Photo Taking Tips Tricks and Tools for Creating a Cohesive Style

[merriweathercouncil]

An article about creating coherency in your shop through your photos.

http://www.merriweathercouncilblog.com/2011/01/my-etsy-photo-taking-tips-tricks-and.html

I hope it is helpful!

[Former_Member]

helpful!

[PoetryUnspoken]

Thank you for sharing this with us! Do like your photos! :)

[FunkyGlam]

Thanks for the tips, can you look at mine and suggest any improvements please.
Thanks

[june2six]

Thanks for this post!

Very helpful. I need to re-do my photos asap! :)

[Former_Member]

Thanks for posting. Your photos are absolutely gorgeous!

I often struggle with taking interesting photos of my wedding stationery. There's only so much that can be done with flat paper. Right now I'm working on a new line and I've been trying to take better cleaner pictures. So far they are much better than what I currently have listed but they could certainly use more improvement.

[WISHsupplies]

thanks for sharing

[TinksTreasure]

Thanx for sharing. I am always trying to improve my photos and there are good tips here.

[MsBittyKnacks]

Thanks for the article! Picture taking is always a proyect within itself for me.

[merriweathercouncil]

you're all very welcome!

funkyglam, your photos are nice, i would just suggest photographing them all on the same background!

[HandyFamily]

Nm, interesting - but what happens when there is no white wall in the apartment?
I am very frustrated with mu photos, but have no clue at all what I could do about it...

[Former_Member]

Very cool! :)

[merriweathercouncil]

Avra- any consistent background would do the same thing... It could be a piece of decorative or textured paper or some other color wall. I use white because I find it works best with my colors. You could try setting something up with fabric or paper maybe?

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the tips and great blog.

[BranchtoBay]

That is fun. I have been using an orange spool in my photos for awhile. It looks fun and seems to show scale.

[Former_Member]

I have changed up my photo-taking as of late. I'm mostly done changing them all up but I still have some items that need to be re-photographed using my new "method". Wish I would have done this a long time ago- but I'm much happier with the current look. I read an article on etsy that gave me the idea of how to make them better- yay!

[Former_Member]

I have a roll of white paper and I set it up like a backdrop at a photo studio- so the background is behind and under the item. I use natural light coming from one side- for my purposes I like the bit of shadow this creates on the other side as it gives dimensions to the plushies, a small tripod(so I can use slow shutterspead/no flash and not have blur) and I over expose (camera setting and I have a cheaper camera) by either +.3 or +.7. I also use the timer for every shot. This keeps me from shaking the camera when I push the shutter button- it has helped tremendously. I don't have to take as many photos as they turn out better, so it's really not a pain to use the timer function. Then I have the slightest adjustment on the computer brightening them as needed just a tad and cropping.

[merriweathercouncil]

@ MillieFern
those are great suggestions ! you can get little tripods for your camera as well for not too much money, and that will help reduce blurriness as well.

[GratitudeOasis]

Thanks. You just answered my question.

[Former_Member]

What great advice. I was considering adding color to my backgrounds. Glad I read this. My problem is with one item I sell I show the fabric I use to make my custom letters. Maybe I need to make the fabric a seperate photo. Something to consider. Thanks again!

[merriweathercouncil]

@ alicesatticonline

you might find that some colors do boost your products better than white, so it is worth exploring to see what you like best. for example, i think this shop has a wonderful sense of cohesion but all the back ground colors are different: http://www.etsy.com/shop/cloudninecreative
also something to consider! so try it out and see what you like best!
I would absolutely suggest a solid background, regardless of color.


glad it was helpful to you!

[june2six]

Hi. I am starting to re-do my photos, very slowly(I just got my camera working)..

It's bad but I took most of the photos on my site from my camera phone( hence why they are scary looking)..

Can you look at my shop please and critique the Vintage Comedy Tragedy Theater Mask Charm and the 18K Venetian Boat Gondola Charm/Pendant.
They are the only ones taken on an actual camera but not taken again solid background.

[Former_Member]

Very nice photos and great blog, Merriweather! Simple, clean photos always pull me right into a shop.

[june2six]

**sorry meant to say against a solid background

[Former_Member]

yes, the tripod I have is a little one w/ flexible legs (only 6 or so inches tall) I can stand it up or even wrap the legs around an object if I need it at a different angle-

Alicesatticonline- I think showing the fabric in a sep. photo is a great idea!