Shooting is Good for Sales

I've been selling online for a little while now and when I started out my photos were dreadful! The place I set up shop was on Etsy. I noticed products that were well photographed, I mean really well photographed. The items looked like they could leap off the screen and into my home or made me feel like I was there in the setting or wanting to be there. I felt really geeky next to so many amazing shops. I also knew I wouldn't get much attention without great shots of my product.
All of my learning has been through trial and error, imitation, and finally doing some reading on the subject. I was just getting started and couldn't afford a fancy camera. You know, a DSLR (digital single lens reflex), with the fancy lenses and buttons. Plus those cameras scared the crap out of me. There are two great entry level DSLR cameras that are pretty user friendly and low-cost (comparatively). They are the Canon Rebel and the Nikon D3000. These cameras have on board tutorials that help you select the correct settings for what you are shooting. I have yet to use either one, but I am getting close to choosing one as an upgrade from my current camera.

Ear Blooms by LadeeBee photographed with the macro setting

My current camera is a Fuji Fine PixS1000. Its kinda old and looks like a fancy camera. Its got a lens that can`t be removed but it sticks out tricking people into thinking I paid a lot for it. I paid $200CAD for it about 5 years ago. You`ve gotta put batteries in it, which sucks. I use rechargeables, but on more than one occasion my batteries have been out of juice and not ready for picture day. That`s okay if I plan better or have back-ups I wouldn`t run into that problem. So, my point is with my crappy little camera I can take some pretty decent pictures.

Ear Blooms by LadeeBee
photographed with the micro setting

Here is what you need to take great product shots:
1. A digital camera with a macro and micro button (it looks like a little flower). The macro and micro settings are for taking close ups of your subject. You can have a very detailed, in focus photo using these.
2. Natural light. Outside is best, but next to a window is good too. Slightly overcast works best as it minimizes shadows, which you are trying to control. Full sun is terrible for our purposes.
3. A light box is helpful. You can find out how to make one yourself with a cardboard box and a few sheets of white paper.Click here for a great tutorial.
4. Props. If you sell little items, like jewelry, you can use scrap book paper (like I did in the photo above) or a piece of fabric as the background. Put some effort into it and get creative. For an all white background a simple blank sheet of printer paper will do because it has no wrinkles. I used a white countertop for the photo below.

Japanese Paper on Glass Pendant with 22`` chain by LadeeBee

I could edit this photo further if I knew a little something about Photoshop, but that`s another story. For now I am happy with this. 

5. A simple photo editing program. I like to use Picasa. I click on the wand icon to make automatic adjustments and then play around with the sliding settings for highlights, shadows, fill light, and colour. I try to make sure the colour of the item looks as accurate as possible. Usually I judge by the background first.

Take lots and lots of pictures and practice A LOT. I have taken thousands of photos to figure out what works best. Take 10-20 shots then have a look at them on your computer before continuing. I have made the mistake of thinking I was taking shots that were good enough and I could brighten them with a little editing, but it turned out they were all duds and I had to do the photo shoot all over again.

Got tips? Share them below.

Fog

There's only a couple more weeks to go until the One of a Kind Show and Sale in Toronto. I've built my display and it's ready for the final touches, I am in the process of tagging all of my items, packing things into boxes, and checking my lists.

I've been so busy helping my son with homework, crocheting, knitting, running around town doing errands, teaching and trying desperately to keep on top of housework that I have barely any time to do a blog post. But, tonight I am inspired.

Had a fantastic date tonight with friends. A delicious filet mignon, red wine, a velvety rich chocolate cake for dessert and coffee...all the while a thick blanket of fog covered the city. I couldn't resist going inside for my camera and getting back out into the early morning air to shoot some pics at my intersection.

In front of my fave
coffee shop, which happens
to be across the street from
my home.

A cyclist speeds by as I shoot this pic.

Creatography- Creativity and Photography: What Can I Do With All Those Pictures?

A while back I posted "Photography 101" on my blog discussing my excitement over the class I was enrolled in on photography through the Toronto Board of Education. I tried to stick it out for the full 10 weeks, but unfortunately after only 3 or 4 classes I stopped going. I was not happy with the instruction I was getting (or lack thereof) and decided I'd be much happier discovering photography through practice and informal learning-like checking out cool blogs and looking at the photos of others. 

Since then I have opened a Flickr account. You can see my widget in the right hand side of this page. Mostly my photos are shots of my buttons and crafts and from time to time I try to take some interesting shots around my city (like the one above taken near a local high school). 

I thought I would share with my readers what I have discovered so far since taking up more of an interest in photography and craft.

Taken near Dundas West Subway Station, Toronto, Ontario

1. Photojojo-kick ass tips on what you can do with all those photos you've accumulated and of course how to take more interesting ones in the future. I have subscribed to their newsletter and about every week or so they give you a free idea on a project, craft, product, or tip to keep you interested in the fun that is photography. Oh yes, and I highly recommend their new book!
2. Flickr-okay, so  most people on "discovered" this site before me, but for those of you who still don't know what they are missing, please head on over and visit. I grabbed a free account and once I am full up I am seriously considering getting a pro account for a mere $25/year. I enjoy looking at pics of things I am interested in. There are groups you can join and submit your own photos to for sharing. It is fun to comment and to favorite and to have others comment and favorite your photos too. Best of all I find the site inspiring. You'll discover what is the most weird as well as the most wonderful elements of our planet. 
3. MOO-a site that uses your own photos to create show stopping business cards or cards to save and trade...I just purchased a set of 50 cards (I only paid shipping on this offer) and I am so looking forward to receiving them. I suggest poking around the site to see it for yourself. 
4. Cre8tive Gang-an amazing blog for down to earth tips and inspiration for your photo craft endeavours. There is so much to discover on this site and it is clear that for the Cre8tive gang, photography is truly a passion. They stress that anyone can take great shots!

Photo taken at a shop in my community called Smash.

Share your creatography with me by posting comments below.

Photography 101

So, I finally bought myself a new digital camera. It took me a while to cross over...but by God, I did it! I am a fan of film, but the digital age has finally wooed me. I like digital, along with everyone else, for the obvious benefits: see the picture before you commit. 

My camera is nothing fancy, and a model that's probably discontinued as it was deeply discounted and not even displayed at Future Shop. I had done my research online-price comparison, feature comparison, and overall esthetic comparison. I wanted the lens to pop out like an expensive Nikon or Canon camera. I wanted lots of megapixels. I wanted macro feature for close ups. And I wanted the thing to cost no more than 200 bucks. 

I have taken lots and lots of photos since the big purchase. Many beautiful shots. The ones of the wall murals in my neighbourhood have to be my fave. But for the love of Pete- I have no idea how to use all the special features. This is one thing that googling couldn't solve for me. The explanations for aperture and shutter speed confuse the hell outta me. 

This leads me to my photography class. I am going to do a little plug for Toronto District School Board community programs. They are the best! I took sewing last "semester" and this time around I have decided to dedicate the next 9 weeks to getting better acquainted with my camera. I go to one of the local high schools in my area where a young, knowledgeable instructor greets a class of 15 or 20 people. So far I have been to to one class, I'll keep you abreast of the situation as the class moves forward. 

For now just pray I don't toss the camera into the Humber River due to frustration because every time I mess with the settings my photos look like they are on acid. If I make it through I will post some of the results on my blog.

Interested in taking a course with the TDSB? Find it at www.tdsb.on.ca