Shipping photos are time-stamped pictures that show a Pokemon card's condition just before packing. To document a card before sealing the parcel, photograph the front, back, and corners outside the sleeve, then photograph the sleeved card next to the packing slip. These pictures help both sides if a card arrives damaged, differs from the listing, or goes missing. Good documentation takes two minutes and removes most guesswork about when a flaw happened.
Table of Contents
- What should each photo show?
- How do you take clear and honest pictures?
- How do you tie photos to the right order?
- When can you delete the photos?
What should each photo show?
Take one straight-on shot of the card front and one of the back. Fill the frame with the card, keep edges square, and include all four corners.
Add close-ups of any wear, print lines, edge whitening, or scratches on the holographic area. Photograph the card in its penny sleeve, a terms collectors use for a thin clear holder, then inside the top-loader or similar rigid holder. Finish with a shot of the sealed inner package beside the addressed outer mailer, with any tracking barcode visible.
- Front, full card
- Back, full card
- Corners and edges at an angle
- Flaw close-ups
- Card in sleeve and rigid holder
How do you take clear and honest pictures?
Use bright, indirect daylight on a plain dark surface. Wipe glare-prone holographic cards with a microfiber cloth before shooting, then hold the phone steady and tap to focus on the card surface. Turn off flash if it hides scratches or creates a white hotspot.
Show the card as it looks in normal handling. Do not use filters, heavy cropping, or angles that hide a crease, bend, or dent. If color looks wrong on screen, retake the shot rather than editing it.
How do you tie photos to the right order?
Place a handwritten note with the buyer name, order number, and date beside the card in one wide shot. Keep that note out of close-up condition photos so it does not cover flaws. Send the key images to the buyer through the sale chat before you seal the box.
Keep original files with their automatic date information. Name the folder with the order number and card name, such as order plus Charizard. This simple link matters when you sell similar copies of the same card.
When can you delete the photos?
Keep the full set until the buyer confirms receipt and the allowed period for damage or wrong-item reports has passed. Rules differ by marketplace, payment service, and shipping carrier, so keep the parcel receipt with the same folder.
Store copies in one backed-up place, not only on the phone. If you post proof pictures publicly, cover the full address and tracking barcode first. Save the originals until the return window closes, then delete any images showing addresses.
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