|
Post by janeisgreen on Mar 12, 2015 12:13:42 GMT -5
There are some wonderful suggestions here! I'm very impressed by people's graphic design abilities.
I finally redid my flyers that are multi-purpose: for handing out 'wherever' & for including in packaged orders. I still had my old logo that I used for my website when I sold from there and also had a b&m shop in the front of the house. I loved it, but it was time to make it match my Etsy shops. I still have to do my business cards; I don't use them very often. I've also played around with some of the free background downloads for my item photography in both shops. It takes quite a bit of time, but I really think it makes the pics stand out from all the plain white ones everywhere.
I'm very glad that I'm participating in this challenge!
|
|
|
Post by TammyA on Mar 12, 2015 12:27:45 GMT -5
Ideally I would also have one on a model, for scale. I have found some people are more than happy to model if I let them keep the item(s) they modeled! I've worked with a few bloggers in the past for model pictures before, and I should really do it again for my newer products. If I didn't have so many one of a kinds, I would try that.
|
|
|
Post by PuffyTheSlayer on Mar 12, 2015 12:53:24 GMT -5
If I didn't have so many one of a kinds, I would try that. do you have a friend you could bribe with cookies to model some of your necklaces?
|
|
|
Post by TammyA on Mar 12, 2015 13:05:24 GMT -5
If I didn't have so many one of a kinds, I would try that. do you have a friend you could bribe with cookies to model some of your necklaces? I have considered that.
|
|
|
Post by Deb Flaherty on Mar 12, 2015 15:27:54 GMT -5
I already know something I can work on. Using all 5 photos. I usually only use 3, maybe 4. It is usually the main photo, a focus/different angle photo, and a scale photo with a quarter. I just struggle to figure out what I should do with those last few photos. When it comes to phone cases, it is easy for me to get 5. Guess it is something I will need to experiment with on my jewelry! I have a few listings with only 3 or 4 photos. Shhhhh, don't tell. There are some things that I can only come up with 3 shots or angles that are different enough. Some pieces have a lot more detail or can be arranged in more ways. Even so, I know I know I should be filling those spots. Some day I will take a photo of my packaging (which is part of my branding) and that can be a filler photo for those kinds of listings. For my jewelry I tend to do one flat full view, one hanging front view (on a necklace bust or earrings on a vase), one hanging side view, and close ups (of the pendant, special clasp, etc.). Ideally I would also have one on a model, for scale. Sometimes 5 pictures of the same lip balm is just too much for anybody I've often added 1 or 2 pictures of "similar" items either in a different size container, or the scent in a different product. When I do that I'll put a link to the "different item" listing and then put (See 4th picture). It helps fill in all the 5 spots and lets the customer know that while this is a similar item it's really located in another listing. What do you think about doing that to get people interested in other "like" items? If you had a pair of earrings in one listing, but also had a matching necklace to it in another listing you could also do that just in case anyone was looking for a matched set. Also, if you have similar items (like book marks) you could include the link back to that shop section and then a picture of one of your other book marks.
|
|
|
Post by TammyA on Mar 12, 2015 15:38:32 GMT -5
Sometimes 5 pictures of the same lip balm is just too much for anybody I've often added 1 or 2 pictures of "similar" items either in a different size container, or the scent in a different product. When I do that I'll put a link to the "different item" listing and then put (See 4th picture). It helps fill in all the 5 spots and lets the customer know that while this is a similar item it's really located in another listing. What do you think about doing that to get people interested in other "like" items? If you had a pair of earrings in one listing, but also had a matching necklace to it in another listing you could also do that just in case anyone was looking for a matched set. Also, if you have similar items (like book marks) you could include the link back to that shop section and then a picture of one of your other book marks. I have done that here and there. When I have pieces of jewelry that would make a set but are sold separately. Or come in more than one color and are listed separately. But I didn't think about the "other similar" items. That might be a good idea.
|
|
|
Post by StellaZiganti/Suzanne on Mar 12, 2015 17:17:10 GMT -5
I feel like my brand is generally cohesive, and packaging too (I use brown Kraft boxes with bright ribbon, generally matching the stones inside the package so it's rustic but colorful). I know my banner is less than stellar, and it's old. I have mixed feelings on my product photos and there are a few embarrassingly bad ones in the mix. Additionally, some items look good on white, some look good on wood... so I have a hodgepodge of backgrounds. Maybe a faded out piece of driftwood for a background as a compromise? I do want a softer blended look for my background as there's so much color in the actual stones, but I don't know if that should be driftwood, gray matte paper, or bright white poster board. I'd love some honest feedback! First, your shop looks much much more cohesive than mine. Partly because your jewelry style is cohesive and mine is not. I have embarrassingly bad photos in my shop, from my earliest listings. And I keep changing my backgrounds as I search for "the one" that works for my jewelry and my brand. So there are batches of photos that go together, but not overall. I may never find one background that works across the board and I think it's okay to have a mix of backgrounds as long as they are cohesive and go with your brand. I do think your jewelry overall would be shown to best advantage on a soft or mid-gray background rather than one with yellow tones like what's in the wood you have in some photos. Drift wood might work. If that's what goes with the brand/image you want to convey. When I see driftwood I think "beach" and "rustic" which isn't necessarily what I see in your elegant designs. But that's just me. White works too, but I find it super hard to get the lighting right on shiny pieces without having blow out (over-exposed). Using matte paper or other matte background is a good direction. Your jewelry is gleaming metal and faceted gemstones so it would contrast nicely with a matte background. Or you could use one that's just a tiny bit reflective (not mirrored) to get a partial reflection of the pieces. Something like these acrylic boards, which may come in gray too -- www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CDHJ6SUThank you Tammy...I tend to agree with you and it's nice to hear it from another person. I like the color of driftwood, the cool silvery gray, but I'm not sure beachy is the right theme. I will search for a few pieces of gray matte to try for backgrounds. I don't mind having some variation in the photos, especially the last 4 but I'd like a more cohesive first glance at the shop and I agree the yellow tone wood is horrid! Thank you so much.
|
|
|
Post by StellaZiganti/Suzanne on Mar 12, 2015 17:43:23 GMT -5
I feel like my brand is generally cohesive, and packaging too (I use brown Kraft boxes with bright ribbon, generally matching the stones inside the package so it's rustic but colorful). I know my banner is less than stellar, and it's old. I have mixed feelings on my product photos and there are a few embarrassingly bad ones in the mix. Additionally, some items look good on white, some look good on wood... so I have a hodgepodge of backgrounds. Maybe a faded out piece of driftwood for a background as a compromise? I do want a softer blended look for my background as there's so much color in the actual stones, but I don't know if that should be driftwood, gray matte paper, or bright white poster board. I'd love some honest feedback! I like the background on this one www.etsy.com/listing/164353242/natural-hessonite-garnet-hoop-earrings?ref=shop_home_active_3 in the small picture. It looks like it has texture but doesn't fight with the jewelry. It shows a lot more texture when I pull it up so maybe plain white would be better. The dark brown background shows up those earrings beautifully. I'm not sure the wood background fits your delicate jewelry. (I live in a log house so the wood vs delicate is a constant issue). I don't think the Kraft paper box is a problem since you use colorful ribbon to match the jewelry. If you don't like the banner perhaps the same wording but with different fonts for the StellaZiganti and the rest of the verbage. I like the wording. Some of your jewelry is more colorful so maybe use one of those on the banner.
Thank you!
|
|
|
Post by TammyA on Mar 13, 2015 9:19:32 GMT -5
Thank you Tammy...I tend to agree with you and it's nice to hear it from another person. I like the color of driftwood, the cool silvery gray, but I'm not sure beachy is the right theme. I will search for a few pieces of gray matte to try for backgrounds. I don't mind having some variation in the photos, especially the last 4 but I'd like a more cohesive first glance at the shop and I agree the yellow tone wood is horrid! Thank you so much. Maybe you can find a tile that has the same cool silver gray colors as drift wood. I know I have a trip to the Home Depot on my to-do list.
|
|
|
Post by TammyA on Mar 13, 2015 10:01:34 GMT -5
How is everyone doing with their branding, banners, and photos this week? What other kinds of information would you like?
|
|