## Why lot photos matter
Online bidders cannot pick the item up. Your photos have to do what a preview day does: show what the item is, how big it is and what condition it is in. Clear, consistent photos answer questions before they are asked, and they make the whole sale look more trustworthy.
You do not need a studio. A consistent setup and a fixed shot order will do more for your catalog than an expensive camera.
## Set up a simple photo station
Pick one spot and use it for the whole sale. A table against a wall works well.
- Use a plain, neutral background: a gray or white sheet, poster board or a roll of paper that curves up the wall so there is no visible seam.
- Use soft, even light. Daylight from a large window, or two lamps with the same type of bulb on either side of the item, avoids harsh shadows.
- Do not mix light sources. Daylight plus a yellow ceiling bulb gives odd colors that are hard to fix later.
- Keep the camera steady. A phone tripod or a stack of books removes blur, especially in low light.
- Clean the lens. Phone lenses pick up fingerprints that soften every photo.
## Shoot every lot in the same order
A fixed order means you never forget a view, and it makes photos easy to sort later.
- Start with an overall photo of the whole item. This becomes the cover photo.
- Then the front, back and sides.
- Then the details that matter for value: maker's marks, signatures, labels, hallmarks and serial numbers.
- Then condition: chips, cracks, stains, repairs and missing parts. Show damage plainly.
- Finish with a size reference, such as a tape measure beside the item, and a group photo if the lot has several pieces.
Most lots need somewhere between four and a dozen photos. Take enough to answer the questions a careful bidder would ask, and stop there.
## Show condition honestly
Honest condition photos protect you. A clear picture of a chip prevents a dispute after the sale. Photograph damage close enough to see but include enough of the item to show where it is. Do not use background removal or editing to hide flaws; keep an untouched original of every photo.
## Tricky items
- Glass and silver: reflections hide detail. Move the lights to the side, turn off overhead lights and shoot at a slight angle. A light tent helps a lot.
- Jewelry: get close with good light and focus on the stones and marks. A plain dark or white background makes small pieces stand out.
- Furniture and large items: photograph them where they sit, but clear the clutter around them. Shoot straight on, then at an angle, and include drawers, backs and joints.
- Paintings and prints: shoot straight on to avoid distortion, then photograph the signature, the back and the frame corners.
## Keep photos organized as you go
The most common catalog problem is a photo attached to the wrong lot. Prevent it while you shoot.
- Start each lot with a slate: a card with the lot number, photographed before the item.
- Or rename files after the shoot so each photo starts with its lot number, such as 101_1.jpg, 101_2.jpg.
- Keep the original camera files in a separate folder and work on copies.
## Prepare the files before upload
Full camera resolution is rarely needed online and makes uploads slow. Resize your working copies to a sensible size, keep the originals and check a few photos at full screen before you upload the sale.
The free BBZ desktop tool for Windows can batch rename, resize, crop and convert a whole folder at once. For cover photos that need a clean background, try online background removal, and when the photos are ready, the Catalog Builder can draft your lot descriptions for review.

How to photograph auction lots: a practical setup and shot list

## Why imports go wrong
Most auction software can import a catalog from a CSV file: a plain text file where each row is a lot and each column is a field such as lot number, title or description. It is a fast way to load hundreds of lots, but small formatting problems can scramble a sale. Nearly all of them are easy to prevent once you know where to look.
## Start with your software's sample file
Before you build anything, download the import template or sample file from your auction software and read its help page.
- Note which columns are required and their exact names.
- Note the order of the columns, if it matters.
- Check how it expects lot numbers, prices, categories and quantities to be written.
Match the column headings exactly. A heading that is close but not identical, such as Starting Bid instead of StartBid, is often ignored without any warning.
## Protect your lot numbers
Lot numbers are the most important column and the easiest to damage.
- Spreadsheet programs like Excel remove leading zeros, so 001 becomes 1.
- Lot numbers with letters, such as 101A, may sort out of order or be rejected.
- Long numbers can be turned into scientific notation.
If you open a CSV in a spreadsheet, import the lot number column as text rather than double-clicking the file. Better still, check the file in a plain text editor before you upload it.
## Watch special characters
Characters such as ×, ½, °, é and curly quotes can turn into strange symbols after import. This is an encoding problem. Save the file as UTF-8, which is the safest choice for most modern software, and spot-check a few descriptions after a test import.
## Commas, quotes and line breaks in descriptions
In a CSV file, commas separate the columns. A description that contains commas or line breaks must be wrapped in quotation marks, or it will spill into the next columns. Good export tools handle this automatically; trouble usually starts when a file is edited by hand and saved again. If your software does not support line breaks or HTML in descriptions, remove them before the import.
## Prices and quantities
Enter numbers only. Leave out currency symbols and thousands separators unless your software asks for them, and use a period for decimals. Check that starting bids, estimates and reserves are in the right columns; a swapped column is easy to miss and costly after the sale opens.
## Match photos to lots
Most platforms link photos to lots by filename. Name each photo with its lot number and a sequence number, such as 101_1.jpg and 101_2.jpg, and check that every lot in the CSV has at least one photo. Make sure the first photo of each lot is the one you want as the cover.
## Always test with a small sample
Import five or ten lots first. Open them in your auction software and check titles, descriptions, special characters, prices, categories and photo order. Fix the source file, not the imported lots, so the full import comes out right. Keep a copy of the final file you imported so you can trace any listing back to it.
## How BBZ can help
The BBZ Catalog Builder exports a CSV with the column headings you set for your auction software, plus a ZIP file of numbered photos. Review and approve every AI-written lot, then test a small import before loading the whole sale.

Auction catalog CSV import: how to avoid the common problems

## Start with a consistent photo sequence
A catalog is easier to build when every lot follows the same pattern. Photograph the whole item first, then useful details: maker marks, labels, damage, and accessories. Keep all photos for one lot together before moving to the next. For paired items or sets, include a group photograph that makes the quantity clear.
Save the original camera files in a separate folder. Work on copies so you can return to the original detail if a buyer asks a question or an edited photo looks wrong.
## Prepare the files with the desktop tool
Use the free Windows tool to rename, resize, crop and convert your working images. Choose a naming convention you can keep throughout the sale. Lot numbers and image sequence numbers are easier to follow than camera filenames.
Check a small sample before applying a rename pattern to the entire folder. Confirm that the order stays correct and that the new names still distinguish multiple photos for the same lot. Leave enough resolution to show marks and condition clearly.
## Remove backgrounds selectively
Use online background removal when a busy setting distracts from the item. Keep an original reference photo alongside the edited version. Examine delicate edges, clear glass, handles and spaces between parts. A clean image is useful only if it still represents the object accurately.
Condition photographs often benefit from their original setting. Do not hide scratches, repairs or missing parts while making the cover image look cleaner.
## Build the catalog and review every lot
Upload your prepared lot photos to the catalog builder. Let AI draft the details, then review the title, description, category and other suggested fields. Confirm quantities, dimensions and condition against the item itself. A photograph alone may not establish age, authenticity, material or working condition.
After approval, export the CSV and numbered photos. Check a few lots in your auction software before importing the entire sale. The final review should confirm that each description belongs to the correct photos.

From camera to catalog: a practical auction photo workflow

## Give every photo a clear job
A useful filename tells you which lot a photo belongs to and where it falls in that lot's sequence. For example, 200_1.jpg can be the overall view of lot 200, followed by 200_2.jpg for a detail and 200_3.jpg for a condition photograph.
Use the same convention for the entire auction. Avoid changing between dashes, spaces and underscores halfway through a folder. If your auction software requires a particular format, use that format as your starting point.
## Make a working copy first
Keep the original camera files in a folder you will not rename. Copy the photos you want to process into a separate working folder. This gives you a way to trace an image back to the camera sequence if files get moved into the wrong lot.
Sort the working folder and review the order before renaming. File order can change when names mix ordinary numbers and text, so look at the first, middle and last few files rather than assuming everything is correct.
## Test the pattern on a small group
Use the desktop tool's rename preview before applying your changes. Start with two or three lots, including at least one lot with several images. Confirm that each resulting name is unique and that the numbering follows your intended order.
A filename should organize a photograph, not replace a description. Keep condition notes, dimensions and provenance with the lot record rather than trying to squeeze everything into a filename.
## Verify before cataloging
Open the renamed photos and compare them with your lot list. Check that groups and sets have not been split, that the cover image comes first, and that close-ups have stayed with the right item.
If you also resize or convert formats, inspect the resulting photos at full size. Make sure small labels remain legible. Once the sample looks right, process the remaining working files and keep your original folder until the sale and any follow-up questions are complete.

Rename auction photos without losing track of your lots

## Use a clean background when it helps the buyer
A busy table, patterned cloth or crowded shelf can compete with the object you are selling. Removing that background can make a cover photograph easier to understand, especially when buyers are scanning many lots at once.
Start with a sharp, well-lit original. Background removal cannot recover an unreadable maker mark or a blurred edge. Leave room around the whole item so handles, feet and decorative parts are visible.
## Keep useful context
Some photographs need context. A close-up of a repair, a measurement photograph or a group shot showing everything included may be clearer with its original background. You do not need to remove every background in a lot.
For larger objects, a contextual photo can help buyers understand scale and construction. Pair a clean cover image with supporting original photographs when both views are useful.
## Inspect the result before using it
Review the outline at full size. Look closely at open handles, thin chains, hair-like details, glass, reflective metal and the gaps between parts. Confirm that no part of the object has disappeared and that stray pieces of the original setting have not been retained.
The edited photograph should preserve condition honestly. Do not make a chip or crack disappear, or remove an accessory that belongs with the item. If the result changes the appearance of the object, use the original or take a better photograph.
## Understand the exported image
A checkerboard in an editor commonly indicates transparent space; it should not be part of the object itself. A transparent PNG can appear against different backgrounds depending on where you use it. Check the finished image in the actual listing or catalog layout, not only in the editing preview.
Keep a copy of the original and the edited result. Use the desktop tool for your batch file preparation and the online background-removal service for the images that benefit from a cleaner presentation.

When should you remove an auction photo background?

## Treat the draft as a starting point
An AI draft can help you work through a large photo folder, but the auction company remains responsible for its published catalog. Review the draft while you have the photos and the object available. A fluent description can still contain an incorrect detail.
Start by checking the basic identity of the lot. Does the title match the item shown? Is it one object, a pair or a larger group? Are stands, boxes, cords or other accessories actually included?
## Separate visible details from assumptions
Photographs can show color, shape, decorative patterns and visible marks. They may not establish age, maker, authenticity, material composition or whether an item operates. Verify these details independently before making a definite claim.
Read maker marks and labels yourself. If a mark is unclear, describe what you can see rather than expanding it into a confident attribution. For coins, jewelry and other valuable objects, do not treat a photo-based identification or value suggestion as an appraisal.
## Check condition and measurements
Compare the condition text with every photograph, including close-ups. Add defects that are not visible in the cover image: chips, cracks, repairs, missing components and areas of wear. Distinguish tested operation from an item that has not been tested.
Measure the item when dimensions matter. Check units and the order of height, width and depth. If measurement photos are included, make sure the scale can be read and that the draft refers to the right dimension.
## Review categories, bids and final export
Confirm that the category fits your house's catalog structure. Review suggested estimates and starting bids using your own knowledge and current sale context. Those suggestions should not silently become commitments about value.
Approve the lot only after its text and photos agree. Export a small sample and inspect it in your auction software: title length, punctuation, line breaks, lot number and photo association can all change during import. Save your reviewed catalog so you can trace the final listing back to the version you approved.

Better images.
A smoother auction workflow.

How to photograph auction lots: a practical setup and shot list

Auction catalog CSV import: how to avoid the common problems

From camera to catalog: a practical auction photo workflow

Rename auction photos without losing track of your lots

When should you remove an auction photo background?

What to check in every AI-written auction description

Put the guides to work.

Better images.A smoother auction workflow.

How to photograph auction lots: a practical setup and shot list

Auction catalog CSV import: how to avoid the common problems

From camera to catalog: a practical auction photo workflow

Rename auction photos without losing track of your lots

When should you remove an auction photo background?

What to check in every AI-written auction description

Put the guides to work.

Better images.
A smoother auction workflow.