The New Intimacy

Does lack of a decent camera doom a reviewer to "useful" or lower ratings?

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Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
I don't have a camera, and since returning from an absence, I've noticed that my reviews aren't received as well as in the past. I've also noticed that every review seems to include pictures now, even for products that already have pictures on their product page. While I see the value of a photo of a pure plug medium lying beside a golf ball, since that product doesn't have 'view actual size' I'm puzzled by this widespread new practice.

I try to be thorough, detailed, and entertaining, but I don't have a respectable camera. Is there any way I can improve without purchasing an expensive and otherwise unwanted piece of equipment?
07/21/2012
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Contributor: js250 js250
There are still quite a few of us who do not include pictures with our reviews. I never include pics on toys or bath items unless there is something that really needs to be pointed out. I only include pictures on half of my lingerie reviews due to sheer lingerie or inappropriate body parts showing. I was also without a camera for about 2 months. My review ratings have not gone down. As a matter of fact, it went up a few points. If you would like, I will look over your last few reviews and let you know if I can see if I can spot the issue. Message me and let me know if you want me to do that for you. Glad to have you back!!!
07/21/2012
Contributor: - Kira - - Kira -
I think reviews without photos can be EU, but honestly I don't read them. I have ADD and blocks of texts without pretty photos are hard for me to get through. I'm also a visual learner, so five pages of text won't mean the same as one photo for me. That's just my personal style though. There are many on here who are more than happy to read reviews without photos and some that prefer it!
07/21/2012
Contributor: T&A1987 T&A1987
Not necessarily, I've written several reviews that didn't involve photos and still had mostly EU ratings and some reviews with photos that averaged U. For reviews, amount of information, writing style and originality more than makeup for a lack of photos.
07/21/2012
Contributor: SMichelle SMichelle
I very rarely include photos in my reviews, and my reviews are frequently rated as EU or Useful. I provide as much detail as I can in my reviews, and it seems to be enough as most of my ratings are really good.

I've seen reviews with photos that don't provide me with enough information to warrant a useful rating, as well.
07/21/2012
Contributor: cricket cricket
I think pictures that show scale and actual item quality are the best assets to a review
07/21/2012
Contributor: Dixiemomma Dixiemomma
i think pictures make the review 10X better, without pics i do tend to rate the review lower as i cant see how the item actually looks when it arrives, size, functions things like that, and i'm not into reading paragraphs of txt.... I have a couple of my review that dont have pics but very few
07/21/2012
Contributor: ToyGeek ToyGeek
I hope I didn't offend anyone by asking about this -- it has been brought to my attention that it was inappropriate and I'll be much more careful in the future.

Thank you everyone for answering my question. I'll stop writing reviews until I can invest in a camera. Things sure have changed since I did reviews here in the past!
07/21/2012
Contributor: Lioncub Lioncub
I don't have a camera thus have never added a pic with my reviews.
07/21/2012
Contributor: Ilovelingerie Ilovelingerie
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyGeek
I don't have a camera, and since returning from an absence, I've noticed that my reviews aren't received as well as in the past. I've also noticed that every review seems to include pictures now, even for products that already have ... more
It depends on how bad the camera is... if I can barely make out the picture, then yes. But if the picture is decent, then no.
07/21/2012
Contributor: Princess-Kayla ♥ Princess-Kayla ♥
I've written several reviews without pictures that have been voted EU. I just like adding pictures to show little details and such. There's nothing wrong with not having pictures though. ^^
07/22/2012
Contributor: Zombirella Zombirella
I won't downvote someone just because they added photos and they weren't too great of quality. I will just overlook the pictures. This may make me sounds stupid, but I still don't get the "view actual size" ruler thing. I tried using it and it wasn't helpful. I would much rather see a picture in a review to get a better idea but I won't vote based on having pictures or not.
07/22/2012
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
No, I don't downvote for a lack of photos. I would rather see no photos and lots of details than tons of photos but no details.
07/22/2012
Contributor: unfulfilled unfulfilled
I don't downvote based on pictures because I personally don't have a great camera so although I tend to include pictures it's not professional quality like some other peoples pictures are. I'm ok with that because I can't afford a camera. My reviews average EU.
07/22/2012
Contributor: Peggi Peggi
This totally depends on the review itself, for me.

I rate useful as if it were a grade in school of an "A", and an EU vote would be an A+

The way I decide is if they had ALL of the information give or take maybe 1 question I might have afterward but nothing less, nothing more, I vote useful. I vote EU if the review has something that went above and beyond just "what was needed" such as links, comparing the item to something, giving additional tips such as with lingerie what accessories to try with it or how to modify something - things like that get the EU vote from me.

I tend to vote this way because as I write my review I try to stop and think about what questions readers may have and try to eliminate the need to ask me anything in the end. I am lucky to have a camera so I do add pictures for a visual but I also include as many links as I can to make it easier for readers!

You could always try links like I do

I see it as making their job easier to achieve what you already did. If a toy can ONLY use water-based lubes I link them to Eden's water-based lubes and ONLY water-based lubes, so that if they are new to such things they won't have to struggle to search. I link to the manufacturer page since sometimes that's not available on the product page on some rare occasions (when they don't have a manufacturer page on EF, I should specify)...things like that!

I hope that helps you to get more EU votes
07/22/2012
Contributor: Taylor Taylor
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyGeek
I hope I didn't offend anyone by asking about this -- it has been brought to my attention that it was inappropriate and I'll be much more careful in the future.

Thank you everyone for answering my question. I'll stop writing ... more
I do feel like in the last couple of years since I've been here, the bar for what people will vote EU on has risen. People are wanting more pictures and details than used to be the case around here in my opinion.

That's great for getting thorough reviews, and I think it is great for the site as a whole, but I know at least for me it has made them feel more daunting and has made me not want to review as much as I used to. I feel like my reviews get picked at more than when I first got here if I forgot a minor detail or made a grammatical mistake, and honestly I don't need that.
07/22/2012
Contributor: js250 js250
Quote:
Originally posted by Taylor
I do feel like in the last couple of years since I've been here, the bar for what people will vote EU on has risen. People are wanting more pictures and details than used to be the case around here in my opinion.

That's great for ... more
Since the reviews are primarily to help a prospective buyer make an informed decision regarding a particular item--the bar should be set high. I know every one of us has gotten an item we were very excited about, just to be very disappointed with certain aspects of it after receiving and using it. The thought of 'if only there were honest reviews on it somewhere, I could have saved my money and time.', has probably crossed our minds at one time or another.

Pictures do not make a review--writing, details and honesty about a product does. Do not be afraid to add a lot of yourself to the review as well, this is your opinion!!
07/22/2012
Contributor: Taylor Taylor
Quote:
Originally posted by js250
Since the reviews are primarily to help a prospective buyer make an informed decision regarding a particular item--the bar should be set high. I know every one of us has gotten an item we were very excited about, just to be very disappointed with ... more
Right I'm not saying that they should not be set high. I just meant that might be why the ratings aren't as high as before if she is putting the same things in her reviews.
07/22/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Taylor
Right I'm not saying that they should not be set high. I just meant that might be why the ratings aren't as high as before if she is putting the same things in her reviews.
I agree with Taylor. You can't stop progress.

As in everything, as technology improves people are going to use it, stand out and then that once new technology will become nearly expected. It's only human nature to want to improve on things and technology is one of the things that causes these changes.

I plugged the words "digital" "camera" and "affordable" into a search engine and found hundreds of thousands of links. Even the very first page gave me links to thousands of links to reputable dealers selling digital cameras for under $100.00. Here's only one link

There are many more. Most halfway decent phones and lap top cams take pics workable for reviews. Yeah, it's a PITA to take pics, but as things change, they... change and if people expect a different way of reviewing, that's what they do.

Look at the U and EU reviews from 2009 compared to most of the U and EU reviews today. Progress happened and it resulted, for the most part in better reviews. Not always, of course, but as a bulk, yes. Or at least changing expectations. I'm not saying I'd necessarily vote lower for a review with no pics, but for a lot of product I do want to see the size the shape, maybe how it looks in someone's hand, how it compares to household objects I can related to so I can get an idea of the size and mass of the toy etc.

I think when reviews went digital it was mostly a good thing. Some things really don't need pictures. I'm working on a book review right now, and what would I show? Probably use no pics with this review (but I'm not sure yet.) But, for my other reviews, I nearly always include pics.
07/22/2012