TIps for photographing gear for ads?

This is EZ.
1st of all, if at all possible, use a tripod.
Best is ambient natural light with no flash, if this cannont be done, use a flash and stay off angle slightly to diffuse glare.
It is MUCH better to take the photo from farther away and zoom in if you use a flash.
Just make sure you avoid close up and head on and use a tripod.
If you dont have a tri pod make sure you brace the camera or your body.
I take higher rez pictures then make them smaller on my computer before uploading them to Agon.
Hope this helps!

While I dont have the greatest digital camera to take pictures with, I have found that if I take whatever I am taking pictures of outside, the pictures come out just like I want them to. Taking them inside, I tend to get to much flash from the camera even though I change the setting or they are blurry.

Hope this information helps ?

Both suggestions already offered are good. As a professional photographer, the other great tweak for an image is "fill light."

This is achieved by placing a large white cardboard flat in a position to fill the shadows created by the sun or (your own) artificial light.

This provides a natural look, opening the shadows and providing shape and texture between the main (source) light and deep shadows. Opening the photo this way extends the tonal range and color, making it easier for your digital chip to record and Audiogon to display.

Aluminum foil wrapped around a cookie sheet works for very small objects and provides extra punch when needed. Both of these are free and can make the difference between just an average shot and a great one.

Everything said previously is spot on. Don't use the digital portion of your zoom however.

This is a question for Marco, Photographer Extrordinaire .