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Story by
daniellexo
Published on January 14, 2009 in How-To |
Photo by |
Want a few tips on getting your items featured? (...Not only by other Etsy community members curating their Treasuries, or Etsy Admin, but also all those bloggers featuring Etsy items?) Here are a few tips from the Shop Makeover Series to help make your photos and listings more appealing to curators everywhere!
1. Take Crisp, Clear Photos
Before and After by KreatedbyKelly
While this may be an obvious tip, it's still worth stating. Crisp, clean photos that show the details and texture of your work can make a world of difference. Make sure your photos are at least 430 pixels wide. (If they are smaller, Etsy will stretch them out to fit in your item listings and this will make them look blurry.) Here are a few great articles that can help you with photography. Put in the time to do some Photoshop touch up if you can't get a perfect exposure or lighting is tricky— it really counts! There are free tools now too, such as Piknik.
2. Keep it Simple
Before and After by KarensMonsters
Most featured items have very simple backgrounds that won't clash with the rest of the curated list or a curator's site. These types of backgrounds also make your work the star of the photo!
3. Angle & Crop
Before and After by lpdesigns
Before and After by idyllhands
Angles add depth and cropping adds a bit of intrigue; together these make for a detailed and eye-popping photo!
3b. Get Really Close
Before and After by InuInspirations
Look how "up close and personal" InuInspirations gets in this 'after' photo. I can immediately see how well made this item is, and in addition, it really makes me want to see more of the product! Experiment with the macro setting on your camera.
4. Steer Clear of Graphics & Text
Before and After by TatteredElegance
Aim for your photos to play well with others. Graphics will make your photos stand out in a way that may not complement the design aesthetic of neighboring items, or the design elements in the curator's own blog or site. Let your items speak for themselves in your item listing photos, especially the first thumbnail.
5. Take It to the Next Level with Background & Settings
PerlaAnne's final photo surely helped her get featured on Design*Sponge
A menagerie of your items in one photo (preferably NOT the first photo) can make it easy for a blogger to write about your work as a whole. (Make sure you note in your item description that this photo is to show a collection, and only one item is for sale.)
6. Live Models
Before and After by forthetiny
There's something about a living, breathing model (be that adult, baby or pet) that makes a product more relateable (and clickable!). Note in your description that the item is pictured in photo is just a sample (especially if you're selling something "intimate" like underwear). A great example from Hopeless says, "This item is made to order, you are not purchasing the item on the model."
On last example. This before and after incorporates a few things we love: model, natural light, cropping and simple backgrounds. Nice work rubypearl!
Thinking about making your item photos easier to feature? Send your before and after pics to our Etsy Shop Makeovers Flickr group.
| Tags | feature friendly, Front Page, how-to, HOW-TO, photography, Seller Handbook, seller help, selling, Shop Makeover series, Treasuries |
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210 comments Login to add your own!
chakrapennywhistle
fionachapman
Lot's of really helpful advice. Thank you. Now can you make the sun shine on my window sill in a gloomy British winter? (lol!)
neawear
steel
AREjewellery
fab tips - this is my new years resolution - better photos!
MichelleAlynn
LacySorbet
southpawstudios
tummytoys
beadinbythesea
This is great. I need to take another look at my photos. I think I need to get closer.
EpicBones
nice, i'm just starting to set up my shop, this is very helpful :)
picklehead
NestaHome
This is awesome!!! Number 5 REALLY helps when you are selling prints and artwork!
TheSavageCabbage
I think the live models advice is really important. I'm much more likely to buy something if at least one of the pictures shows me what the item looks like on a real person.
Doodlage
prettypeardesigns
Great tips - when I am searching to create a treasury great images is the first thing I lood for.
BluCille
Cool robot guy. The beads on the Sumeria necklace are really neat as well!
littlepancakes
OffTheHooks
mloartwear
momochas
mykonos
bugbitesplayfood
Great examples! Thanks for the article. I will definitely keep this in mind for my new photos.
ThePeachTree
I totally did this and then Flickr shut down my account!! Bleepin bleepers....
mamafamilias
Good tips. If only my live models were less lively. Try try try again.
Ibreak4glass
For those of us who are into Photography, sometimes we forget the simple things. Thanks for the reminder to put the same care into our photo's. Off to fix mine
VAharoni
Thanks Danielle. My question is how do you know when you hit the front page?
I found out 4 or 5 days after...then it is gone!
May be the one and only and I missed it.
Is there a way to know?
creationsinglass
baconsquarefarm
Thanks for the tips, I'm working on my camera skills and pictures, even in the frigid cold temps~ minus 15 yesterday~ fingers are still cold today. Did I mention I'm crazy too!! lol.
babyoslings
Thanks I wouldn't have been able to think of this stuff on my own.
juliaa
great tips--i'm doing a shop makeover and it really does make a big difference. :)
christinececelia
OrdinaryMommy
KarensMonsters
Thanks for the great article!
VAharoni: You don't know, except by views. Though you can often catch a screenshot on flickr.
windyhillfibers
There are great tips, and I can't wait to redo some of my photos. I wish you had photographed a silk scarf, though, because I find them to be a difficult item to capture adequately in a small photo. Guess I'll go check out the photos on flickr.
citefuzz
pillowfarmer
beladonnajewels
threepeats
I always struggle to fit in a full view of my long necklace...I'll struggle no longer!
simplymega
StudioCherie
So concise and easy to read. I love all of the before and after shots to illustrate. Thank you
BululuGems
4TheSparrowsNest
Beautiful and very helpful; thanks so much Etsy. These surely are the tricks of the "stars" here on Etsy. :o)
budpnq
Excellent article! Thanks for the easy-to-read format and helpful advice. :D
BeverlyAnn
Great tips on how to really show off your
product. Love it. Thanks!
KatsSoyKandles
elizandaxel
mermaidclaire
This is great, Danielle! I'll definitely pass this article along to people who write to Support for photo advice. And use the tips in my own shop!
KreatedbyKelly
These are great tips! I cannot believe what I used to think of as good pictures *smiles*
sweetshorn
bluetricycle
These are great tips! I keep re-shooting my work as I find better lighting, angle ideas, etc. I even took a class to find out how to better use my camera-the class was specifically for my camera brand, so it helped immensely!
timesandchimes
This is THE article to read for sellers! THE ONE! THE BOMB! Everyone NEEEEEEEEDS this! Thank you SO much! The examples speak volumes! I am just thrilled with this information- a lot of which I already had read, but to SEE the advice in action really drives it home for me!
sungazer
This is really helpful - specific examples, concrete advice, clear explanations.
More like this, please!
ArtMind
Love the tip about graphics and text! That's so disturbing in a picture! :) Great tips!
dayinthepark
This is a great list of tips and easy to understand/visualize. Thanks!
SCJJewelryDesign
WearableByDesign
Yoola
lalala08
CutieDynamite
Fantastic! It's always good to know what curators are looking for!
ASecondChance
NannysDesigns
BeadsInTheBelfry
ooh these were fantastic before and after shots! Great tips!
MieleMelograno
Thanks for all the different versions of the photo before and afters!
You are always so helpful!!!
ablemabel
Love the fact that you showed before and after shots! Really helps drive home the point!
worksofwhimsy
I'll be thinking about these tips when I take pictures tomorrow! Thanks.
InspirationPoint
Great ideas!! Good photos make all the difference between getting featured and not getting featured.
JesseMosher
psychedelictara
Food for thought! Some great tips that I will definitely use in the future. Thanks! : )
paintingpam
IcingOnTheCupcake
AnnaDenise
daniellexo
You guys are too sweet! The thanks should go to all these Etsy sellers who sent me before and afters! They are perfect, right?
I'm so happy to see all the additions to the Etsy Shop Makeover Flickr Group! http://www.flickr.com/groups/etsyshop...
Great work everyone!
Penvern
Very Pragmatic advices!
Thank you. As a newcomer I take those with great consideration.
jeannesu
Great photo tips. I do see a lot of items pictured on etsy that I have a hard time figuring out what is for sale. I would not buy something that I can't clearly see what it is. Arty photos are great, but the idea is to sell a product. If the product is not clear I would think it would be hard to make a sale.
PeteAndRepeatVintage
I love how they handpick items. You never know what's going to make it to the front page. Maybe one day my pictures will make it there! Ooooooooo how lovely.
OpusMuse
I'm always on a lookout for ways to improve my photography skills. Thanks for sharing your know-hows! Hearted a couple of great artists too!
AutumnLeavesJewelry
JenniferCasady
Fabulous photo tips!!! I need to work on the angles and cropping tip.
evelaine
EcoFriendlySoaps
FluteTeacher
iomiss
congrats!!!! it's a fantastic article. I think so, It's really really important to take a lot of photos of each item and then to choose the better. Go close-up photos!!!!!
SASessories
I love that crochet dress, such wearable art! Yes, good photos do make a really big dif!
BDOODLES
TokyoVogue
Great Post, I will def take a lot of this into consideration with my pics :)
littleputbooks
patriciasaabdesigns
KaylaCoo
Great tips, I'm quite new to etsy so I need all the help I can get!
tgldesigns
Great Tips, Keep up the good work. I have been wondering how to get that closeup/blurry look to my porcelain beads and jewelry. New Year resolution is to market better and photos are all apart of that.
MissToryDesigns
I think I'll outsource my photography from now on. I think it will be far cheaper than buying a new camera!
jansonpottery
Great tips! Thanks for showing the difference between good and not so good!
Clevelandgirlie
Thanks for the info. Plain backgrounds - yeah, that's the ticket.
AmberDawnAccessories
Thank you so much for these tips! Completely an eye opener!
laceandlinks
raisinlike
Serenities
PeridotMoon
Sweet #100
Loved the article it is direct with wonderful visual examples. Great Work!
shanekelley
EnchantedElmJewelry
One of things I love about Etsy is free advice from the more experienced. Thanks a bunch!
auntyk
this article is so helpful....thanks to all the contributors for making our shops a better place to see.
surfjewels
Some good ideas there and i think then its just lots of practice...
Handmade ethical jewellery: http://surfjewels.webhosting-for-free...
laijen
very helpful to know what I need to do to improve my shop. Thank you, (I've also enlisted my husband now to help with the photography.)
PreciousPoses
Great article ... and of course, I was drawn to the photo of the newborn -- a delightfully "Precious Pose"!
Petables
spicerakdesigns
Thank you for the wonderful suggestions. I have really been struggling with getting my new shop up to par and especially the photographs.
After reading all your shop make over articles and spent the last several days running back and forth between the shop and the camera, shop and the camera... Then I read your article regarding picnik and photos and life became easier. I love picnik and thanks so much for helping all of us newbie Etsians!!
honeybeejewelry
Thanks for the great advice. I redid all my photos and I think they look 100% better! I didn't know what my camera could do.
Vonni28
CityChicCountryMouse
ShesFancy
Good advice. I am excited to try some new techniques for my photos. Thanks!
copernicus66
ArtziFartzi
I'm always drowning in technology so ....this has greatly helped me in my photo problems...so now can you help me with my laundry problems....how do I get my whites really white .... smiles, Christine
PointyPaws
isdesigns
gifts2give
Morningbird
Thanks for the great ideas, I do appreciate it because I am photo-challenged (hopefully that will change soon!) - I have been curious, though - I find the front page of Etsy is pretty much always the same and everyone is trying to look the same. I understand the cohesiveness thing so it makes sense to a point. Maybe some more features on different items? or something from Supplies? Or a change of look. The close-up-cropped-plain-background-thing is lovely but repetitive.
TejaesArt
mariasfavorites
moonbindery
Thanks for this article--it's really helpful. Improving my photos is definitely an ongoing process.
erinmapes
MargaroArt
bremerweave
naKiMuli
bijougirldesigns
TanyaLoganJewellery
Thanks! I totally agree with Fiona Chapman - I need some sun! It's funny how different things seem on the camera screen than on your page - will definately revise my techniques...
PorchlightVintage
this set of tips is the best I've seen - fantastic! Simple and utterly clear examples! Nice work putting this together.
hempandmore
LadybugLimited
thanks for the tips-- I'll be back for a re-read when I take more pix next week!
thesmilingfoxstudio
I still can't believe how helpful this site is! Etsy really wants you to succeed. Articles like this are fantastic: thanks a lot!
StaceyDawn
Wow...that was great seeing the difference in the before and after pictures!
zombiepenguen
Just what I needed, I know what I'll be doing this weekend. Thank you!
sugartreecreek
I've really been paying attention to the backgrounds that show off the items the best. It's hard for me to get a decent picture so close-up and I'm a photographer!Thanks for sharing
alisonkelleydesigns
I love before and afters! Thanks for sharing this info, it really helps to get an idea of the different angels too.
Frommyhand
Tumus
I know the article link to Picnik goes to the other Storque article, but it would be great to have a direct link to Picnik from this one as well for those who want to find it in one shot :)
I love the before and after photos, wonderful improvements and it just goes to show that if you slow down and think about your picture you can capture something amazing!
CheekyVintageCloset
zombiepenguen
Thank you! I'm finishing up my new photos now and I'm much happier with them now.
mpaperarts
ArtWhims
Soov
Thank you sooo much, Daniellexo! I've tried to incorporate your tips and hope it's apparent in my recent photos. Now I just have to retake those back pages of mine. lol!
That70sShoppe
Junkartist
even with photoshop I still can't get it right, will have more luck now though. thanks
LaurieLou
VintageIsle
Thank you for this; it really emphasizes how important photography will be to our new shop!
Softpencil
inspiringcolor
I'm just curious though, for a clothing seller, most of our items are made-to-order, but some aren't. Should we only use models on our made-to-order clothing? Or can we note that modeled garments are laundered prior to shipment? This would be important for vintage clothing especially, not just our tie-dye stuff.
paulasmits
Thank you so much. I just started my shop 3 days ago and this helps me. Actually, I would like to know what everyone thinks of my shop :o)
tinybeadsny
This article has some great advice. I just moved and wanted to revamp my pictures. I will be drawing on these tips and inspiration from my new surroundings to update my photos!
designstyles07
After reading this I went back and looked at a bunch of my pics and updated them. There are still a few that need some work, but overall this was a very helpful post. Thanks :o)
ScentfulIndulgence
I agree with designstyles07, this post has been helpful. I did some retakes today and they came out beautiful.
One example,
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?...
Thank you Etsy!!!
mybabydiapers
Nice photos and informations!! I try to take my photos like these :-)) I hope you like
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=...
pandawithcookie
I've been working on my photography since I joined and have had big improvements. Thanks for some more tips.
amyelisedesigns
Liyana
saludamoon
Re-shot all my photos. What a difference a tip makes! Thank you!
nannastyle
Great article - very practical. Helps you get a fresh perspective of your items. Will do my best...
SkyscraperArt
It would be great if Etsy would add a photo editing feature to the uploading picture site. Many other sites do have them. Maybe not a Phtoshop but anything would help. Pictures tell the story!
starflowersilver
wow, what a difference a little planning makes. Have taken notes!
thanks!
bikimiki
luxandlove
these tips have definitely helped me see things from a different angle - thanks!
Lux x
thedryingrack
originalsample
I love tips on photography and I love the community spirit
etsy gives to all who access it on line.
TreasuresFromHawaii
THANK YOU THANK YOU for these gr8 tips...as a new etsy seller you have given me inspirational ideas with which to go back and "start all over again" the right way on my listed items' photos...much appreci8d!
candysparksrocks
CJsBeadedJewelry
I just emailed a friend last night that the photos are kind of tough to do but the more you do it, the easier it gets! Thanks for the extra tips---just what I needed to know!! CJ
strawberrycouture
One great tip I use is orton effect from Gimp photo editing software. It's great and it's free. The feature eliminates the ugly gray undertone you get after taking the picture.
sixpence
scottshandmadecrafts
The before and after shots are the best! Going to flickr Shop Makeover group to see more...
nichan
thank you for this article, etsy...
and also would like to share www.faststone.com for editing picture...may be it can be a useful tool for etsian here (^.^)...anyway, it's free...
BellaLili
What great tips! Now if I could just find a living breathing model! Anyone interested? lol ;)
JewelryDesignsByChar
Awesome tips...I think mine are alot better now than a few months ago!!
DalkullanJewelry
ArtMadeByTammy
yellowgoat
stoneandbone
IkvothaMashiach70
animalartista
myloveshop
zeropumpkin
teaandsweets
onceabarnatime
BuckarooBones
DanceInMyGarden
always grateful to have good photo info..thanks! Agree about using models..they make it real.
baconsquarefarm
This is awesome article, how did I miss this before, so much info to absorb, thank goodness for favorites. Again a big thank you Daniellexo~!
JADjewelry
BGMCREATIONS
Great article with excellent thoughts on self and neighbor...we newbies would have no clue! Thanks!
EttyLouise
This is my first visit. Don't know how to do anything on Etsy yet but this article will help. thank you
EternallyOptimistic
cottoncupcakeshoppe
solagratiadesigns
Squier
ozarkquilts
2harrisons
Oh, WOW!!!! This is just the info/advice I have been looking for. I love ETSY and you guys have really got this down pat.
papayastudio
Love it thanks. Does it matter if it's a live model or not? I've read in some other places that people may not want to see hats and clothing on live models if they're one of a kind. Regardless, great tips!
CreationsdeFlorence
Great tips, especially about taking pictures using the MACRO feature on the camera. However, I take pictures of glass and I find it very hard to do. I take my pictures outside (on a non-rainy day!) but have lots of trouble with "wrong" colors. The white background I use is rarely white on the final picture.
goodtogoeco
Great info! I always wondered whether to crop out the faces of models. The photo by rubypearl is a great example of how faces can add to the look and feel.
karasstudio
PiratesandPrincesses
JoDyer
mruxndesign
cool ideas! i have all of them incorporated in my presentation ...
;) but never made it to the front page of etsy!
cheers and have a wonderful day!
kris from MR UXN DESIGN > www.mr-uxn.com
MalviMart
Renelouisedesigns
svsoaps
Very helpful tips. Thank you so much for the great advice. I am going to take a look at my shop photos and reevaluate my pics. Thanks again.
baraness75
MelissaCaronJeweller
ten23designs
Previous Page
Good tips!