I was cruising through Etsy ealier and was a bit dismayed to see how many crafters don't take the time to take good photos of their crafts. To be successful online, you need to do all you can to set yourself apart from the crowd.
To this end a good clear photo of your products will go a long way to you achieving your sales goal. Poor quality photos imply a lack of professionalism that will hurt your sales.
You don't have to be a professional photographer.
Although, I think most shoppers looking for handcrafted products do not expect do not expect the kind of professional photos you might find in an upscale catalog, they do see the quality of your images as a reflection of the quality of your crafting.
There are a few things you can do to spruce up your photos, without going to the expense of hiring a professional.
Be certain your image is in focus. Many crafts are small and may be difficult to focus up close because of the focal length available on your camera. In this case, go ahead and back off on the zoom and get as clear and focused an image as possible. You can always go into an image editing program and zoom it there.
Center your image within the viewfinder. Also, make the image fill as much space as possible while keeping it in focus.
Pay attention to the background or negative space. If people notice the negative space in your photos, then they are not paying attention to your crafts. Unless the background image serves a purpose, such as showing how your craft can be used, then the background should fade away.
Try placing your craft in different settings. Use scraps of solid colord fabric or papers for a backdrop. Choose backgrounds that allow your product to "pop."
Make use of natural light. Taking your photos during the day is usually best so that you can rely less on artificial light which is not as complimentary to your crafts. If you do use artificial light, it is best to have it diffused or try to have multiple light sources at multiple angles to prevent shadows.
Use photo imaging programs to edit your photos. Photoshop is a very popular image editing software program that you can use to crop, rotate and resize your photos. It is a bit expensive, but you can download a free trial version to try it out if you want. A free option is The Gimp, which is very similar to Photoshop, but completely open source.
Try to view you photos with your viewers in mind. How will they see your photo? Here is an article on taking pictures with digital cameras.
The photo above is a Criss Cross Box I made using my new Le Jardin paper from Stampin' Up. The stamped image is from Stampin' Up's Too Terrific Tags using Chocolate Chip ink.
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