How to photograph a guitar to sell, in short: stand or lay the guitar against a plain background in soft daylight, no flash, and shoot the full front, full back, both sides, the headstock front and back, the neck joint, the serial number, the electronics and every ding. Reverb allows up to 25 photos per listing and recommends square images; aim for about 2000×2000 px.
More on this topic: Product photography, every guide in one place.
Guitar buyers zoom in. They check the finish for buckle rash and checking, the frets for wear, the headstock for cracks and repairs, and the serial number and pots to confirm the year. A glossy finish also reflects everything in the room, which makes guitars harder to photograph than most products. This guide covers the setup, beating reflections on gloss finishes, the full shot list, framing a long instrument in square photos, and amps and pedals. The free product collage maker combines detail shots into one image when you're short of photo slots.
- Up to 25 photos on Reverb: use them; buyers expect every angle and every flaw.
- Square photos: Reverb crops thumbnails square, so frame with that in mind.
- Original photos only: used gear needs photos of the exact instrument, not stock images.
- Soft, side light: glossy finishes mirror windows, lamps and you.
- Identify it: serial number, headstock back, neck joint and electronics.
What setup do you need to photograph a guitar?
A plain wall or backdrop, soft daylight from a window to the side, a guitar stand or a clean floor, and a phone on a tripod. You can shoot the guitar standing on a stand for the main photo and lay it flat on a blanket or rug for detail shots.
| Item | What to use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Plain light wall, or a dark sheet for light finishes | Clean outline; no clutter |
| Light | Large window to the side, overcast day ideal | Soft light, fewer hard reflections |
| Stand | A plain guitar stand, or leaned on a wall with a cloth under it | Upright main photo |
| Flat surface | Blanket, rug or felt on the floor | Safe for back and detail shots |
| Support | Tripod | Sharp photos; repeatable framing |
| Cleaning | Guitar polish cloth | Fingerprints and dust show on gloss |
Wipe the body, the neck and the headstock, and dust under the strings. Fingerprints and dust on a gloss finish look like wear in photos. Don't hide real wear, though; buyers want to see the instrument as it is.
How do you photograph a glossy guitar without reflections?
Light from the side with a large, soft source, keep bright lamps and windows out of the area the finish reflects into the lens, and stand slightly off-axis. A gloss finish is a curved mirror: whatever is in front of it appears in the photo.
- Turn off ceiling lights and the flash.
- Put the guitar side-on to a window, not facing it.
- Look at the finish on the phone screen, not with your eyes.
- If you see yourself or the window, take a step to the side and zoom slightly.
- Hang a dark sheet or stand back from the guitar so it reflects plain, dark areas.
- Shoot with the timer to avoid shake, then check the photo at full size.
What photos should a guitar listing have?
Reverb's own guidance asks for every angle and every blemish, including the back, the headstock and the serial number. This list covers what buyers expect for a used electric or acoustic guitar.
| Photo | What buyers check |
|---|---|
| Full front | Overall look, finish, hardware |
| Full back | Buckle rash, finish wear, neck plate |
| Both sides | Body depth, binding, dings |
| Angled three-quarter shot | Depth and shape; often the most attractive photo |
| Headstock front | Logo, tuners, cracks, truss rod cover |
| Headstock back | Serial number, tuner backs, repairs |
| Neck joint or heel | Fit, neck plate, cracks |
| Frets and fingerboard | Fret wear, divots, inlays |
| Electronics: pickups, controls, jack | Originality, corrosion |
| Inside: pots, cavity, label (acoustics) | Pot codes, wiring, maker's label |
| Case and accessories | What is included |
| Every flaw close-up | Dings, cracks, checking, repairs |
Reverb also says individuals selling used gear must use original photos of the exact item, and that dark, blurry or low-resolution photos can lead to a listing being taken down.
Reverb's photo limit and image guidelines were checked in October 2026. Marketplaces change their rules, so confirm the current requirements in your seller dashboard before you upload a large batch.
What size should guitar photos be for Reverb?
Square, at least 620×620 and up to 1600×1600 px (Reverb's own limits). Reverb crops thumbnails square, and its guidelines call squared photos ideal because the item won't be cut off. A full guitar is long and thin, so pad it into a square rather than cropping off the headstock or the end of the body.
- Main photo: the whole guitar, centered, padded to square with background space.
- Details: fill the square with the headstock, pickups or a flaw.
- File size: compress very large files before uploading if your connection is slow.
Pad a full-length guitar photo into a square without cutting off the headstock. Free, no sign-up, nothing uploaded.
Open the square image maker7 days free · 50 credits · No credit cardHow do you photograph flaws on a guitar?
Use light that glances across the surface. Finish checking, scratches and dents show best with a low side light; cracks in wood show best with light coming from behind or through the soundhole on an acoustic.
| Flaw | How to show it |
|---|---|
| Finish checking (lacquer cracks) | Low raking light across the finish |
| Buckle rash on the back | Angled light; a wide shot and a close-up |
| Dents and dings | Side light so the dent casts a shadow |
| Fret wear | Close-up along the fingerboard, light from the side |
| Headstock repairs | Back of the headstock in raking light |
| Top cracks on acoustics | Light inside the body, photo from outside |
How do you photograph amps and pedals?
Front, back, top, the control panel straight on, the serial label, inside the back panel if you can safely show it, and the unit powered on. For pedals, add the underside, the jacks and the power input.
- Control panel: straight on and level, so knob labels are readable.
- Powered on: pilot light or LED lit, to show it works.
- Tubes and chassis: photograph from outside if the amp is open-backed; don't open a chassis without knowing how to do it safely.
- Pedalboards: one top-down photo of the whole board, then each pedal.
What are the most common guitar photo mistakes?
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Window or photographer reflected in the finish | Side light; step off-axis |
| Headstock cut off in the thumbnail | Pad to square instead of cropping |
| No back or serial photos | Always show the back of the body and headstock |
| Stock or manufacturer photos | Original photos of the exact instrument |
| Cluttered room | Plain wall or sheet behind the guitar |
| Dark photos | Shoot in daylight; lift exposure slightly |
Crop and straighten with the free image cropper, fix exposure in the photo editor, and export other marketplaces' sizes with the marketplace image resizer. For more on glossy items, see how to photograph reflective products; for audio gear, how to photograph electronics.
All of Reverb's photo rules, from photo count to its Listing Standards, are in our Reverb photo requirements guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many photos can you add to a Reverb listing?
Up to 25. Use them for every angle, the serial number, electronics and every flaw.
What size should guitar photos be?
Square, between 620×620 and 1600×1600 px. Reverb crops thumbnails square, so pad full-length shots instead of cropping.
Can I use stock photos to sell a used guitar?
No. Reverb requires original photos of the exact gear for used items, and buyers expect them.
How do I stop reflections on a glossy guitar?
Light from the side, turn off ceiling lights and the flash, and step slightly off-axis so you and the window aren't reflected.
Should I show the serial number?
Yes. Buyers use it to date and verify the guitar, and Reverb's guidelines ask for identifying features.
How do I photograph a crack in an acoustic guitar?
Put a small light inside the body and photograph from outside, then add a raking-light close-up.
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