until the light skims across the surface, then shoot each wear point close.

Where used shoes show wear, and how to light it
PartWhat a buyer reads from itHow to light it
Outsole (the tread)How far the tread is worn, and whether one side of the heel is worn downLow and from the side, so the tread casts shadows
Toe boxCreasing across the top, where the foot flexesSide light skimming the top
Heel counterWhether the back has collapsed or been crushedStraight on, even light
MidsoleScuffs, yellowing, cracked paintSoft light. Turn the shoe to kill glare
InsoleFootbed wear, a worn-off logo, stainsEven light from above
UpperScuffs, stains, loose stitching, peelingSide light for texture, then straight on for color

Photograph every flaw twice: close enough that it's unmistakable, and wide enough to show where it sits. Photographing flaws covers the method and the description line that goes with it.

Why does the size tag photo matter?

The size tag photo answers fit and identity at once. Tags can print the size in more than one system, such as US, UK and EU. Athletic shoes can also carry a style code: a short string of letters and numbers that pins down the model and colorway. A buyer who can read the tag can check it against the brand's size chart and the exact pair they want.

The same tag is where a listing's item specifics come from: brand, size, model, color. FlowLister, the tool the team behind this site makes, turns item photos into complete eBay listings. So the tag shot decides how much of the listing it can fill. It's AI, so it can get a field wrong or leave one blank.

Shoot the tag until you can read every character on your own screen. If you can't read it, neither can the buyer.

Should you include the shoe box?

Include the box if you have it. Photograph it once from the front and once close on the label, which can repeat the size and style code. Show crushed corners and tears, because the box is part of what you're selling. If there's no box, say so in the description instead of leaving the buyer to guess.

What does eBay allow in shoe photos?

eBay allows up to 24 photos free on a shoe listing. A pair listed as used needs photos of that actual pair: eBay's picture policy bans stock photos for used, damaged or defective items. eBay's help page on adding pictures asks for a main photo that shows the whole item face-on, and added borders, text and watermarks aren't allowed. Both pages were read October 2, 2026. The full list is in eBay's photo size and picture rules.

How many photos should a shoe listing have?
As a rule of thumb, ten to twelve covers a used pair: the pair together, both sides, toe, heel, top, soles, insoles, the size tag, each flaw close and wide, and the box if you have it. eBay allows up to 24 free, so there's room for more flaw shots if the pair needs them.
What is the best angle to photograph shoes for sale?
For the main photo, both shoes together, turned about three-quarters toward the camera at shoe height, so the buyer sees the toe and one side at once. Then shoot straight-on: each side, the toe, the heel and the soles.
How do you photograph white shoes?
On a light gray or mid-tone background, not pure white, so the edges don't vanish. Use soft side light and no flash, and clean the midsoles first, because dirt on white photographs as wear.
Should I take pictures of shoes on my feet?
Not for the main set. On-foot photos hide the soles and the insides, which are what buyers of used shoes check. If you add one, put it after the full set. eBay's help page says the main photo should show the whole item face-on.
Can I use stock photos to sell used shoes on eBay?
No. eBay's picture policy bans stock photos for used, damaged or defective items. A used pair needs photos of that pair, wear and flaws included.

Disclosure The people who build FlowLister run Listing Photo Lab. FlowLister is AI eBay listing software that turns item photos into complete eBay listings. Because it works from photos, a clear photo helps it and a blurry one doesn't. That's our interest in better photos. It's AI, so it misses things. Nothing here needs our tool.

Keep reading