✦ Live Video with Etsy Admin - Mar.16 @ 11:30 a.m. ET: How to Take Great Photos with Your Smartphone - Jewelry Edition

[#1]

Subject: How to Take Great Photos with Your Smartphone - Jewelry Edition
When: Monday, March 16 at 11:00 a.m. (ET)
Where: http://etsy.me/labs316
Who: Etsy Admin, and YOU!
__________________________________________________

Photography is a key element in grabbing your buyer’s attention.

Join me in Etsy's Online Labs - http://etsy.me/labs316 - on March 16 at 11:00 a.m. (ET) to watch a live demonstration on how to take great photos on your smartphone. For this session we’ll focus on jewelry photography.

Online shoppers can’t always tell the difference between dull jewelry photos and dull jewelry. As the saying goes, "seeing is believing."

Please note that there are no sign-ups or automatic reminders for this session, so be sure to mark your calendar or check out this handy Etsy calendar; http://etsy.me/Cal315. If you are unable to attend, we will be posting an archived version of the video in this thread the day after the live session. Please note that if you would like to participate in the live chat, it will be available only during the live session.

➽ In the meantime, to participate, ask your number one question or share your best piece of advice about jewelry photography in the thread below. We will be highlighting some of your comments during the live event.

[Former_Member]

I can't wait. I have rings i don't post because the smart phone i use don't do the rings justice. Lighting is one of the main problems i have. I have rings that are extremely shiny. But come out in the pictures extremely grainy.

[CraftyCowDesign]

I sell stock photography on istockphoto as well as trying my hand at this so I've photographed a few bits of my personal jewellery before. I don't have access to good lighting either but I've found a piece of flat white card and bright sunlight do the trick - you can get some beautiful shots this way. Good luck x

[HammieAndAud]

I took photography at art school, but that was back when we were still using film and Photoshop was in its infancy! For me, it's the smartphone and computer tweaking aspect that is a bit daunting - I look forward to seeing if I can just take great pics on my phone without all that extra color matching etc. or if there's just an easier, faster way to get it done. Thanks for this!

[CrystalFoxTreasures]

Looking forward to it.

[Former_Member]

I was planning on viewing live but something has come up. Thanks for making this available to view later!

[BellaCleoJewelry]

how to access webinar???

[CuriousArtLab]

Thank you for this! I love the reflector idea. What is the specific type/brand of clamp you are using?

[DistinctivelyDharlee]

Thank you! Valuable information here. :)

[Former_Member]

link is not working, it takes me to old videos

[SSternDesign]

I miss the boat today cause I'm sick ....when are you having this again?

[Former_Member · Accepted solution]

Hi friends! If you weren't able to make it to the live session, here is a link to the archived version that you can watch at your convenience: http://etsy.me/19s18G4

For those of you who were able to attend the live session, thanks for tuning in! In hind-sight, I really wish that I had thrown that confetti up in the air and done a happy dance. It was super fun to share some of my tips with you all!

Check back in to this thread for a follow up to this session where I'll be posting a list of toolkit supplies that I use for taking photos in my Etsy shop, along with some general tips for taking better photos. In the meantime, if you have any more tips or tools that you use for taking product photography, be sure to share them in here.

[Former_Member]

Saw the jewelry photos webinar today, thanks so much, it was very informative...best wishes to all

[Former_Member]

Todays webinar was really helpful -Thank you!

[RenegadeSilver]

Cool! Great tips earlier!

[Former_Member · Accepted solution]

Hi all,

As promised, here is the list of supplies I have in my photography toolkit:

Necessities:
- Camera
- Jewelry

Optional - I keep these things on hand during photoshoots, just in case:
- Clear nylon thread (might be needed to suspend your items)
- Scissors (to cut paper, thread, etc)
- Tape (to adhere paper, backgrounds, or objects)
- Tacks (to prop or hang items)
- Clamps (to hold or hang items and props)
- Cardboad or foamboard and aluminum foil (to make a reflector)
- Adhesive mounting putty (to prop up small objects)
- White sheet or curtain (to block direct sunlight)
- Small mirror and dowel (to make a small reflector for gemstones)

Totally optional:
- Gooseneck smartphone clips: http://etsy.me/1GV4f6S
- Remote controls: http://etsy.me/1EqycIH
- Lightboxes: http://etsy.me/18T7w88 / Etsy Lightbox DIY: https://blog.etsy.com/uk/2014/06/19/how-to-lightbox/
- Artificial lights: Artificial lighting or studio lighting often is used to replicate natural lighting, when the later isn't available. I would highly recommend experimenting and getting a good grasp at taking photos with natural light before venturing into investing and using any type of artificial lighting.

I hope that list helps you all! If you have any tools that you like to use during your photoshoots, be sure to share them in this thread.

[goldenearringsjewels]

Great tips.. I'll try using my smart phone to take pictures.. I'm currently trying out a dslr camera and frankly I'm not happy with those pictures... might as well try the less expensive options... I just want the best pictures possible.. some of my items are quite expensive... who knew it would be this hard to take pictures of jewelry?

[Former_Member]

Hi,

It's Janet, the buyer....

I would like to offer this tip:

I use my iPad 2 for all of my photos (not of jewelry). To edit my photos, I use:
Adobe Photoshop Express app. It is a FREE app that has many, many features.

Good luck with your pictures!

Janet

[goldenearringsjewels]

Hi Janet,

I don't have an i-pad but I do have the iPhone 5S... I assume that should work?

[chickandcharming]

Is the Link still working? Couldn't open from the latest highlighted post. Thanks!

[StitchMarkersUSA]

Looking for the archived version of this presentation. Can someone help me find it? thanks!

[StitchMarkersUSA]

I downloaded an App called "TimerCam" that allows me to take hands free photographs with my smartphone which helps in stabilizing the phone. It gives from 5 up to 30 second timing before the photo is taken.

[ArtistiKat]

good tips! I like the nylon thread suggestion. That's something I could always use and never remember.
;)

My current photography style is the "Law of Large Numbers"... take many and hope a few turn out. This should help quite a bit.

[Former_Member]

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/223379590/pear-drop-friendship-bracelet?ref=pr_shop

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/223374464/ultra-violet-friendship-bracelet?ref=shop_home_active_10

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/223377211/skittles-friendship-bracelet?ref=shop_home_active_13

New pictures on my shop (tried my hardest to provide professional pictures - hope they look better than my last lot)

:-)

[Former_Member]

Thank you for posting the recorded versions of these webinars! I would love to attend them live but my day job prohibits that. I love that as a new Etsy seller, I can see older videos from before I joined. Please keep them coming!

[Former_Member]

What an incredible amount of useful information! Your list of things needed gives ideas on what to use when professional equipment is not an option. Time to practice some more as I'm always trying to improve my photography skills and still struggling with lack of good traffic and sales since opening 2011. Almost ready to venture solo due to high levels on competition on Etsy but will try one more year and see what happens! Thank you again!