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Post by TammyA on Mar 9, 2015 18:05:09 GMT -5
Thanks, the flower is actually a fused version of a wild azalea. Maybe I need to make one using stained glass instead of fused. Definitely the items are a mix...whatever interests me at the moment. I started the shop with jewelry but there are so many people doing jewelry and even a lot doing fused jewelry that I started putting stained glass up. The major problem with larger stained glass is packing it successfully for shipping. It's fragile and the larger it gets the more fragile. My son-in-law worked for UPS for a while and they have a two story slide that the packages slide down. It doesn't matter what it is, they'd rather pay for damage than slow down the line. I'm sure the post office does something similar unfortunately. I'll have to rethink the logo now that I have different items. Maybe I also need to think more about "branding". Ah, I see. Sorry about that. I thought it was digital flowers at first. Since you do a variety of stained, fused, and mosaic, maybe you could think about ways to convey "glass" in your banner. For dense people like me who didn't notice that the flowers are in fact glass. Also, I'm curious how you came up with your shop title. Is there a story behind it? Something meaningful or significant about azaleas, maybe, and flowers growing wild? In terms of "connecting" via branding, that might be something to think about how you would want to share or convey that to customers to make the name and your products unforgettable.
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Post by patchworkgal on Mar 9, 2015 22:55:59 GMT -5
I'd love to be able to use my own handwriting for the font on all my stuff, or at least a font that looks very much like actual handwriting, if not necessarily my own. That can be done. If you google "turn handwriting into font" there are quite a few options. I can't say how well any of them work, but it is something doable. Otherwise, you can search for "handwriting fonts" and find dozens, including lots you can download for free. Like these -- www.1001freefonts.com/handwriting-fonts.phpI'm guessing you'd like a font that looks more natural, maybe one that's a mix of print and cursive, rather than one that's a fancy script. I've actually looked at some sites were I can do it, for free. It's not as easy as it looks, though. You have to create all the letters separately, and then to have a font where ALL the letters work together no matter where they are in a word, etc., is a real pain. I kind of gave up on it. I might be better off to just find a font that sort of looks like my style of handwriting, since mine isn't necessarily too legible all the time anyway! Thanks for the link to the free fonts. I'll have to look into those.
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Post by PuffyTheSlayer on Mar 10, 2015 3:31:59 GMT -5
[/quote]most I wonder if I could use Photoshop to turn an actual image into something like this. There are so many things Photoshop can do that I've never had time to learn. the effect your after would be called something like pencil sketch you can do just black & white or add a little color; the images usually need more than a little tweaking & it will pick up EVERY line (so get the digital eraser out)
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Post by PuffyTheSlayer on Mar 10, 2015 4:16:46 GMT -5
I also wonder about using a (the) shell in product pix. I felt the pages looked a bit too busy if I put the shell in all photos? do you mean using the shell photo as your 1st photo for each listing? I understand the premise behind the shell - it is a neutral colored yet asthetically pleasing item to 'drape' your wares on. and gives a professional look. and having all your primary photos on a shell would create a cohesive look for your shop front, but may not be right for the individual item. whereas a mix of shell'ed & plain photos (like you have now) really works in my opinion. why - well theres no way to say this without sounding horrid - but personally i hate the use of shells & rocks as props, (this is my personal taste as they appeal to a demographic that is not my own) but props in general can be too much if used incorrectly or too often. props no matter what they are (shell, rock, manaquine head, display bust, cup, table, chair, pet, human being) need to compliment the item; so when i see gothic jewelry draped over a shell.... it jarrs! BADLY! when i look at your store front it is the mix of photos that keep me engaged; i know all of your work is inspired by nature, but not all of your items have a 'nature' feel once finished, so i think a plain background works much better for those items. (which you already do)
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Post by patchworkgal on Mar 10, 2015 7:24:15 GMT -5
I also wonder about using a (the) shell in product pix. I felt the pages looked a bit too busy if I put the shell in all photos? do you mean using the shell photo as your 1st photo for each listing? I understand the premise behind the shell - it is a neutral colored yet asthetically pleasing item to 'drape' your wares on. and gives a professional look. and having all your primary photos on a shell would create a cohesive look for your shop front, but may not be right for the individual item. whereas a mix of shell'ed & plain photos (like you have now) really works in my opinion. why - well theres no way to say this without sounding horrid - but personally i hate the use of shells & rocks as props, (this is my personal taste as they appeal to a demographic that is not my own) but props in general can be too much if used incorrectly or too often. props no matter what they are (shell, rock, manaquine head, display bust, cup, table, chair, pet, human being) need to compliment the item; so when i see gothic jewelry draped over a shell.... it jarrs! BADLY! when i look at your store front it is the mix of photos that keep me engaged; i know all of your work is inspired by nature, but not all of your items have a 'nature' feel once finished, so i think a plain background works much better for those items. (which you already do) Well said, Rhi. I find the over-use of props to be off-putting myself, especially when people get all cutesy with them. I think if they're going to use something it should be consistent and it should not compete with the item for attention. If you find yourself wondering what's for sale, it isn't working. --------------------- And I also agree in this context, Dix, the seashells fit the "ethos" (I believe that was Katie's word) of your work and your shop, so they seem appropriate here. Your photos are always nice and clear and the shells, when present, show off the jewelry. You are welcome to come take pictures of my stuff any time you're in the neighborhood! Another example of where the use of props works for me, is in Suzanne's shop www.etsy.com/shop/StellaZiganti , where some of her pieces (mostly earrings?) are pictured hanging on the side of a cup or plate. I see plenty of shops where they've gone way too far with this, but hers is very tastefully done. Though the dishes may have nothing to do with the jewelry, she doesn't overuse them and they are always pure white with very simple lines. She hasn't set the table with lace mats and flowers or poured out the tea. The cups are just there to support the jewelry and become part of the background. Adn yet they give the photo dimension so the pieces aren't just lying on a flat white space. They also give a general frame of reference for the size. And maybe the simple white porcelain dishes appeal to a certain demographic too. For example, the photo in this listing is more appealing to me personally www.etsy.com/listing/188617390/iolite-and-chalcedony-earrings-natural?ref=shop_home_active_3than this one where the bracelet seems to be floating in a sterile white void www.etsy.com/listing/177726732/tourmalinated-prehnite-sterling-silver?ref=shop_home_active_23
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Post by PuffyTheSlayer on Mar 10, 2015 7:38:24 GMT -5
I think if they're going to use something it should be consistent and it should not compete with the item for attention. If you find yourself wondering what's for sale, it isn't working. im so glad someone else shares my opinion - and that it came accross right; i wrote it during my 1st coffee of the day - and we all know thats a dangerous time to expess an opinion
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Post by TammyA on Mar 10, 2015 8:33:32 GMT -5
I think if they're going to use something it should be consistent and it should not compete with the item for attention. If you find yourself wondering what's for sale, it isn't working. im so glad someone else shares my opinion - and that it came accross right; i wrote it during my 1st coffee of the day - and we all know thats a dangerous time to expess an opinion Exactly. It's something one of my friends told me a long time ago too. She said she didn't want to have to read the description to find out what's for sale. She should know instantly from the photo.
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Post by TammyA on Mar 10, 2015 8:39:46 GMT -5
Another example of where the use of props works for me, is in Suzanne's shop www.etsy.com/shop/StellaZiganti , where some of her pieces (mostly earrings?) are pictured hanging on the side of a cup or plate. I see plenty of shops where they've gone way too far with this, but hers is very tastefully done. Though the dishes may have nothing to do with the jewelry, she doesn't overuse them and they are always pure white with very simple lines. She hasn't set the table with lace mats and flowers or poured out the tea. The cups are just there to support the jewelry and become part of the background. Adn yet they give the photo dimension so the pieces aren't just lying on a flat white space. They also give a general frame of reference for the size. And maybe the simple white porcelain dishes appeal to a certain demographic too. I do love the look of Suzanne's shop. Her photos "go" with her jewelry style, which is very elegant. I'm still searching for my ideal photo prop. When I find it, I will have a ton of re-shooting to do. I've been using a plain white vase for the earrings I've made over the past year-ish. It's less sterile than having them hang on a piece of fishing line against a white/gray background. But, that is also one shot I use in my listings, along with a few of the earrings laying flat on white. Those are more "catalog" shots. I hate them, but some people prefer to see the product on a plain background. So, I use a mix. There's a balance between photo props and backgrounds that convey your brand and those that distract or detract from what you are selling.
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Post by TammyA on Mar 10, 2015 8:47:17 GMT -5
Here's an example of photo backgrounds that do or don't work. Sorry this photo is going to come out HUGE, but I don't have the url for a smaller version. I shared it on my FB page about a week ago. I was testing photo backgrounds and asked my fans which one they think (a) goes best with my logo/brand and (b) looked best with the earrings. Most people liked the sand texture. Sand does go well with lizards. But then the question becomes, will all my jewelry look equally good on the sand? It would, if my jewelry collection were cohesive and all in the same style or theme. (which it isn't, sadly) I'll note that the river rocks was the only one that required zero editing, other than to crop. Predictably, my camera loved that mix of grey tones for balancing color and light. But the size of the rocks is too big and competes with the earrings. The white texture was too subtle and just reads as flat white. The vase shows how the earrings hang, but gives no idea of scale.
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Post by Dixie - dixsterling on Mar 10, 2015 11:52:03 GMT -5
Tammy's four photos remind me of one of the most difficult things I fight with -- getting the light & color as I want it every time. I have given up on "studio" lighting but, even if I always shoot on a bright day and in the same spot, my almost white background sometimes comes out a mid gray. Bothersome. Taking a shop cleanse look at my own shop, I see some photos I will re-do the next time I have the camera setup. Nobody said it would be easy, did they.
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