Hopeful for some store feedback!

[NulionPhoto]

I'm pretty much fresh out of the gate here, in Etsy terms; I started my shop on June 29th, barely even a month ago. Sure, I know it's slow going at first, but even now I'm still tweaking my shop and tinkering with the little things to make sure that what I offer is clear and easy to understand for those who might make a purchase.

Just yesterday, I added a series of pictures alongside every one of my items, and those pictures act as a kind of "menu", showing all the different ways I can have my photographs printed. I don't, however, know if this is actually a good idea or not. (Sadly, I ran out of space to place the informational photo for "Glossy" pictures, so I had to instead stick that info in the item description)

There's got to be more I'm forgetting, or other lessons I could learn, but lately I've been driving myself nuts trying to make everything as "right" as I possibly can.

Now, might anyone out there have any advice on my shop? Any advice at all would be wonderful, as I've been finding feedback a difficult thing to come by.

Thank you so much, and good luck to all of you out there!

[Former_Member]

Hi Brandon! I personally don't sell photography, but I was reading some feedback for others who do! A lot of people were saying putting a picture up of how they are displayed would be a good idea!

For example
This one, if you keep the current photo but actually print one yourself and frame it, people will see one of the many ways it can be displayed! Some people can't picture how it would look framed, so they need a helping hand!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/104786481/thunderbird-8x10


Just a thought! :) Good luck!

[Former_Member]

Hi Brandon,

Just wanted to suggest that you should be sure to use all 13 tags when you make a listing to help you get found. The other way to get found is to add more and more items to your shop. Your shop is beautiful by the way!

[NulionPhoto]

Thank you both for the kind words and the advice!

I'd been contemplating offering a way for people to actually see what the photographs would look like framed, but then that would mean putting up another picture of the picture...annd that would mean reworking how I display those informational sub-pictures. I'm not sure how to go about that, or what would be the best way to do so...There isn't any way to display any more than five photos, is there?

As for the 13 tags? I'm going to go and do that right now! I'm really glad you like the design, too! Been working hard on it, and it's been actually a lot of fun.

With the 13 tags though, what do you recommend using? I've been trying to put in descriptors for the photographs, but I can only come up with so many.

[lippybrand]

Ideas for tags-
Framed art, Wall art, 8x10 print, 10x16 print, Home decor, Mens gift

Just some ideas, Im not a photographer so dont know what sizes you guys do, but im sure you get the idea. :)

You can use the search bar to learn what people are searching for and use those for tags also.

[NulionPhoto]

Those aren't bad ideas at all! Been a busy day so I haven't been able to update the tags just yet, but that's something I'd love to start working on ASAP :)

I've also got a really neat idea you guys inspired me to do, to display the photos and show what they would look like in a frame! Thank you for that :) It'll take a bit of work though.

I'm still not sure what to do with the informational slides though (The ones that say things like Deep Matte and Canvas and all, that are attached to every item in my shop), since I'm only allowed 5 different pictures. Posting a picture of what the thing would look like while in a frame would bump one of those off there.

Is there any way to be able to attach more photographs to an item?

[NewBrideCo]

HI Brandon,
I love your enthusiasm! I wish you good luck!
I'm not a photographer but I know when I like a good picture and yours are very inspiring...I know I would get more inspired to hang one on my wall if, I see them framed.
Yes, it is more work and more expensive...
How about making your cover pic framed, you can sell the picture and the frame to those who want one, you'll make more money too:)

When I first started (my first year anniverssary is coming up August 30) I made my first sale two weeks later....then I made a few more...then nothing for a while....I got so upset that I cried, and cried, and cried some more, then prayed:) and asked myself what am I doing wrong? I read the sellers handbook, and started promoting: showcases (not available for Wedding categories anymore) so I'm buying Search ads. Using all my tags, and giving the best customer service I can give, so that my feedbacks do the talking for me:) making story short; Reading the Sellers handbook and applying what I learned as much as possible:)

All the Best,
Sandra, New Bride Co.

[Former_Member]

You have organised the options of printing very well and your photographs are very striking.

This maybe a petty point but you may want to possibly consider mentioning the sizes are in inches. Most of the world including Europe use the metric system and if you're shipping internationally perhaps just mention the unit in the item description.

[NulionPhoto]

Thank you both, Fayrouz and NewBrideCo :)

I'm considering the pros and cons of offering framed works...and the problem with framed photographs is that the frames are very subjective. I might like clean, brushed metal frames, but the people buying my work might want something in oak, for instance. For now, it may just be easier to sell the photos alone at a sane price, and ask that the buyer frame them.

However, I've still got those ideas bubbling around in my head as to how to display those photos in a frame, just to give the shoppers a taste of what they'd look like. I think I've got a classy, artsy idea for how to do it, too! Will take a bit of time, but you folks gave me the inspiration, and I'm really glad for it too!

Now Fayrouz, you brought up a really good point; that not everyone uses inches to measure. I'll make *certain* I make a point of that when I redesign the informational photos. I'm thinking of condensing them all into one big photo-menu-thing that the shoppers can browse over, and that would free me up to put in another picture of what the photos would look like in a frame :)

Ahh, progress!

Thanks again!!

(PS: Oh, and one more thing; I updated the tags on all of my photos. Here's hoping these extra tags help!)

[Former_Member]

I think your shop is lovely Brandon. I really like that you offer many different sizes of prints and your photos are very nice.
My favorite item is this http://www.etsy.com/listing/104601509/caught-in-the-moment-8x10
I only wish that the bird's head was a tad clearer, but it is a beautiful shot regardless.
I reccommend that you play around with tags. Also be sure to let your potential customers know what makes your photo different than anyothers they will find. Tell the story of how you found the perfect shot.

I hope this will help you! Good luck! :)

[NulionPhoto]

Thank you!

Maybe it's a good idea to give a bit more background. That particular photo of the bird sat around on my hard drive for months, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to do anything with it, simply because of the blurry head. In the end I thought "Well, it's interesting composition, I hope...", and then did a little cropping on it, and bumped up the vibrance of the colors.

I'm really glad you like it though! The head may be blurry, but...hmm...let's just call it artistic blur! :)

But yes, what I'm taking from all of this? Tell a little story with each shot. I'll try doing just that :)