1. Start wide, then get close
One photograph should show the whole storage area — how many reels, how they are stacked, whether they are indoors or outdoors. Then move in. A buyer needs both scales: the size of the lot and the detail of one reel.
2. Photograph the reel tag, straight on
The tag carries the footage, the part number and often the manufacturer's construction code. Fill the frame, keep the tag in focus, and avoid shooting into a light source. If the tag is faded, take two shots from slightly different angles.
3. Capture the jacket legend in two places
Cable is printed every few feet, and print fades unevenly. Photograph two readable sections rather than one perfect one. Include the voltage rating, conductor size, insulation type and any listing marks in the frame.
4. Show a cable end
A cut end shows conductor material, stranding and whether moisture has entered. If the end is sealed or capped, photograph the cap instead of opening it. Never cut a cable to create a photograph.
5. Record the condition honestly
Photograph the worst area, not the best one. Crushed flanges, chafed jacket, rust on the reel hardware and water staining all affect value, and a buyer who discovers them later will discount the whole lot rather than the damaged reel.
6. Add a scale reference
A reel photographed alone could be 24 inches or 8 feet across. Put a boot, a pallet or a tape measure in the frame, and note the flange diameter where you can measure it.
7. Keep the set together
Name or number the reels in the same order as your list, and send the images as one set. Photographs arriving in three separate messages with no reference number are the most common reason a review goes quiet.