How to photograph items for a desk appraisal

Most personal property can be appraised remotely, which is why NextPhase accepts those assignments worldwide. The quality of your photographs largely determines how tight the conclusion can be — and a poorly documented item gets a wider, more conservative range.

Shoot in daylight or bright, even indoor light. Avoid direct flash, which blows out detail on metal, glass, and glossy surfaces. Place the item on a plain, neutral background — a bedsheet works.

For every item: one overall shot, one of any maker's mark, signature, hallmark, label, or serial number, and one of any damage, repair, or wear. Detail shots should fill the frame; step back for the overall.

Include something for scale where size is not obvious — a ruler is ideal, a coin will do. For collections, photograph the group first, then anything individually significant.

Send original files rather than screenshots or messaging-app copies, which are compressed and strip the detail that matters most.