I disagree
If the game is off, I wonder "why"?
does the game not work? What is wrong with the game?

Yes colored LEDs can make a game look bad, I say that they should take better pictures

Pics with game on, glass off

I don't know bro, maybe ask the seller for the pics you want?

More pictures the better. Lights on, off. Glass on, off. Inside and out.

Why in the hell would you want pictures either on or off, Chuckwurt is dead spot on, with lights on you can't see any details of the PF and the glass on is a totally useless picture unless you're looking for glass scratches, I would never buy a machine from the lazy ass that only takes picts thru the glass, that means they are totally lazy or totally hiding the condition.

Why not both?

I always take a few with game on, and a few with off. Obviously with the glass off.

Seems pretty simple.

Well sure, if you're actually trying to sell a machine the more pics the better. But come on, everyone knows what they got in 2022 and if it doesn't sell they'll just keep it; they don't need to sell it.

Agree with both game on and off (always glass off) but also with supplying any pics/vids as requested by potential buyer. I show lights on to give buyer confidence game boots and display works. Displays are hard to get in a pic but I’ll have vids available of lamp and display tests. Off to show PF but i’ll focus on showing notable areas of wear like ball drops etc. Obviously more relevant to older games. I don’t think you need to upload a full library of pics on a fs ad. Show an appropriate amount to give a proper representation and be prepared to offer whatever is requested from a prospective buyer.

In my early days of collecting i bought a game off a Pinphila who i was meeting in Allentown. First game i was buying remote (tho was picking up eventually). A very nice OG BK. I received over 100 pics, showing anything that he, unsolicitedly) perceived as a flaw. When i got the game my expectations were exceeded as most smudges on the cab wiped off with a rag, or was a smaller issue than the closeup pic indicated. So i decided from this experience what kind of seller i wanted to be.

I don’t know. The cost of extra pictures could be a ton. You’ve got to schedule time for the photographer and a few grips to move the lights around to capture best angles of the pinball machine. By the time you get the prints back from developing and sort through them, it wouldn’t be worth it. Especially when you add the time to get your newly developed shots scanned into the computer to get them posted on time.

I think a painting on canvas or preferably velvet would be a better approach.

Can we close this thread now? I think we’ve covered all the bases

chasing the wrong problem here...

The issue is not game on/off.. it's dummies taking photos IN THE DARK. You need a lot of ambient light to make the game details clear in a photo. Spot lights and angle to not get glare.

DSC_3083 (resized).jpg

Use game on lighting to reveal how the game has been tailored
DSC_3088-X5 (resized).jpeg

If these dummies had any ambient light Pukestadiums wouldn't exist.