September Workshop: Mentors and Mentees

[#1]

Etsy admin send me a convo accepting us to the SEPTEMBER MENTORS WORKSHOP so lets go to talk about what we will do during this next month!

I am still preparing the participants list, so please let me know if you are interested posting here.

If you have any question do not hesitate to ask!

<< More information about Mentors workshop >>

Here you have the video explaining what we are going to work with:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwmnxlpY8AY

Please let me know which ones of you are interested to be in the workshop and let me know too your mentors skills (if you have) and your help needs (if you have). I mean something like this:

Mentor skill:
I am good in photography
I am good in SEO
I am good in....

And I would like to be a mentee because:
I need help in promoting myself,
I need help in, how to do xyz..
I need help in..

Not necesery to be both, you can only be a mentor or a mentee, depending your needs, or you can be mentor and mentee of course.

During September we will work about improving our shops in pairs, but we will talk about it later.

Please let me know if you have any question and who is interested in it! We have to send the final participants list before 30th August.

Thank you!

[CrystalFoxTreasures]

Hi Sheeta.

I tried using my phone, but frankly I don't like the results.

Hi Eli.

There's nothing wrong with the macros on my camera, I'm just experimenting with them to see what works best. I did see the picture you did, but I don't see any real difference in the two pictures.

I used the super macro on my camera for my new listing - the Winter Berry Earrings. It's not perfect, but I think it is an improvement.

[JaniceTanCouture]

Hi Eli,

Thank you very much for your advice! I have the same idea with you. Now, the avator looks much more favorable.

I've been contacted my partner CrystalFox each other. We are learning now.

Next step: get more traffic.

This few days I saw a big change of the number of views and favorites.
Although it is still no new sales, keep going!

I remember someone told me: everything needs time. be patient and be joyful!

[Former_Member]

Hello sweeties!

Forgive me please because yesterday i had an amazing day of sales and i am extremely busy now (i still need to finish 11 orders in the next 5 hours). Can someone please kill me? >__<

I am going to reply all of you now and give the next tips about taking better pictures.

Lets go!

[Former_Member]

#Tammi Woerner
I said to you it by convo but please let me say you again that i am really sorry to forget your critique.
I didn't see your to do list, and is true that jaqui wrote it for you but i don't know why i didn't see it and… well, i am very sorry for it dear. Please forgive me.

Your pictures are very good! The only thing i think you need is crop them better and edit them to give them a little professional touch.

- Try to show your buyers all the item in the cropped picture, some of them are cut and it doesn't help you.

I dont know how to use your photo editing program but if you want you can send me some pictures and i can edit them for you, for example have a look at this one:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/159507159/vintage-blue-danube-plate?ref=shop_home_active

The picture is simply perfect but if you give it an special touch… have a look now:
http://s529.photobucket.com/user/petitesalu/media/tammi1_zps999b1e18.jpg.html

What do you think? (let me know when you see it and i will delete your picture from my photobucket)

- Try to rearrange your shop correctly, all your beauty pictures in first pages will make the buyer see the next ones!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/154882242/vintage-fostoria-cake-stand-american?ref=shop_home_active

https://www.etsy.com/listing/154371174/vintage-pearl-necklace?ref=shop_home_active

I would like to see them (and others!!!) at first page please!

You have an amazing photography eye (and thats really difficult!), use it to keep your buyers in your shop, your photos only need little edition. More light, more contrast, some blur backgrounds.. easy steps! Let me know if you need help about it and i will tell you how to do it, ok?

Your branding is perfect so.. doesn't need comments or help! CONGRATULATIONS!

[Former_Member]

#raquel, i will critique your shop in spanish by convo ok? I think it will be better for you due to your poor english.
I hope it can't annoy anyone!

_____________

#Xiomara, yes you are right! If you dont know how your camera works it will be a problem. You can take an amazing pictures with your camera! I will try to give you some fast tips to understand how the basic things works.

When you take pictures with a reflex, you need to understand two things:
- Aperture
- Speed

If you know how to use it your pics will be simply AS YOU LIKE to be.

You camera will have Manual mode, Aperture priority mode, and speed priority mode.

What you need with statics pictures as yours is using Manual, or Aperture priority.
Manual mode will need that you calculate all time all. Aperture priority need only to tell to your camera which aperture you need and she will calculate the rest, so i think thats what you should use!

Aperture mode is in your wheel body camera: "Av" or "A" (depending the brand).

What you do changing the aperture is making the background more blurred (small numbers) or less blurred, more focused ( big numbers). You only need your design focused and the background blurred so, use for example an aperture like 4 (it will make your background blurred and your designs focused).
Aperture is showed in some cameras like this F/*number* or simply a number.
Using big apertures like 4, 5.6 etc... (I say big, because the aperture of your objective is BIG when you use SMALL numbers) will need less light than if you use small apertures (small aperture are BIG numbers) because camera close the objective more and the objective hole is smaller, so then, you will need more light to do the same work.

More tips:
- try to use the pictures outside home, natural light is extremely better than inside (..you can't imagine how better it is!!!!!!)
- DONT use flash, please. I hate shines.

You dont need to hire a photographer, it is easy I promise. If you need help or you have any dubt, let me know! I will try to explain it better!

I cant wait to see your new pics!

[Former_Member]

#CristalFox6 ...ahahahah! Oh! Well, you send me a picture that your edition was not very hard, but you use to edit all your photos with a lot of shadows and contrast. It makes your photos "no natural, no real" and sincerelly i prefere them without edition than how they are now in your shop.
Are you really sure that you dont see the diference between yours and mine? If you download it and watch it carefully with 100% zoom:
Pixelled background, shadows, ugly background color... can't you see it? Change all this is fast and easy. If you like what you have it is nice for me of course, it is your shop, but if you would like to know how to change it let me know and as i said you before by convo i can teach you with no problem.

http://s529.photobucket.com/user/petitesalu/media/cristalfox6diference_zps3b4e1119.jpg.html
I will delente the picture from my photobucket at the end of the week, do not worry for it!


________________

#Sheeta MY GOD! I LOVE YOUR AVATAR!

[Former_Member]

SOME PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS:

As i said some times before to some of you, the easy way to take some nice pictures with a reflex camera is using A or Av mode (aperture mode)

This mode let you choose the aperture you need and all other things are automatic.

Aperture give to your pictures more or less blur backgrounds.
You only need to focuse the item and depending the aperture you use, the background will be focused like the item (big numbers, small aperture) or only the background will be blurred (small numbers, big aperture).

To understand better what and how is APERTURE, please have a look at this and if you do not want to read only check the pictures! It is extremly easy to understand!
http://www.beckimpressionsphotography.com/aperture-depth-of-field-tutorial/

USEFUL TIP:
- If you would like to have blurred backgrounds, dont put your items near the background. If you put the item at 20cm form your background will be easy for your camera to blur the background than if you put it at 5cm.

- Blurred backgrounds make your items more interesting, focused and easy to find between others!

Now i will show you my shabby home studio photography ...ahahah!:

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd333/petitesalu/2013-09-03185316_zps62198352.jpg

It is not something you can't do. You only need a piece of big paper or fabric, anything that doesnt shine will be useful.

Put the paper like me as you can see in these pictures (of course you dont need a roll of paper, i am using this because this is what i have but any big piece of paper will work:

http://s529.photobucket.com/user/petitesalu/media/2013-09-03185352_zpse74b1b14.jpg.html

Have a look how it looks from the front:

http://s529.photobucket.com/user/petitesalu/media/2013-09-03185409_zpsba65f286.jpg.html

Nice, true? This is what you have now:

http://s529.photobucket.com/user/petitesalu/media/2013-09-03185419_zps4578c6cf.jpg.html

And this is how your pics will look:
http://s529.photobucket.com/user/petitesalu/media/2013-09-03185454_zps5fc59367.jpg.html

It has no edition, taken from my mobile. Looks good, isnt it? Now it only need some photo edition and YAY! As easy as this.

Please take care NOT to do this:

http://s529.photobucket.com/user/petitesalu/media/2013-09-03185554_zpsae201eca.jpg.html

Because then your pics will be like this:
http://s529.photobucket.com/user/petitesalu/media/2013-09-03185536_zps9be4ec7e.jpg.html

And anyone want lines in the backgrounds!

Other important thing is that all pictures are taken OUTSIDE HOME. If you take them inside you will need flash and shines are not visually attractive, so please try to do it outside. If you don't, have a look what happens if you take them near the window:

http://s529.photobucket.com/user/petitesalu/media/2013-09-03185901_zpsdc1a4358.jpg.html

http://s529.photobucket.com/user/petitesalu/media/2013-09-03190004_zpse18b24eb.jpg.html

As you can see, they are shit. Shadows are not nice, so take care please!

If you have any question, please... FEEL FREE TO ASK!

Have a wonderful day beautiful girls,
Thank you all again to be here!
Eli

[mylifeinfabric]

Hi Eli,

Somehow I've missed all of the discussion. Never having been a part of a team before I didn't know whether I would be notified when we would start or if I just needed to be checking back all the time.

I see that you had visited my shop back when this team was first being put together. Would appreciate any feedback I could get. I have enjoyed reading all of the recommendations and have already made some adjustments.

I promise to do a better job of keeping in touch and checking the team site now that I know how this works.

Have a great day!
Pat

[Former_Member]

People, today has been a busy day for me, please sorry for my mistakes because it seems that today is not my best day...

#Tammi, i did a mistake with you because i thought you was another person when i said that we talk by convo. ahahahh! Sorry

Now, yes.. #Tanya Grubbs, SORRY! SORRY SORRY again for the mistake. I am really embarrased about it.
Here you have the critique.
- I have seen your shop today and it seems that you changed some pictures for another edited ones? I am not sure if you did it or not, but if you did, PLEASE UNDO that! I dont know why now i see more shadows than before. I do not like it.
- I am in love with the grey background. It give to your jewelry a nice warm tone that i like, but if you would like to take again the pictures, have a look please at the tips and pictures i upload before about my "home studio" and try to make something similar with your grey background. do not put your jewelry near to the brackground and you will avoid ugly shadows.
- If you can't do it outside, use two lights (side to side and item between them), not only one, Have a look that your pics have shadows because they only have 1 light direction.
- Try not to mix diferent backgrounds (green one is nice, but i think that grey one is more elegant for your jewels than green).
- Try to crop your pictures better, do not cut them please because it doesnt help.
- Use a picture for a banner is not a bad idea, but perhaps we can add your logotype, do you have one?
- Your avatar is nice! It is a photo and i usually dont like it but it seems a kind of logotype so, it match perfect with your jewelry photos. I like it!

Sorry for my fast critique but i need to work, i promise to help you carefully tomorrow when i finish all my orders. Please forgive me for the mistake!

[Former_Member]

# Patricia I will write you as soon as i can! Sorry!

[mylifeinfabric]

Eli, please know that there is no hurry. I know that you are busy and you need to take care of your shop first. I am happy to wait until you have a moment to visit and comment.

I appreciate all your help and am willing to wait.

[CrystalGirlz]

I like these shops' photos.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/sisicata?ref=l2-shopheader-name

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DesignByKara?ref=l2-shopheader-name

[Former_Member]

Eli, thanks for taking the time to give some tips and advice. I never thought about putting the pretty items on the front page. It makes perfectly good sense, I just didn't think of it.

I'm going to be working on my photos as I can. I really like the way you took the shadows out of the photo you edited. That will be a new goal for me.

My son just started a college photography class so now we have a better camera and photoshop software. I just need to have a chance to use it.

I will also work on the cropping. I was going for an artsy look on some of them, but guess I should just stick to the basic pictures.

Thanks for the compliment on my branding. Somehow that came pretty easy for me.

Thanks again for your help.
Tammi

[CrystalFoxTreasures]

Hi Eli. I would be interested in learning how you edited my photo. The more techniques you have to choose from the better. Thank you,

[sjacoby123]

I've been an Etsy member since May and have only made 2 sales! I get about 20-30 views a day (up from 10-20). I'd love to be a mentee.

[CraftyLittleSewnSews]

Im really enjoying the comments and advice. Ive partnered up with Pat of sayitwithapillow for mutual gain. I welcome any extra comments though.
I ve had real trouble with the jar toppers but I should have taken them outside I think.

[MartinaKnightart]

Morning all

So last night i re-shot some of my products, I have only uploaded the one image of the below item (now on a wooden base and plain background).

could i have some feedback on this one before i go through the rest?

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/160404394/small-doorstop?ref=shop_home_feat

thanks :)

[JaniceTanCouture]

Hi likhen,

Your item is cute. But the photo is a bit dark. Can delight a bit more? N, I was a customer, I would like to know the size of the bag, can put something beside the bag then shot again? Maybe a pair of sunglasses?

Just my personal suggestion only :) ,

[JaniceTanCouture]

Hi All and Eli,

Do you guys relisting your items serval times per day? Some one told me is useful, to get more traffic and put the item on top. I tried but not sure useful or not.

[Former_Member]

Sheeta I have heard that. For me I only renew when I need to or if I do not have something new to list. Listing new items daily helps you stay relevant. I try to always have draft listings, so I can list an item quickly if I do not have extra time.

[Former_Member]

I will come back later to answer all you but let me please tell this to linkhen,

#LinkhenPress i love your new pic!!!!!!!! They are simply perfect! But please try to use less zoom when you take the photo (only for the main pic) because then etsy crops it and when people see your shop dont know exactly what is what you are selling!

Can wait to see your new ones!!!!!!!!

[Former_Member]

Nice team! I never expected things like that! I will give it a hour a day to learn new things from here (^_^)

[mylifeinfabric]

Ok I have a stupid question this morning. At the top of our Etsy page under "Community" there are numbers that come up that are constantly changing. It says they are activity, but what activity is it?

When I click on the number is just takes me to a page that doesn't show what that means?

Is it activity on my shop? For Etsy in general?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give. Just trying to understand all of the information available to me.

Pat

[Former_Member]

Pat- That is the activity of your followers and of the ones you are following. If you click on that number the page it brings you to will show the activity of your followers, who they have favorited. If you click on the tab that says your shop, that will show who has favorited an item of yours, if one of your items has been included in a treasury, if a feedback has been left for you, and any sales that day will show up there as well.

Hope that answers your question.

[mylifeinfabric]

Jacqueline, you are wonderful. Thanks so much. That's exactly what I was asking.

Have a great weekend.