Photo Guide
This page helps you prepare a small but useful photo sample before contacting a dealer, auction house, or philatelic society. The goal is not to photograph everything. The goal is to show the right things clearly.
The 10-Photo Rule
Do not send 100 random photos. Send 10 well-chosen images that clearly and efficiently show the most important parts of the collection. For larger collections, you may also include one short overview video. A video should complement the photos, not replace them.
Why these photos matter
Good photos help show scale, organization, condition, gum, covers, postmarks, certificates, and exhibit pages. A useful photo sample can help the recipient determine whether the collection resembles albums, stockbooks, glassines, covers, exhibit pages, or a mixed accumulation.
The 10 photos to send
- The big picture — one wide shot of the whole box, shelf, or stack of albums. A short 30–60 second overview video can also help.
- A typical album page (front) — one average-looking page to set baseline expectations.
- A typical album page (back) — the same page reversed to show hinges, gum issues, or tape.
- The best-looking section (front) — the page that appears most specialized, best organized, or most promising.
- The best-looking section (back) — the same page reversed to show the real condition of the top material.
- One cover or postcard (front) — a mailed cover with stamps and postmarks.
- One cover (back) — to show transit marks, arrival stamps, and seals.
- One mint stamp (front) — a close-up of a clean, unused stamp.
- One mint stamp (back) — a close-up of the gum.
- Certificates, medals, or exhibit pages — any awards, expert certificates, or exhibition sheets.
Examples of useful photos
Below are simple examples of the types of images most useful when contacting a collector, dealer, auction house, or philatelic society. The goal is not artistic photography. The goal is clarity.
Technical tips
Use daylight near a window and avoid flash. Keep the phone parallel to the page. Avoid shadows and reflections. Crop tightly, but do not over-edit. Name files clearly, for example: Album1_Page3_Front.jpg.
Next Step
Once you have prepared a small photo sample, use the Contact Scripts page to write a clear and professional inquiry to a philatelic society, dealer, or auction house.