Critique needed on photos

[Former_Member]

Ever since I opened my shop, I've been battling with my photos! I started with the items on piece of white fabric but the ripples in the fabric left shadows so I started changing the listings to a hardwood floor background but on some I think it doesn't make the items appealing or very usable for treasuries. I also started using a model for some of the photos but I don't know if I like using that as the first photo.

Finally today I started photographing them on a hard white surface. My newest listings are on the new background.

Could someone please take a look at my shop and give me your advice which background they prefer: the white or the wood flooring?

Thanks so much!

[LittleBunnySueSue]

I like the pictures with the white background.

[FiveLittleGems]

this pic is beautiful and very eyecatching!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/82049016/pretty-in-pink-breast-cancer-survivor

your model pics are fantastic, too. model pics often get treasury features.

the wood flooring i don't like. go with the white! :)

[FiveLittleGems]

the only other suggestion i have is to take your white background photos and brighten them up just slightly. they're a tiny bit darker than they should be for optimum eyecatcherness. you can do that on picnik.com very easily with exposure and highlights/shadows. that will really make your items pop out in relevancy search!

[shoparebours]

I would stay away from the floor pics - I think the idea that it's been on someone's floor - no matter how clean - will turn some people away

[JennyKentDesigns]

Go to ezcube.com
They have a lot of items that help when photographing small items. They are a little pricey but i purchased an ezcube and lighting and it makes a HUGE difference.

[JaneStaufferPaperCo]

My suggestions....
Michaels Hobby Store sells paper in different colors that might help you find a background that you like for your items. In place of floor, sheets, etc.
Look in the scrapbook section...they are small pieces but you can get enough to cover an area. Low priced too.

2nd suggestion:
When you photograph...place a light on one side of the item to shine on your product so that shadows and highlights show drama. Play around, place the lamp low, high, etc. and dim the room lights to see what you have and if your colors and material are popping.
No need for the expensive lights at this point...try an desk lamp, etc. Something that gives a spot light directed to your items. Not a flood light. This should help with the flatness of your photos. Different bulb types will give different looks...so do experiment to start. Whatever type bulbs you have at home and nowadays...we have many types.

You didn't ask but if I may suggest that you also give some kind of size if you don't have a model.

Good luck....and hang in there.

[Former_Member]

I like your new background. I also agree with Holly about brightening them up a bit. The white back ground is much better that the hard wood floor.

[Former_Member]

Sounds like most of you like the new white background. I've been using natural light at this point but its been very gloomy around here these days so I'm not getting the lighting I usaully would prefer.

[NikkiCrossApplesauce]

agree with above comments. I like wood as a background and I use it especially when my item itself is white and I want it to pop. I went to Home Depot and got a birch wood panel scrap for about $7, I use it all the time for my small items! Gives it more the effect of being on a wood table, rather than the floor. best of luck!

[AccessoriesByBethany]

I agree - go with the white. I don't prefer things being on the floor, either. It's pretty easy to adjust the background (brighten it up) in picnik (I edit in picasa and sometimes go to picnik to fix them). I find it hard to get my light colored items bright without washing them out.

[Former_Member]

Fotofuze is free and easy to use! :)

www.fotofuze.com

[LittleBunnySueSue]

I also just made a light box out of a cardboard box and it has worked fantastic! There are a lot tutorials online about how to make your own light box.

[Former_Member]

a lot of you have mentioned brightening up the photos a bit but wouldn't that distort the colors of the materials and fabrics used?

[Former_Member]

I like the pics were you or people you know are modling your items, showing you potenial customers what your items look like on, in action as it were. It helps customers imagine what the item would look like on them and makes it more tempting to buy. Also I like the wooden backgrounds, the colour of the wood almost matches your banner perfectly which i really like.

[FiveLittleGems]

Sarah Schillo from lilmissthriftydesign says

a lot of you have mentioned brightening up the photos a bit but wouldn't that distort the colors of the materials and fabrics used?
-------------------------------------------------------
it shouldn't change your colors at all just to brighten them up a touch. the entire photo is darkened including the subject. but the best way to control your photo brightness is by doing it with your camera. if you can check your camera manual and learn how to manually adjust your exposure (how much light your lens is letting in), you'll barely have any editing to do at all. HUGE time saver! i have an olympus point and shoot. after i spent some time learning how to manually adjust my camera for optimum light and white balance, i now take my pictures and all i really have to do is crop them. and i'm no professional photographer, believe me. if i can do it, you can, too. :)

[Former_Member]

I don't care for the flooring, or the one below. Keep backrounds white and clear of clutter..Hope this helps.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80644381/silk-ruffled-flower-bib-necklace-paisley

[FiveLittleGems]

Sarah Schillo from lilmissthriftydesign says

a lot of you have mentioned brightening up the photos a bit but wouldn't that distort the colors of the materials and fabrics used?
---------------------------------------------
ha! i just noticed you're from clevetown! me too! :)

[Former_Member]

A local hello! I agree with the others, the white background is best. Your shots are good though, the items look attractive at the angles/ distances you've captured them at. Nice shop.

[Former_Member]

Thanks everyone!

@ Holly, are you from Cleveland or somewhere else in OH? Gotta love the weather we are having today... sure beats the rain for the past week :)

[Former_Member]

I like the suggestions of Stella Jane Stauffer.

Some of my opinions: I would add that the model pics of the adults look great. Although the little girl is cute, the viewer may end up looking at the pose or face of the child. In some it looks as if she was crying or about to cry. With very young children it might be easier to photograph them in a real situation instead of trying to get them to model. And crop the image later. Or choose an older child whom you can direct.

Don't use any image that is not in focus, reshoot it.

When considering clothing on a model, make sure that the model or her clothing does not become more important or distracting than the product your are shooting.

And the product should be the biggest thing in the first picture. If you have a model pic and the product is less than 20% of the entire image, use is as the second image for scale. That first image should be your best image!

Hope this helps. Good Luck!

[Former_Member]

Thanks so much :)

[TinkerCrafts]

I've taken tons of pictures on scrapbook paper with lots of natural light. It's all about the lighting!

[Former_Member]

As an example of shooting pics for a listing. I took 55 today for one item. Sounds excessive but I move the item and my model around a lot to find just the perfect lighting, angle and background.

Just keep working on it. All of us are doing the same thing!

[Former_Member]

I like the white background. There are gazillions of articles and blogs how to take good pictures maybe you want to google them. Good luck.