Photos that sell
Good photos are the single biggest predictor of a record selling — and of staying out of the dispute queue afterwards. The wizard requires at least 3 and up to 8 photos per listing, each at least 1500 pixels on the long edge.
The required set
- Front of the sleeve — straight, well-lit, no fingers
- Back of the sleeve — same
- One label close-up — both sides if matrix or differences matter
Three is the minimum. Each additional photo helps.
What buyers want to see
- Any visible wear on the sleeve — ring wear, seam splits, spine fade, water damage. Photograph it — it builds trust even though it might feel uncomfortable.
- The vinyl itself if there's a story — visible scratches, light scuffs, the run-out groove etching, the matrix number.
- Inserts, posters, booklets when they're part of the listing.
- Coloured or limited variants that need to be visible to verify the pressing.
Light and background
- Natural daylight when possible. Overcast light is the easiest — even, no shadows.
- Plain background. A wooden floor, a wall, a clean surface. Not your kitchen counter mid-coffee.
- Straight angles. Tilt the camera so the front is parallel to the sleeve. Square crops are kindest to the catalog grid.
What not to do
- Don't reuse Discogs stock images — buyers want photos of the actual copy.
- Don't filter or photoshop. A buyer who receives a record duller than the photo has been mis-sold.
- Don't use flash unless you really know what you're doing — it hides scratches and over-saturates the cover.
Phone camera is fine
A 2019-or-later smartphone camera is more than enough for what we need. Wipe the lens, find good light, take more than you need, pick the best.
Why this matters for you
Listings with three solid photos move faster, settle for less negotiation, and lead to higher ratings. Bad photos lead to disputes — and disputes consume your time even if you win them. Half an hour of photography per record is the best time you'll spend as a seller.