Online Photography – Sell More

As many handmade sellers already know, great item photography can make succeeding online much easier.  Because your interaction with potential customers is limited, the way your items appear online in your photos matters a great deal.  Think of it this way:  A well-shot photograph can do the work of a detailed, thousand word item description for your latest handmade item.  Save yourself unnecessary pain by taking the time need to make your photos shine!

HandmadeMarketing.org reader Jim Juris agrees.  “Taking good photographs of your handmade products is essential for selling products online,” said Jim of Inexpensive Jewelry Photography.  “Your visitors cannot see and hold your product in their hand like they can when they are shopping in a brick and mortar store. All they have to look at when they shop online is your photographs.”

Jim shared seven great ideas to use when taking photographs of handmade products.

1. Read Up About Your Camera. Although this may seem basic, many Etsy sellers may forget the fabulous features of their personal camera.  A feature that had no use at the soccer field may be great for your favorite Etsy item.  “Take out your camera’s owner’s manual and read it from cover to cover so that you can become familiar with all of the features of your digital camera,” Jim suggests. “While you are reading your camera’s owner’s manual have your digital camera near you so you can find all of the knobs and settings on your camera that are mentioned in the manual.”
2. Try A Tripod. “Always use a tripod and the camera’s self-timer when you take photographs of your handmade craft items,” suggests Jim.  “Using these two items will keep your images from being blurry by minimizing the camera movement when depressing the shutter button.”
3. Lightbox. This is a tip we hear time and time again from Etsy sellers with great item photography.  “Use a light box to photography your fantastic creations. You can make one or buy one,” said Jim.  If you are seeking a quick way to improve your photos, a lightbox may be your answer!
4. The Best Light. “Indirect sunlight is the best light source for photography,” Jim tells us.  “Never use flash when photographing jewelry. The light from the flash will be too harsh.”
5. Setting Up. Jim suggests using the “macro setting” (which is the flower icon).   “Place your camera as close to your product as possible,” he says.  “Fill up the entire LCD viewing screen with your subject in order to show the greatest amount of detail about your product in your photographs.”
6. Editing. Some Etsy sellers skip the editing process when taking their item photographs.  Jim warns against bypassing edits.  “Learn how to enhance your images in order to make your product look its best,” Jim suggests.  “Too many sellers only crop and resize their images without enhancing the colors of their images.”
7. Try Again. Don’t settle on your first round of Etsy item photos.  “Take as many photographs as needed in order to get the desired results. Don’t be afraid to shoot again your product if your first attempt at photographing your product doesn’t produce the desired results,” Jim said.  “Evaluate your results and figure out a way to improve the quality of your photographs.”

Thank you Jim!

What do you think of Jim’s photography ideas?  What is missing?  What have you learned from having great item photographs on your Etsy shop or other online selling platform?

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