In the Background

There is a bit of a debate over backgrounds in listing photographs. Some say that backgrounds should be plain so that your item is the center of attention. Others say that a photo needs something in the background or it's too plain.

Whichever side you fall on is fine. The best thing is to be consistent. A set background that you use for all your photos helps to brand your shop. Or if all your photographs are shot with a plain white background, that will also define a type of brand.

One good way to ensure that you have a uniform background for all your product photos is to purchase a yard or two of fabric. You can pick whatever neutral color you'd like, and then you can throw that over whatever table you're photographing on.

But the best way to see what you prefer is to look at some examples. First up, some examples of plain backgrounds:

Let's start with supplies. When you're selling something that someone's going to use to make something else, we really want to get a good look at it. Close up and plain background is great for this.

DMC 4245 Variegated 6 Strand Floss Mystical Midnight from Ancora Crafts

This little critter does well against a plain background...

Sweater Scrap Prawn by Zazu Faure

And a plain background doesn't have to be white. The dark background helps make this silver necklace pop.

30 inch .925 sterling silver 1mm snake chain necklace by Designs by Tami

Next, here are sellers that have more scenery behind their products:

Hollow Books' photos all seem to have this background. It makes it really easy to spot their products, especially in a random search.

Book Safe - Ravenclaw Harry Potter by Hollow Books by Refined Pallet 

Here's a different way to showcase a pair of earrings--with a map for the background...

Sealife earrings by jewelry N gemstones

And if you're showing off an item that can be worn, having a model is great. We can really see this product in use and imagine wearing it ourselves.

Knee High Socks by pink candy studio

If these were your products, would you have chosen to shoot them against a different background? What sort of background do you prefer in your photos? 

Shine a Light on It

There's a whole lot that goes into taking a "good" photograph. There are high school and college courses designed to develop students into competent professionals.

If you are deficient in this area, you might want to look into taking a class. However, there are a few things you can do right away to make your pictures better. And the more you practice, the better you're going to get.

A big thing is to take care of your lighting. Your photographs should be well-lit. Or, at least, deliberately lit. There are articles (and probably books) all about how to light photographs well. Today I can only scratch the surface. Here are three articles to get you started:

• The Ultimate Guide to Learning Photography: Lighting
• The Top 10 Photography Lighting Facts You Should Know
• A Beginning Photographer's Guide to Light

The best lighting is natural light. Sunlight. However, direct sunlight can be too much, especially the harsh sunlight of high noon. You want the sunlight filtered a bit, depending.

But not everyone can take pictures outdoors. And not everyone has a good place indoors that gets good sunlight. When looking into lighting options, look for white light. Lightboxes can also be helpful. And multiple sources of light can help to make a photograph pop.

(Yes, there's a lot that goes into getting good lighting. Take lots of pictures. See what works. That's the best way to get better pictures.)

Here are some photos from team members that show what you can do with lighting:

First up, this photo looks like it was photographed in a lightbox. It gives a very plain background so what you see is the product. Nothing else distracts.

Barbary Belle Perfume Oil by Scent by the Sea

Here's a picture where natural light was used. See the window? It gives a bit more drama to the shot, highlighting how the vase will look in use.

One Upcycled 1.5L Glass Wine Bottle Vase by Bottles & Wood

Here's an example with flood lighting. We can really see the necklace, and in a piece like this, we want to see detail. We can.

Large Pave Diamond Evil Eye Medallion by Mooti Designs

The brightness of the light helps these crystals shine. When we're shopping for jewelry, we really want to see it sparkle. This sparkles.

The Perfect Crystal Necklace by Beaded Treasure by Sue

There are many ways to do lighting. There are many ways to get it right. How confident are you in your photos' lighting?

Keeping Your Focus

When it comes to selecting pictures to use in your listings, there are a lot of things that should be obvious. But, if you take a look on Etsy, you will find listings which have pictures that aren't all that great. So, it's time to state some things plainly.

All your listing photos should be in focus.

The best way to ensure that you don't make this error is to take a lot of pictures when photographing your items. I mean, a lot a lot. If we assume that you're planning on having ten photos in your listing (which should be the goal), then, at minimum, you should be taking thirty pictures of your item. Although, it would not be a bad idea to take fifty shots or more when doing your photography.

Yes, this is overkill, but the idea is to select the best ten pictures. You should have a lot to choose from.

If you've been at this a while, you might know exactly what angles and views work best. But you're taking at least two of each "pose", right? That way you still have plenty of pictures to choose from.

There are photographers who deliberately choose to blur things in their photos. When you know what you're doing and you're getting the intended effect, that's fine. But those of us (like me) who aren't all that confident in their photographic skills should stick to making sure their pictures are in focus.

I will not be calling out any sellers for this, so I have some beautifully focused photos to share today.

First up, notice how this soap pops in the image:

Whipped Soap VEGAN Hot Coffee 8 oz Creme Fraiche by savor

Even in a smaller size, you can clearly see the musical notes on the plate:

Fused glass art plate by Caroline4art

We can easily see how this piece is assembled:

lidded pine needle basket with a driftwood root top by Heart of Almanor

For smaller items, like keychains, it's vital that the item is clearly photographed:

Personalized Keychain Edward Gorey by Tresijas

And see how clear this scarf is:

Silk Scarf Handpainted in Copper and Brown by Ocean Avenue Silks

How well focused are your pictures? How many photos do you take when photographing your items?

Listing Photos

Etsy allows ten photos for each listing. But do you really need ten pictures?

Selling online isn't like selling in person. Your customers can't pick up and touch your wares before purchasing. They rely on your photos to give them an idea of what they're getting.

Depending on the item, finding ten different views can be easy or hard. You want to give a good view of it. Show it in use. If it can be worn, have someone model it. Put it in context, and let customers see how small/big it is. A good closeup showing how well-made the item is will definitely help sell it.

A browser just checking out their options probably won't look at all the views of your merchandise. But a customer who is ready to buy will. That is who you want to consider when taking the photos you'll use.

But what if you can't do ten pictures of your item?

You will not be penalized for not having ten views. The live listing will look like it's meant to have five or seven photos only.

However, there are a few things you can add to the later photo slots. (You can shift the photos around, so make sure you order them in a manner that makes sense.)

Do you have other variations of the item? Do you have a gift wrapping option? Is your packaging worthy of a shot?

People, generally, are notorious for not reading through things. They ignore signs in public places. And there's a good chance they'll not carefully read your product's description. So, those final photos are a good opportunity to highlight any information you want your customers to see.

The pictures are your best way to sell your products. Give them the time and attention they need.

Product Photos

What is more important in a listing on Etsy, the tags or the pictures?

Alas, the answer is both. They work in tandem.

If your tags aren't working, you won't be found in search. Your pictures can be amazing, but no one will ever see them.

If your pictures aren't good, you won't get much interest. Your tags might get you on the search page, but buyers are going to skim right over your items in favor of the better photos.

The good news is, you can get good at taking pictures. It just takes some practice. And there's all sorts of advice to be found online.

What does a good picture look like? It's well-lit. It's in focus. It has a background that doesn't distract from the item. (There is a debate as to whether it's better to have a blank background or not.)

Let's take a look at some good product photos:

3/4 inch Blank Leather Wristbands Bracelet Cuff by Flores Tanis Supplies

Fruity Soap Cherry Whip 2 oz by savor

Knit Flower Instant Download PDF Pattern by ohmay

classic oval hoops in hammered 14k gold by 2 Trick Pony

Drinking Glasses Set of 2 by Bottles & Wood

Hand Spun Yarn by Epicurius

Hammered Disc Earrings by NansGlam

See how the products just jump out at you? This is the goal. And my next series of posts will delve into some tips on how to make your product photos better. 

Do you need help with photos? Do you have any advice for those of us who need it?

Road Trip - Heading North!

Submitted by Amber Long

Yikes, it's June!  This month we are heading North up the 101 to Salinas and a day trip to Monterey.  We'll also visit a shop in Watsonville.  We have so many fantastic shops to visit so let's get to it.  Among this group of artists we have a wood turner, a Minnesota transplant, sellers with art degrees, and a self proclaimed aimless wanderer.  

Here is what I found:

Orange Gemstone Bracelet by whitebirches

Handmade wood pocket stylus by ASHWoodshops

Knitting Project Bag by RadioactiveRabbit



Fingerless Arm Warmers by VonksArt

Owlie Ear Flap Hat by BohemianHollow

Spring Flowers Magnet by CharmeleonGiftSupply 

Off White Winter Wool Hat by ChanaAndChickadee

Bottle Brush Plant Print by TheBeeArchitect

I hope you've enjoyed this leg of our journey!  Have a fabulous June!



We're Road Trippin!

I thought it would be fun to explore our team geographically, so we are going on a road trip.  Each month I'll explore the shops in a different region of the state.  We are going to start at home base, my home, and explore Etsy shops here on the Central Coast. 

I'm always amazed by the talent here in my own area.  I'm happy to showcase that talent for you.  These artists are from Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo, Santa Ynez, and Santa Maria.

Gentle Flowers Baby Balm from GwendolynEvaRose



Bamboo Roving by SilverSunAlpacas



Bulls Eye Ring by leandogpottery

Embroidered Tea Towel by peggradyart

Felted Soaps by PoppySoapCompany

Growing Pink print by cineloh

IPurse in Amy Butler Fabric by handcraftedbooks

Morro Rock Handmade Card from UniquelyYoursStudio



Shimmer Swimmer from studiomusings



Teal Vinyl Wallet by mpwallets

Tree of Life from maggiepickering

Vinyl Record Cuff by leasha1824

Infinity Eternity Ring by SeaBabeJewelry

Next month, we'll head north and see what we can find!

Cheers!
Amber Long
This Little Bird

Don't Forget Mom: Vintage Inspired Handcrafted Mother's Day Gifts From California Crafters Etsy Club

Contributed by Melissa Kojima --- Artist in LA LA Land

Mom did so much for you, so show your love for her come May 13 th, 2012.  To get your started on ideas of what to get the woman you love the most, I've put together some handcrafted goodies from the talented California Crafters Club on Etsy.

Custom Keepsake Bracelet for Mom.

Handcrafted Mother's Day Necklace.

Vintage Photo of Mother & Child.

Stamped Mother's Day Spoon.

Funny Mother's Day Card.

Handcrafted Vintage Image Card.

Carnival & Mardi Gras Inspiring CCCOE Creations

Contributed by Melissa Kojima of Artist in LA LA Land Shop

February 17th - 21st is carnival and Mardi Gras, so I thought I'd showcase some of the fun items that CCCOE members have created that draw inspiration from this wild and fun time of the year.  There were many to chose from.  Of course, green, purple and yellow are the colors for this festivity so I found fun products in those colors.  Enjoy!

Carnival Gloves & Collar by ohmay

Night at the Fun Fair Photograph by sonja

Colorful circus cupcake flags by Shasta Creations

Mardi Gras Masks Photograph by Barbara Gordon

Mardi Gras Bustle by TiarasTutus

Green & Purple Chandelier Earrings by An Astrid Endeavor

Purple Superhero Mask by Ravenwood Masks

Pinwheel Cupcake Toppers by Earth Cookie Creations