Comments on: Before & After Photos

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 22:29:37 +0000

Thanks for the tips Louise and sorry I did not respond sooner. I had a serious problem with my computer last week. UGH!

By: louise

louise — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:35:14 +0000

Hi Michelle,
It sounds like you are going to have a very busy summer with a house full of kids. It always took us a few weeks to adjust when my kids were younger but eventually, we got into an acceptable “groove.”

As for your pictures, kudos to you for experimenting. It’s such a shame that pictures make such a difference but as in food, jewelry pictures must look “appetizing.”

I know very little about Etsy but I did sell quite a few pieces of jewelry on ebay and believe it or not, I found scanning small objects on my scanner really worked out well. When ever I needed a background, I would get decorative paper and gently lay it across the jewelry before closing the scanner cover. Again, gently. (jewelry has a tendency to sometimes scratch the glass if you’re not careful) I’ve also heard of people taking pictures of pieces using the inside of their microwaves. I don’t know much about that though.

Good Luck, your pieces are charming and have FUN!!! I am so bad at photography, I wish I had the desire to try to conquer it like you:)

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:59:56 +0000

Hi Meleah- I agree – hopefully I can find it though.

By: meleah rebeccah

meleah rebeccah — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 02:56:30 +0000

I really liked DCR’s suggestion. The translucent printing paper would look very ‘artsy fartsy’ hopefully you can get some in different colors?

By: dcr

dcr — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:26:25 +0000

We buy it from the paper warehouse. That may not be an option for you. You might try an office supply store. I don’t know if they’d carry it, as it’s not a typical item.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:39:46 +0000

Great- where do you buy this from- Office supply store or?

By: dcr

dcr — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:37:46 +0000

Michelle – I didn’t have access to the package last night.

I have two brands, Gilcrest and Ultra. Both call the paper “translucent printing paper.”

It’s the type of paper they used to use in the inside of old books to cover the author’s photo in the front.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:20:08 +0000

Jenny- I think it is a female thing. So far men- have been more critical (I don’t mean that in a bad way) of the “artsy” photos and women that have seen them have been very receptive of them. And maybe you are an ETSY person.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:18:48 +0000

Hi Dan- I would be interested in the paper- you don’t have the name or brand from the package? I hate to have you send something to me. I really think that is a good idea- especially with the book background pictures.

People on ETSY seem to like period props and I don’t have a lot of items besides jewelry from the 20s’ 20′s 30′s 40′s etc. I use the books, because they are period to some extent.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:15:38 +0000

Hi Mike- I know what you mean by the jewelry not standing out. I was worried about that myself, so with the jewelry listings that I took on books and such, I included pictures of the same pieces with just the plain background. As far as using darker backgrounds- you can’t do that with rhinestone jewelry. The rhinestones reflect the color of the backgrounds or even pick up the colors of the camera or a shirt I am wearing. A dark background can make a clear white rhinestone brooch look like it has cloudiness or dark issues with significantly lower the value. Thanks for your input- I do agree with you on the pictures being busy, but I do like them and need a happy medium.