Photo advice

[Former_Member]

Hi all!

I'm an Etsy newbie (been here about 2 weeks) and I need some advice on photos. I started with taking all my photos with a natural rock and driftwood background, which I though looked pretty, but I had some advice that the photos can look too dark and busy. And I think for some of my items the color didn't work well, especially my white bridal pieces.

So today I built a lightbox to photograph and list 2 of my new white bridal pieces- the photos still looked dark to me so I downloaded and used picasa for the first time to brighten them a bit.

I'd love to know if the two newest listings in my shop look better. Should I go through my other listings and re-shoot them in the lightbox or leave them and re-shoot the new ones in my rock garden like the others? Or should I choose the ones that the rocks aren't fabulous for and only change them- or will that look too inconsistent to have some in rocks and some not?

uhhhhg! I'm so much better with feathers then photos! Any opinions or advice would be much appreciated.

[Former_Member]

Hi, I think I like your photos on the model best. It gives an instant reference for real-life size - an how your items are to be worn - something for your customers to aspire to.

The only thing I would say is use a contrasting coloured hair on your model to make your beautiful pieces 'pop' and perhaps a more blurred background to help this was well. Use a background that is further in the distance if that makes sense, or create a wave wall, just using a roll of plain gift wrap paper. I do this all the time.

Your items are gorgeous!

Hope this helps.
Elise

[Former_Member]

Thank you! I'd thought about changing some of my first photos to the ones on my mannequin, but haven't loved how they look with a tree behind them. Sounds like I should invest in a blonde one also and take them on a trip across town to a pretty location for a photo shoot :)
I love the way live models look for photos but have made the decision to only use live models for examples of custom made items- my ready to ship are on the mannequin. Do you think it's okay to use it for my main photo?

[Former_Member]

I agree that using the model in your photos is a good idea. If possible, try to set up your background in natural light. While a lot of people recommend light boxes, I think sunlight give the most crisp and true to color photos possible. Also, I think some of the shots are a bit too close up. Close ups are great to see details, but is you zoom out just a touch more for the main photo, it might make for a more attractive shot. Hope that helps! Good luck!

[WhimsicaLuna]

I have also heard that plain, white backgrounds are really good for main photos because when people make treasuries, its easier to curate a list in which everything has a similar background..

[Former_Member]

Thanks- I'll play around with my photos and see what I get :)

[SleepingKnight]

I wrote a blog about photos here: http://marketmyshop.blogspot.com/2011/08/photography-for-your-handmade-or.html
I plan to write some more photo tips and tricks soon. If you follow my blog you'll know when I add more about it.

[Former_Member]

I agree with the blurry background suggestion.
Light boxes are best for items that are small and have small dimensions, such as jewelry and small trinkets.
For your pieces, I would try to stick with photographing them on a model.
And make sure that the background is far away from your subject, and that you set your camera to "portrait" mode to get the blurred background effect. This will make the photograph seem less busy.

Here is an example listing.
I photographed this headband for a friend of mine.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/55049428/butterfly-headband-1

:)