http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/the-etsy-seller-basics-get-a-jumpstart-on-a-stellar-shop-7428/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/8088design
And no, we have nothing to do with this...
Showing posts with label jewelry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jewelry. Show all posts
Gary is in the Latest Storque Article!
No really, it is! Look for yourself...
http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/the-etsy-seller-basics-get-a-jumpstart-on-a-stellar-shop-7428/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/8088design
And no, we have nothing to do with this...
http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/the-etsy-seller-basics-get-a-jumpstart-on-a-stellar-shop-7428/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/8088design
And no, we have nothing to do with this...
So, Your Having a B*tch of a Time Taking Pictures, Ey?
Well, allow me to throw in my two cents. I may not be a master photographer but I'd like to think I do have a pretty decent understanding of photographing jewelry/beads/accessories. I figured this out myself and you can too, I promise! I'm not guaranteeing they will be perfect immediately, but if they suck now they'll be significantly better when we are done.
1) It starts with white.
No, white is not boring. It is professional and it makes your product pop. Until you get a good grasp of taking a decent picture, please do me a favor and just stick to nice clean white (or black if it's something incredibly pale). Get a giant piece of matte white paper and follow me on to step 2...
2) Now, go outside!
No, a light box is not the same. No, going next to your window is not the same. They will both suffice in crappy weather (Aka I have an awful time with wind, some people hate the cold winter weather), but they still are not a replacement for the real thing. Now, you're going to want it to be bright out, but here's the catch: you can't be in direct sunlight. Direct sunlight will cause harsh shadowing and make all your pictures look like junk. Now if you go outside while it's bright but overcast, or diffuse your light (say with a big white sheet) then you'll be rocking. Simply: Natural indirect light is superior.
3) Figure out your darn camera!
My camera is a $99 piece of junk. It's not perfect and I want to throw it against a wall a lot, but I still get fairly good pictures out of it. Anyone who tells you that you need a bazillion dollar camera or else your pictures will suck and your whole business will fail miserably needs to be slapped thoroughly. What am I getting at here? You camera probably has a "macro" or "closeup" setting. Use it! It will allow you to zoom in closer and get clearer, crisper shots. Secondly, turn your ISO up a bit. The ISO either elongates or shortens how long your shutter stays open and therefore how much light it absorbs. Higher ISO = more light = brighter picture. This will help combat the gray dull picture plague of your photos. I saw in the Storque an article which had a good way to figure out how high it should be: shoot at a piece of white paper a few times, turn it up each time until it comes out a true white in your viewer and this should be a good setting for it.
Word of warning though from a fellow Etsian (with stunning photographs): don't get crazy with the ISO though, if you turn it up too much it will give you grainy, fuzzy, unsharp pictures! If your feeling froggy, a better option he thinks is to use a longer shutter time and a tripod. This allows more light in becuase the lens is open longer without risk of your camera shaking and making everything fuzzy.
4) Interesting angles set you apart.
Any dumb person with a camer
a phone can take a picture of something. You need to take an amazing pictures that stands out from all the rest. Part of this is intriguing angles. If I learned nothing before dropping out of art school, I do remember one thing: an interesting picture will drag your eye around. It will make you keep looking at it. Dead center isn't interesting and straight on isn't interesting either. Get on your knees, wiggle around, put your camera flush on the paper, mess around! Crop it so I can only see the front edge of your pendant and a snaking chain out the other end.
The other reason this is important is becuase there are only about 37689.22 bazillion people selling on Etsy too. I know: you're unique and your jewelry is TOTALLY and utterly different then anything else EVER created or known to man. Well, even if it is, most traffic comes directly through Etsy and let me ask you this: When you're cruising through the categories, do you click on the bright, bold, visually interesting pictures; or those gray zoomed out ones where your not entirely sure what it is? Guess what? Your customers click on the big bright shiny ones too!
5) Okay I've got pictures, I'm done now right?
No! You need to edit them! Even professional photographers edit their photos, why do you think you're exempt? If you want your shop to succeed, you can't half ass it, sorry! I want you to download Picasa or GIMP. Go online and use Picnik.com or Aviary. Either way, MS Paint ain't going to fly. Tweak your contrast so that it is true to life. Yes, you can hold your hair clip in your hand and match it to the screen for all I care. Turn up your highlight to the point where your background is white but your item isn't overexposed.
Now, crop it!!!!!! Don't be afraid to get up close and personal. I tend to think you should have at least one super close picture to show detail, a few interestingly cropped ones so you can see different facets of your item, and then one overall shot where you can see the whole thing at once. Take a necklace for instance: get super close in and show me the texture of the filigree on your pendant, the whole pendant, the chain, the clasp, and then the whole thing. Does that make sense?
6) Sit back, relax and enjoy your beautiful photography and go ask for a "critique" to show off how awesome you are!
Helpful links:
A bit more thorough explanation of indirect light:
http://www.aguntherphotography.com/tutorials/better-photo/direct-indirect-light-quality.html
Product Photography Tips:
http://www.tabletopstudio.com/TTS_Product_Photography_Tips.html
http://etsytreasurechest.blogspot.com/2009/06/product-photography-tutorial-how-i-do.html
Photo Editing Programs:
http://picasa.google.com/
http://www.gimp.org/
http://www.picnik.com/
http://aviary.com/
www.TwoIndustriousFerret.Etsy.com
1) It starts with white.
No, white is not boring. It is professional and it makes your product pop. Until you get a good grasp of taking a decent picture, please do me a favor and just stick to nice clean white (or black if it's something incredibly pale). Get a giant piece of matte white paper and follow me on to step 2...2) Now, go outside!
No, a light box is not the same. No, going next to your window is not the same. They will both suffice in crappy weather (Aka I have an awful time with wind, some people hate the cold winter weather), but they still are not a replacement for the real thing. Now, you're going to want it to be bright out, but here's the catch: you can't be in direct sunlight. Direct sunlight will cause harsh shadowing and make all your pictures look like junk. Now if you go outside while it's bright but overcast, or diffuse your light (say with a big white sheet) then you'll be rocking. Simply: Natural indirect light is superior.
3) Figure out your darn camera!
My camera is a $99 piece of junk. It's not perfect and I want to throw it against a wall a lot, but I still get fairly good pictures out of it. Anyone who tells you that you need a bazillion dollar camera or else your pictures will suck and your whole business will fail miserably needs to be slapped thoroughly. What am I getting at here? You camera probably has a "macro" or "closeup" setting. Use it! It will allow you to zoom in closer and get clearer, crisper shots. Secondly, turn your ISO up a bit. The ISO either elongates or shortens how long your shutter stays open and therefore how much light it absorbs. Higher ISO = more light = brighter picture. This will help combat the gray dull picture plague of your photos. I saw in the Storque an article which had a good way to figure out how high it should be: shoot at a piece of white paper a few times, turn it up each time until it comes out a true white in your viewer and this should be a good setting for it.Word of warning though from a fellow Etsian (with stunning photographs): don't get crazy with the ISO though, if you turn it up too much it will give you grainy, fuzzy, unsharp pictures! If your feeling froggy, a better option he thinks is to use a longer shutter time and a tripod. This allows more light in becuase the lens is open longer without risk of your camera shaking and making everything fuzzy.
4) Interesting angles set you apart.
Any dumb person with a camer
a phone can take a picture of something. You need to take an amazing pictures that stands out from all the rest. Part of this is intriguing angles. If I learned nothing before dropping out of art school, I do remember one thing: an interesting picture will drag your eye around. It will make you keep looking at it. Dead center isn't interesting and straight on isn't interesting either. Get on your knees, wiggle around, put your camera flush on the paper, mess around! Crop it so I can only see the front edge of your pendant and a snaking chain out the other end.
The other reason this is important is becuase there are only about 37689.22 bazillion people selling on Etsy too. I know: you're unique and your jewelry is TOTALLY and utterly different then anything else EVER created or known to man. Well, even if it is, most traffic comes directly through Etsy and let me ask you this: When you're cruising through the categories, do you click on the bright, bold, visually interesting pictures; or those gray zoomed out ones where your not entirely sure what it is? Guess what? Your customers click on the big bright shiny ones too!5) Okay I've got pictures, I'm done now right?
No! You need to edit them! Even professional photographers edit their photos, why do you think you're exempt? If you want your shop to succeed, you can't half ass it, sorry! I want you to download Picasa or GIMP. Go online and use Picnik.com or Aviary. Either way, MS Paint ain't going to fly. Tweak your contrast so that it is true to life. Yes, you can hold your hair clip in your hand and match it to the screen for all I care. Turn up your highlight to the point where your background is white but your item isn't overexposed.
Now, crop it!!!!!! Don't be afraid to get up close and personal. I tend to think you should have at least one super close picture to show detail, a few interestingly cropped ones so you can see different facets of your item, and then one overall shot where you can see the whole thing at once. Take a necklace for instance: get super close in and show me the texture of the filigree on your pendant, the whole pendant, the chain, the clasp, and then the whole thing. Does that make sense?6) Sit back, relax and enjoy your beautiful photography and go ask for a "critique" to show off how awesome you are!
Helpful links:
A bit more thorough explanation of indirect light:
http://www.aguntherphotography.com/tutorials/better-photo/direct-indirect-light-quality.html
Product Photography Tips:
http://www.tabletopstudio.com/TTS_Product_Photography_Tips.html
http://etsytreasurechest.blogspot.com/2009/06/product-photography-tutorial-how-i-do.html
Photo Editing Programs:
http://picasa.google.com/
http://www.gimp.org/
http://www.picnik.com/
http://aviary.com/
www.TwoIndustriousFerret.Etsy.com
Terri Lynne Designs and Her Mindfullness Mantra
Here is the latest and greatest in a series of customer spotlights. Terri Lynne Designs carries everything from purses to vintage to belly dancing gear to bold, elegant jewelry to boot. Speaking of bold elegant jewelry our feature is on a few of her exquisite pieces. So here ya'll go and enjoy!
"I have been fortunate to have more time to create. That is the only thing Multiple Sclerosis has given me! I love being in my craft room, looking through beads or fabric or trims. Being inspired by color and texture! I found that being an artist involves more than the joy of creating...you have to sell your creations! I found Etsy and some truly creative artists. I have done better selling my jewelry at local shops and boutiques.
(Terri's Studio, got to love the green!)
"I have been fortunate to have more time to create. That is the only thing Multiple Sclerosis has given me! I love being in my craft room, looking through beads or fabric or trims. Being inspired by color and texture! I found that being an artist involves more than the joy of creating...you have to sell your creations! I found Etsy and some truly creative artists. I have done better selling my jewelry at local shops and boutiques.
(Terri's Studio, got to love the green!)'Captured'
I visualized this necklace as fresh and crisp and wanted all focus to be on the large chunk of turquoise. Hand-twisted wire surrounds a suspended, natural shaped piece of stunning turquoise! A large delicate silver leaf adds lends drama and length. Each of the six dangles compliment, but don't detract from, the main attraction. I used glass tube beads, smaller turquoise pieces and faceted aqua glass beads accented with the sparkle of silver. The bold silver chain secures with a toggle clasp.
'Voo Doo'I wanted to create a necklace that was an all-out eye catcher! I loaded this piece with an arsenal of wicked good stuff. The main attraction is the large turquoise bead. Three strands hold a variety of beads in silver, aqua and black. Red adds an unexpected pop of color! Cast a spell wherever you wear this showstopper."
Check out Terri's full collection at: www.mindfullnessmantra.etsy.com
I Stumbled Upon the Motherload...
So every morning/afternoon, ok anytime, we walk past the "cabana" in the front of the RV park we are staying at I hear: "Good morning kids!" As I turn and look I see an elderly lady with short wavy white hair, wearing some cute sweatshirt ( yes cute, you know, the kind with puppies and what not) holding a little yellow mug with a smiley face on it. This is Elsie. Elsie sits out here all day talking with everyone who comes in and out of the park. There is an ever rotating cast of character sitting around enjoying the sun and each other's company, under said cabana.
One morning, we found ourselves sitting her, again, talking with Elsie, her husband, and another older gentleman (who's name I STILL can't remember) when they began they're regular questioning of how it is us "city kids" wound up in there park and how it is we can get away with not having jobs and aimlessly roaming the countryside. So again I began to explain to them that we sell beads online, and how paypal works, and that the internet is not the devil... at some point during this Stan (Elsie's husband) looks at the other guy and says: "Doesn't Jim have a whole trailer stuffed full of trade beads he bought like 20yrs ago?"
Make a long story short Stan wound up throwing us in his truck, driving us to "No Name St." to Jim's trailer. Sure enough there was a trailer overflowing into his yard with beads, jewelry, baskets, bones, antlers, dream-catchers, pogs and assorted another knick knacks to boot. My jaw almost dropped. I was like a kid in a candy shop squirreling through mountains of shiny objects. There is spools of copper chain, buckets of trade beads, strands and strands of beautiful sparkling glass, it was insane.The moral of the story is, don't be afraid to talk to people, you never know what you'll find. :-)
Stay Tuned to our Etsy shop to get a load of some of these finds...
www.TwoIndustriousFerret.Etsy.com
In Pursuit of Myself: And So It Begins...
Day1-3: Well that was just unnecessary. It took us 3days to do what should be a 6hr drive. Las Vegas, NM is a hostile place... Santa Fe, NM is trying to hard and Albequerque would have been better if I could have gotten it's namesake by Weird Al to play...
Day 4-10: So we went exactly where everyone told us not too. The Mexican Border... Las Cienegas is what they call BLM land ( basically the government owns it and doesn't know what to do with it so you can go do pretty much whatever you darn please and no one will say anything). Las Cienegas is 30 miles from the Mexican border, and I've never felt safer. Go figure right? The place was CRAWLING with Border Patrol, and there's nothing but yuppy old people out there. Real scary huh? Actually you probably should be afraid of old yuppies, but that's a whole long hippy rant I'll save for later...
Day 11-12: Lake Patagonia is a &^&^&*^*, we left immediatley the next day and headed for Quartzsite, AZ on a whim not knowing what was here but keep hearing it was the RV motherland and that you can't truely appreciate this lifestyle without coming here. So we drove all day and into the night (which was cute since or tail lights were out) and pulled into Hi Jolly camping area not being able to see anything.
Day 13- Present: We woke up to see a field of RVs in the desert, which I somewhat suspected would be the case... so we go into town and this whole place is a GIANT flea market/jewelry show/merchandise mart of senior citizen filled wonderfulness.We are staying in an Rv park in the middle of town with a cabana full of elderly people who are fascinated by us "city kids" (not sure where they get that from... probably becuase anyone under 30 here is a damn dirty hippy and where I do fancy myself a hippy I do not have dreadlocks and hemp pants, haha)
Anyways! That's the status update, not too exciting I know, be back with you when I have some decent stories to tell :-)
www.twoindustriousferret.etsy.com
Spotlight: A Rocker Chic Ferret!
As Some of you know I have been featuring Etsy Artisans who embody some of Two Industrious Ferrets values; such as recycled and new vintage Jewelry. As part of that I would like to present to you one of our coolest customers: HellKat Inc. She has combined some fabulous vintage pieces with stunning reclaimed material to create some exquisite rocker chick jewelry! Enjoy!"HellKat Inc is jewelry and accessories with a rock-chic vibe. Heavy metal pieces combined with vintage and upcycled materials make this a truly unique line.
HellKat Inc was created to fill my own need for statement-making affordable jewelry. I love combining vintage with rock&roll to get perfectly tough yet feminine pieces.
One of my most popular creations is the Brushed Silver Finish Thick Chain Necklace. With its delicate gunmetal chain and fringes this necklace provides just the right amount of drama.A perfect complement to the
necklace is the Brushed Silver Finish Thick Chain Bracelet. The thick chain is flanked by fishbone-style gunmetal chain. This piece is dark, edgy, and bold.My most sought
after limited edition piece is a one-of-a-kind cocktail ring. A big, blingy Swarovski Crystal button reclaimed and attached to an Antiqued Filigree Adjustable Ring Base by Two Industrious Ferrets. This sparkler is not for the faint of heart.
Check HellKat Inc out at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/hellkatinc
Check HellKat Inc out at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/hellkatinc
Spotlight: These Are a Few of My Favorite Things!
Hope everyone had a merry whatever you may celebrate. So We are officially in limbo between Christmas and new year, between our normal in a house life and an RV. Ahhhhh I love the gray area... Can you smell the sarcasm?
Moving on from that I have a few last Artisans for this round to feature, so here we go... enjoy!
Eco Bling Couture
"This necklace was really fun to make The pendant in the middle is what inspired me. It has a Art Deco feel and is actually a vintage metal button The rest of the necklace (if you can believe) is made up of 3 different pairs of earrings and a bracelet. This is one of my favorite piece.
I just started making jewelry out of recycled chandelier pieces. But the rest of my jewelry is made out of old or broken jewelry that i get in 10 lbs boxes. (or from friends and even customers) that will just send me Jewelry. I love it because i never ever get the same thing and i never know what i get."
Check Them out at: www.ecoblingcouture.etsy.com
Glamourpuss Creations
"Gosh, I think what inspired me to make that necklace was the sort of luscious, juicy colors of summer. Like popsicles and lemonade and penny candy. The colors of childhood and warm, carefree days. A lot of my jewelry is inspired by feelings or moments. That's what I love about working with vintage materials....they have a history that pre-dates the time that I'm creating with them."
Check them out at: www.glamourpuss.etsy.com
Moving on from that I have a few last Artisans for this round to feature, so here we go... enjoy!
Eco Bling Couture
"This necklace was really fun to make The pendant in the middle is what inspired me. It has a Art Deco feel and is actually a vintage metal button The rest of the necklace (if you can believe) is made up of 3 different pairs of earrings and a bracelet. This is one of my favorite piece.I just started making jewelry out of recycled chandelier pieces. But the rest of my jewelry is made out of old or broken jewelry that i get in 10 lbs boxes. (or from friends and even customers) that will just send me Jewelry. I love it because i never ever get the same thing and i never know what i get."
Check Them out at: www.ecoblingcouture.etsy.com
Glamourpuss Creations
"Gosh, I think what inspired me to make that necklace was the sort of luscious, juicy colors of summer. Like popsicles and lemonade and penny candy. The colors of childhood and warm, carefree days. A lot of my jewelry is inspired by feelings or moments. That's what I love about working with vintage materials....they have a history that pre-dates the time that I'm creating with them."
Check them out at: www.glamourpuss.etsy.com
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