Better Photography

Photography of your item is key to a sale. When browsing through booths on Bonanzle, I have noticed washout caused by flash and brownish photos due to too much red. I have been taking photos since I was a child and have been told I have a “good eye”. However, learning how to use a digital camera and getting the right shot for internet selling takes time and practice.
You should set up an area in your home specific for photographing your merchandise. Through trial and error I have found that a white poster board works very well. I can set up three items at a time, take one photo, and then cut & paste to save time.
If the item is light colored I use a dark colored background so it shows up better. Also, I have noticed that some people stage items around the item they are selling, this can actually be distracting or misleading. A nice clean photo that is crisp makes an item sell faster.
If you go to my booth, you can see I still have a problem with reflection. When I took a photo of my silverplate items, I wore a pink top. Wrong thing to do as it reflected into my photo. Good example of what not to do.
Also, you have to learn how your flash works. Many times I actually turn off the flash to prevent the washout.
Regarding the redish or yellowish tint to your photo is caused by too much color in the room reflecting back into the photo. That is why I suggest using the white poster board. However, you can use your digital camera editing program to adjust the contrast, brightness, and color to remove the unwanted tints.
A photo that is out of focus has to be retaken. Adjust the distance from the item you are photographing. My worse photos are of jewelry because I have not mastered the distance I should be at yet. Sometimes taking a group shot from a distant and then cropping the photo actually works better for me.
Just remember the old saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” and enjoy selling on Bonanzle.

My Bonanzle Booth:

http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/SuzqsShop

My Etsy Shop:

http://www.Suzq48.etsy.com

My Twitter:

www.twitter.com/Suzq48

 

Photography Tips

I just ‘discovered’ something that might help others. I saw a few mentions of it in a search but here is my slant on it.
I have been using my camera for ALL photos for quite some time now. I sold many vinyl LP’s and tons of CD’s that way. But, the photos were always a little skewed one way or the other due to parallax errors. I decided once to try scanning in a book. What a difference! Not only was it straight but the colors were much better, too. And SHARP. So, now I am changing my listings to use scanned photos wherever possible. It just looks a whole more professional. Yeah, it’s kind of time consuming, but I think the overall results are just much better. I scan them in to a folder that I call Scanned Online Items, and I can use the same images in other venues, as well. Unfortunately I could not have used this method for my vinyl LP’s as they were just too big. Years ago there was software to knit two scans together but I haven’t seen it in a long time.
I hope this helps someone else.
My Booth:   http://www.bonanza.com/booths/PC_Bob

Don't Think...Just Shoot by cardartfromtheheart

How many times have focused perfectly on that lovely, rare bird, been ready to press the shutter and 'oops' off he flies? Or the one photo, the bride tells you, not to miss is The kiss. Okay, you have it all lined up, focused properly, lighting right, they are going for the kiss, your finger hovers over the shutter button, and the bride drops her bouquet! Quick, Snap it!
Don't miss the unexpected treasures. Just because you were looking for a ruby, don't throw out the diamond! If you catch that lovely, rare bird in mid-flight across that Colorado Blue Spruce frosted with snow, it's going to make a far more interesting shot than the almost posed one you were shooting for. And the groom all puckered up, while the bride gasps and plunges down to retrieve her cascading floral arrangement.. this will in all likely hood, be the most treasured family heirloom for generations to come. So often, as we say, 'Awww' and drop our camera, we are missing the shot of a lifetime.
It has been my experience that I never have a problem placing one of those accidental photos. Many make good humorous greeting cards for me over at cardartfromtheheart. And they are always the favorites in family albums. So when Mother Nature plays a trick on you, catch her in the act. You won't often be sorry.

Click on the Title to this post to visit my Greeting Card Shop.

Wetter is Better by cardartfromtheheart

They always want to pigeon-hole us, don't they?  Are you an A,B,C or D?  Perhaps I'm none of the above, or perhaps I'm all of the above.  I have found within both my writing communities and my photography communities, most of us have overlaps.  This hub will center around these two niches of mine, as I cannot separate one from the other.  So whether you are a Writer or a Photographer (or both!) you should find food for thought in these pages.

My first tip for the Photographer is to "Get your feet wet!"  Take a close look at my first photo, the Sharp Shinned Hawk.  He's cold, wet and hungry... Which is exactly what the photographer had to also be in order to capture this image.  The brilliantly colored autumn leaves hint at the coolness of the day, while the evergreen boughs dripping with raindrops, accentuate the cold; almost make you shiver.  Don't worry about it being a cloudy day; the wetness of everything gives your film much more saturated color to work with than any old clear, sunny day.  Then too, don't be afraid to use your photo software to best advantage.
The bit of wisdom my Sharp Shinned Hawk has, I hope, impressed upon you is this:  Wetter is Better!

Click on the Title to this post to visit my Greeting Card Shop.