Guide
Common Photo Mistakes That Make Authentication Harder
Published 2026-08-18 · Reviewed 2026-08-18
If a review stalls, the photos are the first place to look. The handful of problems below make any review harder, whatever the item type — and every one is preventable with a phone and a minute of care.
Glare across the exact detail that matters
Flash on metal hardware, ceiling lights on a watch crystal, a window reflected in a patent-leather surface — glare has a talent for landing precisely on the engraving or label a reviewer needs. Turn flash off, use diffuse light, and rotate the item — not the camera — a few degrees at a time until the reflection slides away from the detail.
Soft focus on lettering
Labels, stamps, hallmarks and engravings only help when every character is sharp. Phones often focus on the background instead of a small detail: tap the screen on the detail itself, let focus lock, and brace your hands. If you're closer than your lens can focus, back off slightly — a sharp photo from a little further away beats a blurry macro.
Shooting from too far away
A photo of the whole bag cannot double as the label shot. Overall shots and detail shots do different jobs: overall shots show shape and proportions from a distance; detail shots need the detail filling most of the frame. When a checklist asks for a specific detail, get close.
Missing the second side
Zipper pulls have backs. Clasps have insides. Serial tabs fold away. These second sides are easy to miss — and they are exactly where markings tend to sit — which is why checklists spell them out. Following the guided checklist shot by shot, including the "where present" extras your item has, is the single most effective way to avoid an additional-photo request.
Editing, filtering or compressing the photos
Filters shift colors, aggressive compression destroys fine texture, and cropping can remove context a reviewer uses. Upload photos as the camera took them — authentication photos are evidence, not content.
Common questions
- Do photo problems affect my turnaround?
- They can: the turnaround window starts once your submission is complete and usable, so unusable photos delay the start — and may lead to an additional-photo request. Clear photos the first time keep everything on schedule.