A Quarter is just too tacky!

[Former_Member]

Hi guys! I need your help. People are often saying that I need to include a size reference in my pictures to help show size. In this listing I included a quarter

https://www.etsy.com/listing/127846192/soldered-glass-terrarium-pendant-lichen

I just do not feel this goes with the feel of my shop. My pieces are pretty organic feeling and the quarter, more industrial. Can you think of anything that is common, organic and everyone can relate size? Thanks for your input! I'm drawing a blank!

[Former_Member]

You could always wear the pendant to see how sizing is..

I struggle with some of my necklaces too, some are large and some are quite small. I have a display bust but the photos never come out right. I have tried wearing one or two things...

You could always have a wooden ruler? Perhaps take a picture with the pendant next to the wooden ruler, to show the size.

[ScrapendipityDesigns]

If you didn't want to wear, even a picture of you holding it in your hand would work. Yes some hands are bigger than others, but not enormously so. Holding it would give me an idea of how big it would be if I held it in my hand. I actually find the visual of someone holding a piece a much, much better reference for size then a quarter. I never can imagine how big a quarter is when thinking of size, but I can imagine a piece being held in my hand if I see someone else holding it.

Good luck!
Rachel

[clockworkfantastica]

You've actually done a nice job of incorporating the quarter into the shop in an artistic way.

I sometimes show a photo of my lockets in my hand or between my fingers to give approx visual scale, you can see how that looks in some of my current and sold item photos and on my shop banner.

Showing someone wearing it is also a very good idea.

Fruit sometimes works (apples or oranges) but not sure if that works for your product. A fishbowl with a betta fish inside? Just brainstorming here...

[sunshineandvodka]

Some of my items I hold in my hand and include that photo as the second one and refer to in in the description.

[StuckOnSilver]

I have begun photographing my items with a metric and USA ruler...

[Former_Member]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the brainstorming! I just thought about a pine cone? Those come in different sizes too though. I'll play with some stuff today

[clockworkfantastica]

Paulette, do you mind posting a listing of yours that shows the item in your hand?

Here's an example of two of mine.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/127044333/deer-miniature-music-box-locket-choose?ref=shop_home_active

And this one. https://www.etsy.com/transaction/114808587?


That reminds me - I've seen jewellery here staged with a cat for scale ^_^ I'll post it if I can find it again.

[Former_Member]

Remember that by using a coin you are excluding all international customers too.... we don't know how big a quarter is!

[clockworkfantastica]

I couldn't find the one with a grey cat modeling a pendant, but here's another item marketed and scaled by a paw

https://www.etsy.com/listing/64233978/winter-kitty-natural-perfume-oil?ref=shop_home_active

[Former_Member]

How about a wood ruler with in. and mm.?

[clockworkfantastica]

The thing about a ruler is that it's hard to use one artistically in product staging. At least with the quarter, Holly was able to angle things so that it doesn't look hideous.

I know that it's practical, but as a shopper I don't like seeing a ruler against anything except supplies.

[clockworkfantastica]

I know that there are lots of variations, but maybe an eagle's feather along with the sea stones in your photos would work with your pieces for approximate scaling.

[PiecesOfMePaperCraft]

I say put it in your hand or photograph a live model wearing it. My items aren't in the same category as yours but I have a few listings showing my hand to give an idea of scale.

This listing shows photos with my hand and a ruler (but it's technically a supplies listing).
https://www.etsy.com/listing/127752953/mini-red-hearts-die-cuts-tiny-red-hearts?ref=shop_home_active

[lightboxing]

i'd have it on a person in some way; either modelled around the neck or in the hand. i agree that a ruler should be only for photos of supplies, unless you're very, very clever with it and have a very pretty ruler..

and, i'd just like to contribute that i have very little idea how big a quarter is!
e.

[SelkieCrochet]

I use my hand for scale, like in this listing....

https://www.etsy.com/listing/125270466/irish-sea-shells-collection-in-tiny-vial?ref=shop_home_active

so you can see the size of the bottle in 2nd and 3rd photos and the size of some of the shells in the 5th one - they really are teeny tiny!

[Former_Member]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/116077487/sea-glass-first-cousin-purple-bottle?ref=shop_home_active

Not the most popular either I used a lighter in this image, because people would convo wanting to know the size of each bottle mouth. Even though I had the size mentioned in the description.

Sometimes in order to get the viewers attention you must use something that's NOT familiar or normal.

[Former_Member]

I've heard the quarter is a bad idea only because not every country uses a quarter, so they don't know how big that is! Maybe something more universal? I've seen a bottle cap used (a craft one) it was used nicely so it looked classy.

Since you're more organic, what about a flower or something? Roses are pretty standard! It's not exact but it would be pretty and give a nice idea of the size!

[WanderingJeweler]

I prefer the wood ruler and I use it in my last photo (#5) so it doesn't show up on my main product pages. I don't think it takes away from the aesthetic of my shop. I think it's important buying info. When I shop on Etsy I have a ruler in hand so I can see the size but I know many other people don't shop this way.

[Untwistedsister]

It's difficult to find organic things that are consistently sized for comparison. I don't think every photo has to be so artistic. You can always show one of the five photos with something that gives a relative size. Tea bags, pencils, your hand or a ruler that show both metric and US standard.

[Mollymoojewels]

I think the only way to really show the scale is to get yourself a model and that will solve your problem. Your pendants are amazing and I think they would look stunning on a live person.

[Former_Member]

Didn't read all the responses, so pardon if this is repetitive.

I don't use a quarter because not everyone around the world is aware how large a quarter is. I use a ruler. Not my favorite, but since it shows imperial and metric it's universal so it works better for showing scale.

[MerlinMN]

I would love to use a live model, but the hubby doesn't look good holding a purse (they are not manbags - haha!).
I did use a co-worker to model my first bag on Etsy, then realized that she is less than 5 feet tall and 85 pounds soaking wet, so the bag looks enormous!
I would find a very nice, old wooden ruler, a vintage cigarette lighter (but the BIC is found everywhere), a #2 wooden pencil, a CD case, or your business card, depending on what you are selling. I think that all of the above mentioned are fairly standard in size and availability worldwide.
You'll still get convos asking about size, color and everything else.

[TheDorothyDays]

I think something more universal would be good. I am in the UK and don't have a clue how big a quarter is !

[iLikeiLikeDesigns]

I agree with someone who stated earlier that sometimes holding something in your hand can be a good reference (although all hands are different obviously). A couple of times I included some candles and/or books. (See the listing below). Just regular house-hold items that the buyer might be able to relate to. Also, I don't make it my main picture if I have something for reference.

Hope this helps!

My example with candles and books:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/97611885/mini-hair-bows-lime-slushie?ref=shop_home_active