Is it really better to use a white background/?

[#1]

In the beginning I was told to use a plain white background with natural light. So I did. Now on critiques some are saying this is boring and could be causing any overlook of my creations. what do you think? How should I tweak? I want to be one of those sellers that have slod hundreds even thousands lol. I know I have to get my inventory up but what can I do with my existing inventory photos. Thanks- Kim

[Former_Member]

I do find when photgraphing jewelry I have always preferred white...it's crisp, clean, easy to adjust brightness and airbrush in photo shop and the results are professional and make the jewels stand out. That being said, other items I have come to prefer in the typical etsy pics, with earthy, natural backgrounds and such...that what I have adjusted my recent photos to and I love it...and my sales I think have been pretty good...I started listing my signs in mid-November, from Dec 1st til now I have been pretty productive! Don't know if it's my photography but I'm sticking witha whats working...you should too! stick to whats working for you that is lol....

[Former_Member]

I have a completely different philosophy when it comes to photos.
I was a photo journalist in another life. I think whatever background shows your product off best is the one you should use.
If you only want to make the front page of Etsy then you should use white, if that's your only goal.
I feel my product photos are both memorable and show off my product. My photos, because of the backgrounds are recognizable as a Girlie Girl product.

[Former_Member]

white color background makes the item highlited..

[ParadiseChicJewelry]

I use mainly white for my jewelry, but some of my items don't show how well on white if they have lighter beads, so I used hand writting paper sometimes just to make a little contrast.

[TaraFlyArt]

I dunno.... I tend to be the exact opposite. Looking through my favorites, 90% of them have props and non-white backgrounds.

Actually, this listing jumped out at me tonight:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/83167480/empire-dress-dark-manor-collection

Yes, it's a dirty, dilapidated space... and I just love it to pieces! I want to go photograph my own artwork hanging in an old shed. LOL

[Former_Member]

I will agree to disagree. White backgrounds are great--at times. At other times, it changes the color of your item. Take this one for example:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/83100419/purple-fabric-flower-hair-clip-midnight
This item of mine is why I will never have all white backgrounds throughout my shop. Why? Because the fabric looks black on a white background. I had to use a darker paper in order for the dark plum purple to look like a dark plum purple. Since I've taken these pictures, I rarely use a white background because it washes out the rich colors of some of my items. Those times I do use white it's textured.

Tara Fly: I love that photo too! It makes me want to find a faded photo frame and shoot my bows on that

[Former_Member]

Cheryl, I agree with you. I discovered that many of my doilies and bags looked washed out on a white background, but a black velvet background made them pop, like this one:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/66501783/quilted-city-tote-bag-asian-aloha-fabric

[Former_Member]

I hate white backgrounds. Even when I did portrait photography I avoided them. haha.

I tend to look more at items that have a background that makes the item pop. I am a BIG fan of jewelry on old maps, old handwritten pages, etc etc..but only if they don't over power the item being sold.

White backgrounds? Meh..for some things they do look good but for most I just feel bored looking at them.

Tomorrow I'm playing around with a pad of scrapbook paper I bought to try and get some interesting, but not over powering backgrounds. =)

[starflycreations]

I have tried everything from shooting on wood surface to white and haven't found that winning combination yet. Currently all my lead photos are on white backgrounds for consistency.

I agree that more white backgrounds make the fp but I also think non-white photography is more compelling.

White does not always showcase your product off best. As my products are predominantly white, I have not been too thrilled with my current white background except for the consistent look it provides.

A neutral and consistent background helps maintain shop brand but that doesn't mean it has to be white. As soon as I get enough time and courage, I plan to revisit my photos once again for 100+ listings.

I think there is a balance that has to be found that is elusive to most of us. Finding that perfect background that compliments your product without becoming a distraction should be everyone's goal. I would try white and if it does all you want that's great. But I also believe that not every product looks best on white.

@isabellebitton
When an image is shot on white the reflections are pure. More often than not when photographing an image on a colored background, you will have color contamination. Contamination is when the background or surround area colors are reflected onto your piece, contaminating the true color. It may be subtle, but will almost always occur. Try shooting on multiple colors under the same lighting conditions and you will see a noticeable difference. The challenge is finding one that works with your products colors.

[Former_Member]

I think it depends on what you are selling, I have two shops, in one I use white backgrounds and it works really well, for the simple and bright items, in my art shop I use a wooden table top as a background and it really makes my artwork look better, I think if I was setting prints etc against a white background they would get a bit lost. I don't know if it effects my inclusion in treasuries or not :)

[AListDesigns]

Is it possible to use a light box and still have the photos come out looking like they were shot in natural light? If so, is it just a matter of using the right lighting, or does it also require adjusting your camera settings and tweaking your photos in an editing program?

[TheDorothyDays]

I sell vintage so in some of my photographs I have used a coloured 'shabby chic' type background like the photograph I have used for my profile pictures. I do think white does look good though but added in a few other colours to add interest and colour to my shop.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89163950/owl-earring-jewellery-jewelry-bird-stud
White background- Here I really like it as I think it makes the item 'pop'

http://www.etsy.com/listing/81978484/english-teacup-saucer-floral-dainty-blue

http://www.etsy.com/listing/79939387/english-teacup-trio-floral-poppy-royal

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/64059658

http://www.etsy.com/listing/80330200/1950s-english-vintage-floral-teacup-and

Would be great to have some feedback on my coloured backgrounds please as I am not sure if others feel they work or it would be all better off in white? Thanks :)

[Former_Member]

Would it help to have some pics of your jewellery shown on models to provide a greater sense of scale?

[starflycreations]

@TheDorothyDays

The Samples you gave are great. The tea cups work great on your background selections. I think primarily because they are within the same color scheme as the featured item and not cluttered. Plus the photography still has strong white through the cup and backgrounds. I like them!

@Sheri
Great tip! I was also recently reminded about showing scale.

[Former_Member]

@Alea and Brenda Bankston you can take the lightbox outside or just shoot in a a part of your home that has a lot of natural light, like on a table infront of a window.

[Former_Member]

Great thread! I have been told also that my white backgrounds are boring. I try to get consistent light, but it's hard since I shoot mostly outside. I shoot the item on it's own and then on a mannequin. I've been looking at some of the more popular jewelry shops and they seem to shoot on white or gray as well. I'm a fan of "less is more" but I do want to improve my shop and make items pop more. I'm a fan of photos shot on old books, maps, etc. but that is not really the style of our jewelry or brand. Maybe sticking to white is good, but more variation in angles and close ups is better?

[Former_Member]

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89971607/jumbo-gift-box

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67420910/massively-large-natural-quartz

http://www.etsy.com/listing/53622558/a-diamond-in-the-rough

I heard the white back ground issue early on. But I just really prefer natural, natural setting, natural back ground items and true back grounds. I'm not a photographer nor are my images none by a professional, but my customers know what they are getting. There's no smoke and mirror fancy doo-dah stuff going on.


JUST the item in a normal setting. There's too much of a window of 'photo-opp' with the white back ground.

My two cents......

[Former_Member]

I'm so glad I found this thread! I have been struggling with getting a good photograph of a new set of pillowcases for the shop. They always end up looking blue but I am taking these tips and trying again before the sun gets away from me :)

[Former_Member]

Kimberly,
I think your photos are clear and colors look awesome. What might also help the boredom is to play with your angles a little more. That was what I thought was boring on a few of your front page earring shots. I would leave those straight shots for the second or third photo just to give a clear representation of the item. When you stand over the top and shoot a flat picture it kind of gives a mug shot effect, you know? A creative angle would do wonders :) Everything else looks amazing!

[shoptwoblooms]

Kimberly,

I personally like a white, grey, beige or sometimes black background. Natural lighting is ideal but not always possible due to weather.

One thing that I found a bit distracting was the logo beside the photo in black, it takes away from the jewelry. Also your titles could be done differently. From what I understand Etsy relies on tags for a product while google looks a the title. For instance this item:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89281799/hunger-games-necklace-with-catching-fire

I wouldn't know to look for a Hunter Games necklace but would type in something like necklace with name tag or something to that effect.

You have lovely pieces in your shop.

[JewelMeShop]

I believe that having a white background is the easiest way to get a photo that can flatter the product without being distructing. I am trying to find a neutral background that could give consistency in my shop but it's very difficult to find one.

[TheDorothyDays]

@starla
Thanks so much for the feedback. It is really appreciated :) and I am glad you liked the backgrounds!

[Former_Member]

I'm still trying to get good photos, and just built a lightbox for taking item pics. I've taken photos against a black background so far, and I think it works for what I photographed. I think that it depends on what you are photographing, and if you want your item to be noticed, photograph it against a background that is opposite of the color of your item (dark item, light background, and vice versa). It seems that everyone has a different opinion! This is just what I will do.

[PiggleAndPop]

I spent the majority of Saturday re-taking photos with a white background and lots of cocktail bar equipment and gadgets to hang things on. When I went through them, I was really disappointed- just couldn't get the white background white enough, and was really blue in some spots. I think I created too many shadows with my set-up and don't have the photoshopping experience to alter the background.
I think for me, my taupe background looks best on my jewelry. They are natural hide bongos, so they don't reflect and they really warm up my jewelry. Do you think I should go all hide- or leave some things on a white background if it works for the item? I don't want it to distract from what i'm selling...

[Former_Member]

I tend to shoot on old maps, books, Japanese newspapers etc (like my avatar pic here) with minimal props as it suits the style of my stuff (everything from ephemera to kitsch).

Personally I think whilst white backgrounds make the pieces "pop", they also can lack personality (because so many stores use them) and look a bit... lackluster unless it's a very dominant piece.