Photographing Products

Owning my own Etsy shop has been a series of trials and error for me.

Learning what I think my products and worth, how to actually make money selling them, packaging, and most of all the photography.

I am a photographer.  For two years I owned my own wedding photography business and supported myself doing it.  However, I consider myself a lifestyle photographer.  I like taking pictures of people, of events, weddings, families, and snapping photographs of my daily life.

Taking pictures of products?  Very, very different!  I especially have a hard time with products that are three dimensional.

I listed my first paper bracelet about a week ago.  Honestly, I wasn't sure about the photographs.

I think there are a few problems. 
1.  The image may be too dark
2.  The background is too busy and the wood that I placed the bracelet on is too dark.  I think both detract from the product and the customer can't see the textures and the colors clearly.

I started looking on the internet and realized that most products that I am attracted too were much lighter.  Taken with a white background so that I was really able to see exactly what the product was.

I decided to do a mini photo shoot and see what I could do.

First, I do have a nice camera!  I was a photographer, remember?!  It is a Canon 5D.

Second, I do have some lenses and I decided to use my 28-70mm so I was able to zoom in on the product.

Third, I wanted a bright light source that I could point at the product in the direction I wanted.  I am able to change the warmness or coolness when I am editing the photograph.  I decided to use my craft light which I bought at Walmart years ago for $15.

I took two pieces of plain white paper and used a stool I use at my craft table also bought at Walmart for $12.  I set the whole thing up against the wall.  I put one piece of paper on the stool and the other on the wall to make the white background.

I took the two finished bracelets and snapped away at all different angles.  The setup does not look professional but it definitely worked!

I am happier with these photos!  I think it is easier to see the bracelets.  I think the shapes, the texture, and the colors stand out against the white background.

I am going to keep working on it, but I am calling this experiment a success!

Until tomorrow,

Love,

Jess

Working through It even though I am all over the place

Hello lovelies!

I hope everyone is doing well out there tonight on this cold and rainy Thursday.  At least it's rainy in Maryland!

So, I've been gradually adding new items to my etsy shop.  Originally, I was going to only focus on quilled items since that it what I have been working on for the last few months and I figured it would be good to be a shop that focused on selling/showcasing one form of artwork.

However, like many people out there (I wonder if any of you are like me?) I get sidetracked, and bored, and damn't I like creating and sharing too many different types of things.

I know that businesses thrive, and maybe blogs too, when a person is focused.

For instance, so many of the wedding blogs I love focus on....you guessed it....Weddings!

Seems simple enough, right?  Figure out what you like to do, make, sell, etc...and then go for that with all your might.  I know, it is important for any new venture, for a person to figure out exactly what market they are trying to capture and what the goal is of what they are doing.

Uhhggg...truthfully I SUCK at keeping and maintaining one goal and being focused!  I love photography, I love to draw, I like to quill things, and you know what?  I really love medicine too and hope to one day work in that profession.

I have always been all over the place.  I was the girl in college who had 15 different majors by the end of my freshman year.  I am also the girl who reads about four or five books at a time because I can't focus on just one story.

So, right now my etsy shop is selling quilled art, original art, digital prints, and paper jewelry.  Maybe too much and too all over the place for a buyer to understand.  Yet, this is me!  I am all over the place!  I love and have energy for so many different things and I do a lot of different kinds of art!  This is what keeps me excited and exploring.

So, I am figuring, instead of trying to fight this trait in myself (I fight it quite often!) I will try to look at it as a good attribute and embrace this part of myself.  I am not exactly sure how to make this trait something that will be helpful instead of hurtful, but it's a process!

If anyone has any suggestions I am all ears!  So have a wonderful night, I am going to share with you my new print on LoveUPaperly, look for a new inspiration/love board tomorrow!

Love,

Jess