Picture Tricks

[Former_Member]

I am endlessly messing with my pictures trying to get them to look just right for my shop, but never completely happy with them. A few times I asked for critiques and received answers like, too dark, inconstant lighting/ background/ thyme so on and so forth. What I would really benefit from is hearing other shops "picture tricks"
How do you;
*get consistent lighting, even on a cloudy (non natural sunlight) day
*model the item your taking a picture of to look just right .
*secret picture taking weapons of mass consistency...

I have seen amazing pics taken from phones, and without the use of expensive photo equipment, so I know there has to be tricks to the trade...

[CrystalGaylePhoto]

Well, some do hire out to photographers to do their photos.

There are so many things that can play into factor to getting your photos just right. Lighting, set up, knowing how to you use your equipment, etc. Keep practicing and if all else fails, google for help you need. There are a lot of great photo tutorials out there.

[AnneLondezGlass]

I use a lightbox with 3 painters lights (powerful halogen lights), one on each side and one on top.

[JanJat]

I would recommend a light box and white light - halogen works well. This means you can take photos at 3am and not care what the weather is doing.

[CatalinaInspired]

I live in Southern California, so I'm lucky that the light is pretty consistant. Now that the days are getting shorter though, I'm finding the usual spot I use for photographing my items is getting a little darker than I would like. I use my iPhone 4S camera which is great. I wonder if there's a "light meter" app? I'll check into it. Has anyone used a tradiditonal light meter to get consistant light results?

[Former_Member]

Probably a dumb question, but what is a light box?

[IMNIUM]

I also use a light box and halogen lamps for the same reason :)
It is never sunny when i'm at home :D

[CrystalGaylePhoto]

Google light box. Great photography tool!

[Former_Member]

Get a light box and some good lights, I live in Atlantic Canada, I', lucky if I get consistent lighting in the best of times!

[Former_Member]

Nicole McGuire from TresCrochetCreations says

"Get a light box and some good lights, I live in Atlantic Canada, I', lucky if I get consistent lighting in the best of times! "

____________

I use a light box & daylight bulbs, too. I live in the UK & what with lousy summers, dark winters & no south-facing windows, it's made life a whole lot easier.

[MoonstarCharms]

I used a lightbox for a while, but I find that direct morning light coming through my window works well for me. The window seems to diffuse the light nicely.

A friend of mine who is a product photographer just told me about some inexpensive daylight bulbs by Alzo Digital which you can buy on their site. She diffuses the light by shining it through 4 small clear glass blocks she picked up at a big hardware store - also inexpensive. I'll be getting this set up soon as I know I can't count on winter sunlight always being available.

I got a sheet of white plexi glass, folded wax paper around it and secured it with tape. So far it's been one of the best tools I've used for shooting my jewelry on a white background. It's very smooth with just a little texture and it's not too reflective which makes photos easier. And when it scratches I just pull out a new sheet of wax paper.

[JulieEllisDesigns]

Light box. I've just started using one. You can view my shop and see the exact day I started using it. There is such a difference. There are two threads in this team dealing with light boxes. Or you can google DIY Photography and see how to make one. It's a good thing!

Good luck!

[BridgetFainne]

L.N. I have seen so many more shops with worse photos. I love doing treasuries but often have difficult time finding pictures.
If you look at my pictures they are all over the place! LOL! The ones with humans in them tend to end up in more treasuries which = more views.
So you might want to go to treasuries and take a look at the ones with a lot of views........just a thought.

[ThePrivateCollection]

@pearlpolkadots...

I have used a light box but found my photos were not much better for all the trouble it was worth. My process is quite simple - my products are placed on a white book and I take photos from my dining table with the overhead light on (no flash). The best secret - use the highlight and sharpen tools on PicMonkey...it's FREE and you don't have to fuss over setting up and taking down your light box, lights, etc. If you haven't tried it, give it a shot - then if you don't like it, try a light box.

Good luck!

[dorijewellery]

I have been thinking of getting a light box and I'm sold now having seen some of the pictures from sellers with lightboxes on this thread . My pictures always seem so dark. That is going to be my next investment for sure.

[Former_Member]

we use a piece of vellum attached to a window to diffuse the light, a table or stool set right against the vellum- with another sheet for the base & pieces of cardboard covered with the foil matte side out to reflect/bounce the light where we want it.
a roll of craft paper- wax paper or butchers paper also works- & if you tend to be messy with the paper this is a good option as it is much less per foot that way & you have a whole roll with which to work.
We tried the light box version (actually a few different inexpensive version), but everything felt too fake & it all needed quite a bit of computer of work after.
The window trick has been great for us. cloudy, or bright direct sun makes no difference... just be sure to bracket your photos so you have a choice for the final image.

[Former_Member]

Yeah it's hard! Creating a DIY light box is probably the way to go... So far I'm happy with most of my product shots without doing that though.

[Former_Member]

I am so happy that this thread was brought up. I am tired of my pictures looking a hot mess.

[Former_Member]

I reset the white balance every time I pick up my camera.

[Former_Member]

a photographer told me to put wax paper over the light to diffuse it.

i do very little to mine, but will have to take them indoors soonish

[TheSalvagedEdge]

Use a good photo shop program and photograph by a window or a good source of bright ambient light. Don't use a flash.

[Former_Member]

I don't use a light box, but I have a photography corner with poster board and a lamp with a sheet of paper over the bulb. I don't take natural light pictures anymore.

[Former_Member]

I just used microsoft picture editor ..

[Former_Member]

Fotofuze.com.... Such an amazing FREE resource that works in correlation with Etsy! The key is to photograph on a flat white background and then touching up with fotofuze for a consistent look!

[Former_Member]

I recommend playing around with brightness/contrast settings in your photo editing program. It helps a lot, just make sure you don't brighten colors too much! :)