Vinted photo tips: how to take photos that sell with your phone

A good Vinted photo is taken in daylight, near a window, with no flash or filter, on a plain background. The first photo shows the whole item, the next ones show the back, the label, a close-up of the fabric and any flaws. Six to eight photos in the right order are enough for most clothes.

You will be able to set up your phone, choose your light and build a set of photos in the right order, in ten minutes per item.

Why do photos matter so much on Vinted?

Because it is the only thing the buyer sees before clicking. In the feed and in search results alike, they scroll through thumbnails. The title and description come later, and only if the thumbnail made them want more.

Vinted actually lists photos among the attributes used by its ranking systems, and engagement (clicks, favourites) among the signals, on its page about content recommendations. A photo nobody clicks means a listing that loses ground.

What lighting should you use for Vinted photos?

Indirect daylight. Vinted's help page on photos recommends photos taken in daylight, with no flash or filter, so the colours are accurate. It is also what avoids complaints like "the colour isn't the one in the photo".

Where should the item go in relation to the window?

Stand with your back to the window or at an angle, never facing it. The light should fall on the item, not come from behind it. If one side stays dark, put a white sheet of paper or white card opposite the window: it bounces the light back and lifts the shadows.

What time of day should you take photos?

Around midday on an overcast day is ideal: the light is soft and even. In bright sun, use a room that doesn't face the sun directly, or draw a thin net curtain. In the evening, put your photos off until the next day rather than using the ceiling light.

Which phone settings should you use?

No advanced settings are needed. Four habits are enough:

• Clean the lens. A fingerprint gives a blurry haze. It is the most common mistake and the easiest to fix.
• Don't use digital zoom. Move closer physically. Zoom degrades the image.
• Focus by tapping the item on the screen, then lower the exposure slightly if the whites are too bright.
• Keep to portrait orientation. Vinted thumbnails are shown in portrait: a garment photographed vertically fills the space better.

Also turn off portrait mode and filters. Artificial background blur often eats into the edges of the garment, and a filter changes the colours.

In what order should you put your photos on Vinted?

The first photo sells the click, the next ones sell the purchase. Each photo should answer a question the buyer has, in the order they ask it.

Vinted accepts up to 20 photos per listing. You don't need to go that far. Beyond eight photos for a simple garment, the buyer stops looking.

Should you show flaws in the photos?

Yes, always. Vinted explicitly asks for it, and it is your best protection: a flaw that is photographed and mentioned can't become grounds for a dispute. A flaw discovered on arrival can.

Can you use photos from a brand's website?

No. Vinted asks you not to use photos from a stock image library or another website. Your own photos must be on the listing. We go through the risks in our article on photos removed for copyright.

Which angles for shoes, bags and accessories?

Each category has its standard set.

Shoes: the pair in profile as the first photo, then the top, the back of the heels, the soles (the buyer judges wear there), the inside with the size.

Bags: front as the first photo, then the back, the bottom (corners wear first), the inside opened, the handles up close, the label or brand plate.

Jewellery and small accessories: on a plain dark or light background depending on the colour, with a familiar object next to it for scale, and a close-up of the hallmark if there is one.

What if your photos are good but the listing isn't taking off?

It happens a lot, and it isn't necessarily the photo. A well-photographed listing ages like the others: time since upload is one of the ranking criteria. After two or three weeks, even a great photo is pushed far down the results.

Retaking the photo won't change that. What you need is to put the listing back in front of buyers: a price drop if it has favourites, a repost if it doesn't.

Example: you spent ten minutes photographing each of your 50 items. That is more than eight hours of work. If those listings are no longer seen after three weeks because they weren't refreshed, part of that time is wasted.

Reposting those 50 listings by hand means re-uploading 300 photos. Revendor does it in the background, reusing your original photos and fields, so your initial work keeps paying off.

Which Vinted photo mistakes should you avoid?

The most common mistakes are easy to fix:

• a creased item: a quick iron or steamer changes everything;
• a cluttered background: unmade bed, chair, other clothes;
• a dark photo taken in the evening;
• a close-up as the first photo, where you can't tell what the item is;
• a collage of several photos in one, which Vinted advises against;
• mirror shots where you can see the whole room and the phone.

If your listing gets no response despite good photos, run it through our 10-point checklist.