Sunday, May 15, 2011

What Three Days and a Camera Will Get You

I knew I needed to figure out how to photograph my jewelry well enough to put it up on etsy.  But I had been putting it off, and putting it off, and putting it off.  Because I had made some previous attempts - and let's just say they weren't pretty.  At all.  So bad, in fact, that I no longer have photographic proof of them.  And then I tried a few that were slightly more successful - but a couple of artist/designer friends were emphatically negative on the brick I was using as a support:



One tactfully said "it just catches the eye in a not-so-good way."  The other said "it kind of looks like congealed snot."  Huh.  Not really what I was going for.  So back to the drawing board.  The next suggestion I got was wood.  Since I was in singleminded pursuit of decent photographs (not even fabulous, just decent), I gathered up every movable wooden object I could find.  Cigar boxes.  Jewelry boxes.  Wooden bowls.  Finally, success!  Turns out my new backdrop is actually my old jewelry box.  The one that I haven't used in years, but really like because it's cool looking.  And in this case, cool looking was all I needed.  So. . .  here are some of the pics.








Fairly successful, right?  (And if you're thinking no, please contact me privately and quickly, so I can spend another 3 days re-doing these.)  And yes, it really did take 3 days to figure all of this out.  Clearly I'm severely lacking in photographic talent and initiative.  But, now I kind of have a system figured out, so I'm feeling dedicated to the online idea.  Because it looks like this whole e-commerce fad may be here to stay.  So, in case you didn't notice the big new etsy app on the side of this blog - it's official, I'm back on etsy!  And that's what three days and a camera will get you.

7 comments:

  1. The background looks good, but more importantly - the jewelry looks great. Where is it available?

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  2. Looks great. I am trying to improve my photography skills as well, so I know whereof you speak:)

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  3. @Asheville Foodie - Thanks! The easiest place to find me in Asheville is Woolworth Walk downtown on Haywood Street - I've got one of the pass-through spaces near the back of the soda fountain (www.woolworthwalk.com.)

    I'm also a regular at the Asheville City Market on Saturday mornings (in the Public Works parking lot on S. Charlotte Street from 8-1 - http://www.asapconnections.org/citymarket.html).

    And I pick up art & craft shows now and then - including Asheville Art in the Park in June (http://www.ashevilleartinthepark.com/). So I'm pretty easy to find. :) I try to keep an updated list of shows on the website (www.spotteddogfarm.com.) Stop by and say hi if you're at one of the shows - would love to meet you.

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  4. @Frivolitea - We should compare notes. My best success came from using a light box on my covered front porch, with the opening turned towards the house. You can imagine exactly how many scenarios I tried out before I happened upon that one.

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  5. Looks great! Beautiful new stuff and lovely photos.

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  6. @Paula - thanks! And, LA must agree with you, because I can't believe you're now reading blogs! Of course that assumes the reading of blogs is a sign of relaxation and time on your hands, and not total boredom. :D

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  7. No wonder I own so much of your jewelry, it's beautiful. Makes me feel good to look at it and wear it. I get lots of compliments.

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