Etsy Tutorial 3: Taking photos

I cannot stress enough how important photos are. Inevitably people who first start on Etsy ask

“Is it really all about the photos?”

The answer: Yes, yes, yes.

When you sell online, people can’t touch, hold or feel your products. Photos and your description are the only tools you have to sell your items so your photos must be amazing. I’ve seen high quality, wonderfully crafted items not sell because the pictures were terrible and conversely, I’ve seen really sloppily made items sell because they had stunning photos. Now that you’ve jumped on the “Photos are the most important part of my Etsy shop” bandwagon, we can start talking about how to take amazing photos!

Lighting.

The best possible lighting I’ve seen or used in my pictures is natural lighting. I’ve seen others who use light boxes (whether homemade or purchased) who have had success as well, but in my mind, nothing really can replace good ol’ indirect sunlight. I usually take my photos on a table near an open window in the early morning or late afternoon sunlight. Try to avoid taking pictures of items in direct sunlight as this can cause the item to appear washed out and can create deep shadows. Those who have made or purchased light boxes also can use natural lighting or a variety of lamps. You may have to play around with different places in your house to find an optimal place to shoot your photos at.

White balance.

You MUST learn how to set the white balance on your camera. The white balance adjusts the way your camera sets a standard “white” background. For instance, you can usually set the WB on most cameras for fluorescent lighting, cloudy outdoors, bright sunlight or manually set it. By setting the white balance you basically tell the camera how you need it to adjust to the lighting you’re in so that it can accurately capture the color of your item. This prevents items from looking too yellow or blue. Setting the WB can make a HUGE difference in the color of your photos.

Macro setting.

The macro setting is usually a button on your camera that looks like a small flower. This setting allows you to take very up-close pictures without making the photo go blurry. This is an absolute MUST for most people unless you have a digital SLR and know how to adjust it manually. Make sure this is turned on for all of your photo sessions if you are shooting small items such as jewelry.

Backgrounds and props.

You may choose to use a variety of backgrounds or props for your photos. For backgrounds, I’ve seen success in a variety of shops with both plain bright white (the vanished looking backgrounds), simple colored backgrounds (such as scrapbook paper) or with beautiful props (such as aged books, glasses, wood backgrounds, etc). It’s really up to you what you’d like to use, but the important thing to remember is that you want to create an environment for your items. If you are selling a pearl necklace with swaraovski crystals, it would not make sense to photograph it leaning up against a coke can. You’d probably do better leaning it against velvet or over some lace or gloves to create an elegant scene. Your photos can help create the style and aesthetic for your pieces by the backgrounds and props you choose to use.

Angles.

You are given 5 slots for photos for each item you list. My advice is to use all 5 whenever possible. This is where you need to get creative with your photos. I would suggest that you at minimum show an up-close of details on the item, the back of the item, one shot with the whole item and other interesting angles of the item or a coordinating item (i.e. matching earrings to a necklace). If your item is something that has multiple uses, you should use the photos to give your buyer ideas for different ways to use the item.

Using something to determine size.

It can be difficult for people to gauge the size of something in your photos or just by reading your description, so including another item in one of your photos (perhaps the 3rd, 4th or 5th photo) can help establish a frame of reference. Common items I’ve seen used have been coins, rulers, pencils or books. Please realize that currency may also not be something international buyers are familiar with.

Colors.

Be sure to photograph your items on backgrounds with a complementary color. Not only does it help get you featured in different treasuries featuring those colors, but it also draws more attention to your photo and looks more interesting in general.

Branding and consistency of photos.

An easy way to create consistency throughout your shop is by using your photos. Shooting at similar angles, using the same or similar backgrounds and props can create unity through your shop and make your pieces look cohesive. Personally I find shopping in cohesive shops much more appealing than ones that look mismatched.

Photo editing.

No matter how good your photos look when you take them, you should always do some photo editing. Google offers some free photo editing software, Picassa, if you do not have any other software. If you do any brightening, be sure to increase the contrast as well to avoid the washed out look.

Good luck!