Guide
How to Photograph a Handbag for Authentication
Published 2026-08-18 · Reviewed 2026-08-18
Bags carry more small identifying details than almost any other item type — which is why the bag checklist is the longest one at Guardvera: 7 to 12 photos covering the bag overall, its interior label, its stitching, and its markings and hardware where present.
This guide goes shot by shot: what each photo is for, and the technique that gets it right the first time.
The three required shots
Every bag review starts from three photos your bag definitely can provide:
- Full front — place the bag on a level surface, step back, and shoot it straight on so its whole shape and proportions are visible. Don't crop the handles.
- Interior label — the brand label inside, straight-on and close, with every letter sharp. Bag interiors are dark and glossy linings catch glare, so this shot is easy to get wrong: pull the opening wide, or gently light the interior.
- Stitching and edge detail — a macro of a stitched seam and edge finishing. Choose a well-lit stretch and get close enough that individual stitches are clearly visible.
The "where present" details
The rest of the checklist depends on what your bag actually has. If a detail exists, photograph it; if it doesn't, skip it — optional shots never block a submission:
- Serial number or date code — many houses place a small tab or stamp inside. Flip it fully out and shoot it flat, readable, without your fingers covering characters.
- Zipper, front and back — the pull's engraving on the front, then open the zipper and photograph its back. Zipper backs are often marked too.
- Zipper teeth — a close macro of the teeth themselves.
- Strap buckle or clasp — straight on.
- Hardware engraving — any one engraving, filling the frame.
- Rivets — one in-focus macro if your bag has them.
Technique that makes every shot usable
Use daylight or a bright, evenly lit room and avoid direct flash on metal — flash is what turns engraved hardware into a white blob. Hold the phone with both hands, tap to focus on the detail, and wait for the lens to lock before shooting. For interior shots, more light beats a wider aperture: a second phone's torch bounced off the lining works better than shooting into darkness.
If a shot comes out soft, retake it before submitting — one minute now is faster than an additional-photo request later.
Common questions
- My bag has no serial number or date code. Is that a problem?
- Not for submitting — that shot is "where present". Reviewers assess the full set of signals your bag does show; the presence or absence of any single marking is never treated as a verdict by itself.
- Should I include the dust bag, box or receipt?
- The checklist focuses on the bag itself, but packaging and receipts can be genuinely useful supporting context when you have them — they are supporting material, not proof.