White Background or Something with Interest

[Former_Member]

I am experimenting with my photos and can't decide whether to try to improve my latest try with more clarity shown on the background items, which are blurry now, or to go a different route, loose the coffee mug and go for all white.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I did make my first sale to someone that I don't know, but I hope for many, many more!

[TheSmileEmporium]

Congratulations of your first sale.I am no expert and learning all the time so take my advice mindful that others who know more are better qualified to listen to. Have you heard of fotofuze.com a free program that fuzes the white background in. Have a look at my shop for examples. Its a way to get the really white background. You can still hang your stuff on a coffee cup or not and could try a different colour cup for the items that have whites/clear crystal in them. Anyway keep listening and looking how others do their photos and the ones you like the look of, give them a go or keep what youve got.

[MoonlightDesigns2]

Lose the coffee mug, your pics look better with a plain background. Do you have a jewelry bust of any kind that you can use for earrings and necklaces? It really helps visually for buyers.

I don't use all white backgrounds anymore, instead I use a light gray slate tile as my background. Still need to re-take some of my photos though. Jewelry is tough to photograph and even I still experiment!

[Former_Member]

Thanks answering. I guess I will keep at it, but loose the plant and rock!

[Former_Member]

We opted for a mix.

White background tends to be good for shop appearance and ites in with Etsy but sometimes its our settings that get chosen for treasuries.

I'm contemplating having a page with coloured settings and another page with white background just so it gives a sense of contrast and theme to the shop.

G

[Former_Member]

I quite like the earings hanging on the mug, it looks cute, a little bit different and is plain enough to make the item still stand out, the only suggestion would be to lighten up the background if possible.

[Former_Member]

Melissa,

Try this picture with a white or light grey backround.
It is the only picture wher you can see the earrings in total - on the pictures with the mug you can't see the total earrings. First impression is important!!!

Try to take them in front of of a little bit from down (I hope you understand what I'm mean, I'm not English speaking)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/99539738/seraphim-dreams-beaded-earrings-with

Have fun, but first impression is important
NANANU

[Former_Member]

Pictures done on a white background doesn't me lacking in interest at least I hope not because I shoot everything on a white background.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/101117662/knit-tie-for-men-skinny-knit-tie-fall

On way to make white photos more interesting is to use a glossy slightly reflective surface. If used correctly its makes the product shots pop

[SelkieCrochet]

Kc do you mean 'fall leaves' rather than 'fall lives' in that listing?

I wish sometimes that I had a proper background for my photos :(

[Former_Member]

I do mine on a white background and I use a white candle holder (as opposed to a coffee mug as I used to use) for hanging earrings on. I also bought a jewelry bust recently that I'm using for necklaces, but they only had black. I always try to keep my backgrounds simple so I don't detract from the item. A lot of people also use fotofuze. I personally dislike it and manually edit my photos at picmonkey.com (used to be picnik.com).

[Former_Member]

I would say either white backgrounds or, if you do a more "busy" background, make sure you have a shallow depth of field, so the background is more blurry.
Good luck with your shop!

[MellowMoonSupply]

I prefer solid color backgrounds.
Sometimes I go to someones shop and the photo is so busy I have to search for whats being offered!

Maybe try a few pictures, one in a plain setting andanother with your jewelry hanging from something.

[WilliamsGiftshop]

The photos with that mug could be good, but the lighting is wrong.
The earrings don't pop out of the pictures.

[ReyesRobledo]

Hello, I am currently experimenting with fotofuze, however, it does not work well with all items. I have written a blog post about it where you can see the "before/after" effect which you are most welcome to read, you can even learn Spanish along the way as it is written in both English and Spanish ;-) Hope it helps you.

[ReyesRobledo]

I forgot to include my blog address... http://reyes-azulblue.blogspot.com.es/2012/06/fotofuze.html

[ReyesRobledo]

http://reyes-azulblue.blogspot.com.es/2012/06/fotofuze.html This is the right link (sorry, I am so slow today!)

[DarkRide]

Arrrrgh! The ongoing angst, eh? I started with far too cluttered, settled on the top of my recycling box (sun bleached boards) and have now moved to a mix of that and whitewashed boards.

One thing I've noticed since the move to a whiter background, is that my stuff now often gets chosen for bright and sunny treasuries. That didn't happen much with the grey-ish board background, which was cool, since my shop is DarkRide, not Sunny&BrightRide, but did limit my exposure.

You've beautiful items and I like your white backgrounds, but I think they need a touch of brightening. I use a free photo editing suite, Picasa, and it has a background brightening tool.

[Former_Member]

I use white backgrounds and carefully selected props for my photos. In my soap shop, I have to - otherwise, Id' have no way of conveying to my customers what the soaps and lotions smell like. The other thing I've noticed is that props help with the color and white balance in my photos.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for all of your input! I am going to brighten up all of my photos with Picasa, which I used for my bracelet photos already. Maybe I will try hanging them in front of a white background...

[Former_Member]

I'll be be back when I get some done to see what you think - you all are so kind!

[Former_Member]

I was just about to ask the same thing, but since Melissa (thanx) already opened this thread, I'll just ask here.

I'm not sure what to do whit my photos. Should I use white backgroud

https://www.etsy.com/listing/93688287/yellow-handbag-tote-with-genuine-leather

or not

https://www.etsy.com/listing/102459756/shoulder-bag-flowers-made-from-high

What do you think? What works better?

[Untwistedsister]

@Kristina - definitely the white backround. I'm not a white backround fan but the second photo is way too busy. As long as it's plain and not distracting it doesn't have to be white. The second photo is also full of shadows.

I think the general rule of thumb is to make your photos bright and inviting & keep the backround simple enough so the piece stands out and doesn't blend in.

[DarkRide]

@ Kristina -- I definitely agree with Terri. I like the angle you shot that bag from as well. I think your backdrop, though, could use a bit of brightening (imho).

[Former_Member]

Kristina - I think your white background looks super with your bag. I would use Picasa, as mentioned here already, to brighten it up. It is free and really easy to use. I am in the process of brightening my shop with it. I just needed some help on the background...

[Former_Member]

Oh, thanx for your opinions and tips.

Is this better, although it's not white background?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/77349956/square-shaped-handbag-unique-one-of-a