Tips to take better photos of your items.
Great photos are the single biggest thing you can do to get your item rented. They're the first thing borrowers see, and often the only thing they use to decide whether to book you or scroll past. The good news: you don't need a fancy camera. Your phone, a bit of daylight, and a few minutes is all it takes.
Here's how to make your listings look their best.
Start With Good Light
Use daylight whenever you can. Natural light is flattering, free, and makes colours look true to life. Shoot near a window or step outside — early morning and late afternoon are the kindest hours.
Avoid harsh midday sun. Direct overhead sunlight creates strong shadows and washed-out colours. If you have to shoot outside at noon, find some open shade — under a tree, a porch, or against a light-coloured wall.
Skip the indoor flash. Phone flashes flatten the image, kill the colours, and create harsh reflections on anything shiny. Turn it off and find a brighter spot instead.
Pick a Clean Background
Less is more. A plain wall, a wooden floor, or a tidy table top lets your item be the star. Clutter in the background makes the photo feel chaotic and the item feel less cared for.
Use a neutral colour. White, grey, or natural wood work well for most items. Avoid busy patterns or strong colours that compete with what you're showing.
Tidy the shot. Move pets, kids' toys, laundry, and unrelated items out of frame. A two-minute tidy makes the difference between a casual snap and a listing that looks professional.
Show the Whole Item
Lead with a wide shot. Your first photo should show the full item, straight on, well-lit, and clearly recognisable. This is the thumbnail borrowers see first, so make it count.
Fill the frame. Get close enough that the item takes up most of the photo, but leave a little breathing room around the edges. Avoid huge empty space.
Shoot from the angle people will use it. A drill from the handle side, a bike from the side profile, a tent partially set up. Show it the way a borrower would imagine using it.
Cover the Details
Multiple angles. Front, back, sides, and top. Five to eight photos is the sweet spot — enough to feel thorough, not so many that people stop scrolling.
Include the accessories. Cables, chargers, attachments, carry bags, manuals — anything that comes with the rental. Lay them out together in one photo so borrowers know exactly what they're getting.
Show the scale. For larger items, include something familiar for size reference — a hand, a chair, a doorway. It helps borrowers judge whether it'll fit in their car or their space.
Don't hide the wear. A scratch, a scuff, or honest wear-and-tear shown clearly builds trust. Hiding it leads to disputes at handover. A small flaw photographed honestly is far better than a "perfect" listing that disappoints in person.
Keep It Sharp and Steady
Tap to focus. Tap the item on your phone screen before taking the shot. This locks the focus and usually adjusts the brightness too.
Hold it steady. Two hands, elbows tucked in. Or rest your phone on a table or stack of books for sharper results. Blur is the quickest way to make a listing look amateur.
Shoot straight. Hold the phone level — not tilted up or down. Straight-on photos look more honest and professional than odd angles.
A Few Quick Don'ts
No filters. Heavy filters distort colour and make borrowers wonder what the item actually looks like. Keep it real.
No watermarks or text overlays. Lendit displays your photos cleanly. Adding logos, watermarks, or "DO NOT STEAL" text just looks unprofessional.
No screenshots from the manufacturer's website. Use photos of your actual item. Stock images feel dishonest and borrowers can usually tell.
No photos in a messy car boot. We've all been tempted. It still looks bad.
The Short Version
Natural light, no flash
Clean background
Full item in the first shot, then details
Include accessories and any wear
Sharp, steady, straight-on
Five to eight photos is plenty
A few minutes of effort here pays off every time someone scrolls past similar listings and picks yours.
Borrow it. Share it. Lendit.