More Picture Questions than Answers...

I'm having a hard time photographing my scarf/hat sets for some reason. You have to get both of them at their best and finding a unique angle with everything clear isn't easy. I don't know whether I prefer the torso shot with the hat stuck on the top or the head with the scarf wrapped around the neck better as a first shot on Etsy.I understand that someone browsing online wants to see exactly what they are getting before they make a commitment to buy. But I wonder what causes someone to click more, a straightforward shot like the second one or something a bit more creative like the top one. I cropped more of the hat than I wanted in order to get a square in the first shot but I think you still get the idea a lot more clearly than the closeups from yesterdays post.

I've decided to focus my energy photographing and listing on Etsy with the sets. I am much more confident that I will be able to sell my reasonably priced scarves at my craft show so I'm not going to waste time photographing them. I would love to hear which of the two shots above would most likely cause you to look further and click on the listing.

A stroll through my sold listings

I was inspired by Nancy at Nfall2rt to take a stroll back through my sold listings on Etsy. I have sold 90 items although I'd say around 20 of those were actually trades. My first sale came only several hours after I listed my first item on Sep 2, 2007. It was one of my Indian Surprises from above. I sold 5 scarves my first year using the colorful sari silk yarn in bright bold colors. I don't know why I stopped making them to be honest. The last skein I bought on e-bay had a weird smell so I decided to not use it but I think it's time to look for another supplier. The colors really pop off the screen. I remember how proud I was of the pictures of this scarf with the Buddha head statue from my back yard.

I used a lot more props when I first started photographing my scarves. I was constantly bringing a vase or wall hanging or statue into the shot. I got lazy or perhaps more effective at streamlining the process a year into selling. I think it took some of the fun out of it for me and I do still like going back and looking at the prop shots from the past. This one used a moon plaque I had that I think set a mood. I sold this scarf on Dec 3, 2007.

The High Times Scarflette became the foundation for an entire shop makeover 2 years ago. I first sold it on Feb 17, 2008. I have since sold a number of them on-line and in person and it is still my bestseller so to speak. I've used up the last of the now discontinued yarn and I decided not to go in search for any remnants that might still be out there on-line. The colors captured the mood I wanted to express with my shop perfectly at that time and the pictures in my banner will live on until I decide to shake things up some day.
This last scarf, called Champagne Blush, sold on Nov 3, 2008. It represents the move away from using props in my shots and is a more straightforward shot. I like how well it shows off the details of the scarf and the eye is not distracted by anything else. The pure white background shows that I was getting better at using the light and my camera.

What do you think. Should I continue to keep it simple or do you like the shots with the props better? I'm still torn. I will need to do a big photo shoot of my inventory that I have left after last year's craft shows to be ready for next year.

Now for Some Macro

I thought I would share a few of my favorite closeups from the weekend. I do so love using the macro setting on my camera. It's so important to capture the details and I think a good macro shot is crucial for a good listing on-line. Macro helps the customer to reach out and touch your item in a way. Since they can't really touch it when shopping on-line, as I discussed in this post previously, than we need to help them get an idea of what it would feel like in their hands.

I really love the above scarf. It's made with Noro, my favorite yarn brand. I used what I call my "mistake" stitch. I saw something like it in a magazine on a sweater and I figured out how to get the look through dropped stitches. It gives a ripped or grungey effect that I like. The close up on the black and white scarf shows the drapiness and fullness of the scarf is I think.



This pink and white scarf was a bit of a departure for me. It was done in a simple lace pattern with the white and pink yarns that resemble lace themselves. There is a great shimmer to the yarn that I hope I captured in the shot.

I've started bringing some expired listings back from the dead and listed the cream scarf from yesterday. I'll list some more new items tonight. It was fun to actually list something new for the first time in at least 4 months. I actually got over 30 views on it last night and 1 heart which was a pleasant surprise.