Holiday Boot Camp - Week 3!

[#1]

Hey Campers!

How are you liking boot camp so far? I'd love to hear if you're keeping up. Are there any tasks that have stumped you?

This week I challenge you to rework your photos. We have an exercise for newbies and a new article for more advanced photographers: http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/mastering-depth-of-field-techniques-for-dynamic-photos/

Having difficulties? I will be checking in on this thread (along with the rest of the Seller Education Team) to help you! So keep us updated on your progress.

Have fun with it!

Danielle

[Former_Member]

I have been doing great on the check lists. I gave my self a little too much to do this last week since I forgot I would loose 2 days to go to a wedding : )

[Former_Member]

This is great. My goal is to list one item a day. Would you please visit my web site
http://www.etsy.com/shop/alankarshilpa?ref=pr_shop_more

and give me some feed back whenever you have some time? I'd love to buddy up with some one . Thank you so much. Dita

[Former_Member]

Love the checklists Danielle! They are really keeping me on track!

[OceanPearlJewellery]

FYI to the group - I downloaded the free photo improvement program Gimp a while back and that is how I improve the colours and clarity of my photos. You can also look up You Tube videos and blogs on how best to do any photo improvements. It has worked quite well for me (although I still have to rework a lot of my old photos).

Hope that helps!

[Former_Member]

It's a good thing I have already been re-working my photos. I've been told they are better than the ones I had previously

[Former_Member]

OceanPearlJewellery - I find youtube tutorials so helpful! Good suggestion :)

[Former_Member]

What is the link to the 3rd week? It's not in my email where the other weeks have shown up! Grr!

[Former_Member]

Hi Everyone. I just found out bout Holiday Boot Camp. How do I obtain the tasks for the week and I heard you also need a buddy? Please help. I would love to participate.

[Former_Member]

Hello everyone. I also have missed the 1st and 2nd bootcamp. Are they being archived for us to view or is it to late? Hope not. Actually just before I signed up to this team I went and got my tripod out and camera to take some new pictures of new things and I was thinking of re-shotting some older things. Timing. :)

[PenguinCraft]

Sigh....I'm already behind.....

[hooknsaw]

I've been working on photos for the past 6 weeks. Thanks for the great tips and advice!

[MarysPintsizedPieces]

Perfect timing this week. I just checked in with one of my boot campers AuntyCarols and we were discussing photos. Time to up my quality. Wish me luck

[MarysPintsizedPieces]

I can't seem to print the holiday packaging. I am really interested in the words of wisdom in that section.

[herie7]

Photos are always a struggle for me especially getting natural lighting as I work a full time job. A recent store critique actually gave me kudos on my photos so I am getting there.

I think I am keeping up with the holiday planning guide. I have actually spun red yarn for the shop and have a design plan for a scarf for the shop to match my hats.

[toriska]

hooknsaw, I've noticed the improvement in your photos (I, um, stalked your hotpads for awhile until I had the money to buy one!) and I think they really look great now.

This week's challenge is a tough one for me. I really am at a loss. I've figured out how to change the white balance and EV on my camera and have been steadily improving them, but I'm kind of over the white background. I really want to take them to the next level. I've been jotting down ideas of props, backgrounds, etc and need to experiment with depth of field. I find it challenging to work with something the size of purse with the small photography area I have and when so many tips are geared towards jewelry sellers who have such small items.

[Former_Member]

I was so glad to see that this weeks challenge was to revamp our photos...mostly because that was on this weeks personal to do list anyway! HA! Lucky me...thanks so much for all the motivation. This has been very challenging but also very enjoyable.

[EuraLee]

I think my tags might be ineffective or inaccurate...I'm in NEED of TAG assistance.

[LinorStoreDesigns]

EuraLee

For Tags: Try to use the same title and description and tags

For example: http://www.etsy.com/listing/79990169/buttoned-up-mini-turquoise-earrings-50?ref=v1_other_1

I would use Title: Turquoise mini button earrings
Descrip: These turquoise mini button earrings are post earrings. I love creating them.

Mini turquoise button earrings are approx 3/8 in - list in CM or MM too, use inches to cm website.

A subtle fashionable accent. Popular with all ages.

50% of the proceeds will be donated to those in need in Ecuador. (Who? What organization? Is it legit?)

Tags: some examples
mini button, turquoise teal, turquoise post, button earrings

[LinorStoreDesigns]

I could use help in finding the white balance on my Kodak camera.

This picture is one of my challenges
http://www.etsy.com/listing/83037374/garnet-cluster-earrings

I do use a tripod and lights - sometimes I can't get close enough for clarity

[MsBittyKnacks]

Since this weeks topic are photos, which look better the all white background or the ones with the color background??

[CandiWareArt]

ITs funny cuz I was planing of taking some new photos of my jewelry this weekend more fun ones :) Good luck everyone work hard :D We all can do it!

[CapeCodArtnNature]

I am loving the boot camp! I have been on Etsy for 5 years now but this is the first year I've done boot camp and I feel like it is really helping me focus and stay on task! I'm psyched--I have a buddy, too, which is awesome!

Thanks for doing this--it's great! And all the information is relevant and good--I am finding it to be really spot on--a lot of it I knew--but being reminded is always a good thing as we go into the holidays.

[ParadiseChicJewelry]

Thanks Danielle,
I mainly use a white background, otherwise my jewelry seems to get lost, but I would like to try the out of focus background idea if I could figure a good background to use maybe for one of the picture slots. I try to take different angels of my photo, but sometimes I feel they look a little borring maybe.

[Former_Member]

Does white balance help when it's a gray day out? I try to use natural light, but it's difficult to find a spot where it is bright enough.

[Former_Member]

Hi Just joined the group and Etsy not that long ago. Can someone take a look at my photos for me. I'm so lost with this.