Good photos let our specialists give you a faster, more accurate estimate, often without a visit. A phone camera is all you need.
Complimentary checklist
Download the photo checklist
A one-page checklist to keep beside you while you take the pictures.
We will email the guide to this address. We never sell your details. Privacy policy
Start with good light
Daylight near a window is best. Turn off the flash, which flattens detail and causes glare on glass, gold, and glossy paint. Set the item against a plain background, let it fill the frame, and tap the screen to focus before you take the picture.
Show every side
Photograph the whole item first, then the details: front, back, sides, top, and underside. A few categories have their own habits.
- Art: the front, the back of the canvas or frame, and any labels, stamps, or inscriptions.
- Coins: both sides, straight on. Please do not clean coins; cleaning can lower their value.
- Furniture: the whole piece, with drawers open, plus the back and underside, where makers often left marks.
- Jewelry: any stamps such as 14K, 18K, or 925, and the maker’s mark.
- Watches: the dial, the case back, and any serial numbers.
- Guitars: the headstock, the serial number, and the case.
Get close to the marks
Signatures, maker’s marks, hallmarks, labels, and serial numbers often tell a specialist more than anything else. Take them close up and make sure they are in focus. If a mark is faint, try a second photo with the light coming from the side.
Be honest about condition
Photograph chips, cracks, repairs, stains, and missing parts. Condition affects value, and honest photos lead to an accurate estimate with no surprises later. If something is framed or boxed, photograph it as it is; there is no need to take it apart.
Add size and story
Include something familiar for scale, or note the measurements. Then tell us what you know: where the item came from, how long it has been in the family, and whether you have receipts, certificates, or earlier appraisals. Photograph that paperwork too.
Send them to us
You can add up to 20 photos to our complimentary estimate form. For a larger collection or a whole estate, send a representative selection and tell us about the rest. A specialist reviews every request and replies with an auction estimate and the next steps.