The Importance of Good Pictures

Summary: Most important points

So fhat we can clearly see the furniture:

• Clear everything off of the furniture.
• Clear every from around the furniture so we can see all of it
• Make sure the furniture is well lighted and not part of it is in shadows.
• If there is a window behind the furniture, either close the drapes to cover the window, or move the furniture away from the window.
• Hold the phone/camera still so the pictures aren't blurry
• Capture the Entire Piece(s) from multiple angles, including a front-corner shot.
• Take closeups of any areas to show details.
• Send the pictures to our email: winterssewing@gmail.com
• Send full-sized images. This will allow us to enlarge them to see the fine details of the furniture.

Please read this entire article to see what applies to your situation.

Why should you read and follow the instructions in this article?

Far too many people send us pictures that are inadequate: they are too small, too dark, have window glare in the background, only show part of the furniture, have throw pillows, pets, or slipcovers on the furniture, or have plants or tables in front of the furniture, the furniture is tightly positioned next to other furniture, or they take a front view or a side view so I can only see one side of the furniture. Since I'm not there in person to inspect the furniture, I need to see good quality well-lighted pictures of the whole piece of furniture from multiple angles, with nothing blocking my view. This article explains what I need in more detail.

Be serious about taking the pictures. This is not like taking a quick snapshot; taking good pictures is a crucial part of the estimate process. I rely on these images to assess the furniture's condition, style, and construction. Think of it as taking a portrait of your furniture—these pictures are my only way to "see" what you see. Poor-quality snapshots make it difficult for me to provide an accurate estimate.

Read and follow all instructions carefully. If you are emailing pictures of your furniture, please take the time to follow these guidelines to ensure the best possible assessment.

Setting the Stage for Pictures

Clear off the Furniture and Surrounding Area

Please let us see the whole furniture without anything obstructing the view: Make sure nothing obstructs the furniture in the picture. Remove throw pillows, slipcovers, blankets, pets, and other objects that might block or hide parts of the piece. If the furniture is tightly packed in a space, move it or the surrounding objects to get a clear shot.

If necessary, move the furniture

If there is anything blocking the various needed views of the furniture, or if there is window glare in the background, then please move the furniture out into the middle of the room and position it so you can get good clear pictures. If needed, move or reposition the furniture so you can get the needed pictures (as explained below)

Use Good Lighting

If the room is dark, turn on lights or, if possible, bring the furniture outside for better lighting. If needed, adjust the position of the furniture so the section you are photographing is well-lit.

If any part of the furniture is in shadow, such as the front bottom or the outside arms or other parts, please turn on lights or reposition the furniture so that all the parts of the furniture are well lighted.

In order to give a realistic estimate, we need to see whatever details of the furniture that may be hidden in those shaddows.

Cover any windows in the background

Background window glare distorts and darkens the picture and makes it difficult to see the fine details of the furniture. Please, either reposition the furniture so there are no windows in the background or shut any drapes. The glare from background windows distorts the pictures and makes it hard to see the fine details in the furniture.

Camera Instructions

Ensure High-Resolution Photos

Check your camera or phone settings to ensure pictures are taken at the highest resolution. Low-resolution images make it difficult to see details, which affects the accuracy of the estimate.

Adjust Camera Position for Detail

Position the camera at angles that highlight the furniture’s design and condition, making sure details are visible and clear.

Keep the Camera Steady

Hold the camera still while taking pictures to avoid blurriness. Using a tripod or bracing your arms against a surface can help stabilize the camera for clearer images.

Taking the Pictures

Capture the Entire Piece(s) from multiple angles

Take pictures that clearly show the full furniture piece from different angles. Include a front corner shot, a full front shot, a side shot, and a back shot. If possible, also take a picture of the bottom of the furniture.

Show Key Details and Close-Ups

Take close-up pictures of any special designs, intricate detailing, or areas that require attention. If the furniture has loose cushions, take one picture with the cushions in place and another with them removed.

Take Individual Pictures

Take multiple-viewpoint pictures of each piece of furniture. (in addition to that, it's OK to take a group picture to show all the furniture you need recovered. But, in addition, still take the multiple individual pictures.

Take Multiple Pictures

Take several pictures from different angles and distances to provide a complete visual of the furniture.

• For full views, take shots from the front, front corner (to show both front and side), and back corner (to show the arm and back).
• For close-ups, take wider close-ups that capture full sections (e.g., the entire arm or cushion) and then tighter close-ups to highlight specific areas (e.g., torn spots, unique designs).
• Take Pictures of the Bottom: especially on older furniture that may have issues with the springs, please take a picture of the bottom of the furniture so I can possibly see an issues.

Special Considerations

For Furniture Needing Repairs

Take full-view pictures of the entire piece, along with close-ups of the damaged areas. Ensure that the damage is well-lit and visible so I can understand its position and extent.

For Furniture with Mounting Hardware

If your furniture includes hardware such as hinges, brackets, or floor stands (e.g., RV driver seats, tractor seats, or equipment seats), take clear pictures of how they are attached. Also, capture the bottom of the furniture to show mounting points.

Preparing Pictures for Sending

Additional Information

Since sending pictures is usually part of requesting an estimate, it is helpful to include the following measurements:

• Sofa or loveseat length
• Sizes of any removable cushions (length × width × thickness)
• Sizes of any ottomans (length × width × height)

Send Full-Sized Images

Ensure that the pictures you send are full-size. Some email and photo applications automatically reduce image size for emailing, which makes it difficult to zoom in and assess details. Turn off any automatic resizing features before sending. Your image file size should be at least a couple of hundred KB up to several MB.

Final Thoughts

By following these instructions, you’ll ensure I can accurately assess your furniture and provide full detailed estimate.

• Capture the Entire Piece(s) from multiple angles, including a front-corner shot.
• Take closeups of any areas to show details.