Styling is a tool with unlimited possibilities. It can help your products and your store present a unique and cohesive presence to potential buyers and existing customers who are interested in getting to know you better.

In professional circles, a stylist is someone who works closely with a photographer and art director to provide a shot with appropriate elements, helping to create an enhanced, thoughtful (and sometimes thought-provoking) photo. Sometimes, a styled shot is used in tandem with a hero shot (a shot which shows product alone).

If this is your first time souping up a shot, this will guide you through. In time, you’ll get faster and more daring as your styling mind develops! The end result will be beautiful, creative photos which not only showcase your unique items on Etsy, but provide attention-grabbing images to show off in blogs, periodicals, newsletters, or anywhere you find a promotional or photo op!

Getting Started: Take Notes
Consider the subject: in this case, the item you’re going to sell. Because you’ll be introducing props, you should make sure they will not detract from or confuse the shot you’re planning. Spending a little time thinking about the product itself will help avoid this.

Helpful Things to Think About

• What is the product?
• What are it’s obvious qualities? Color, size, texture, function, shape...
• What are the hidden attributes or uses that you find interesting? These are attributes which may not be obvious to buyers. But, these are the attributes which really sell an item.
• Is it portable?
• Does it make a great gift or party favor?
• Was it made with a special process?
• Is it all-natural?
• What inspired you? List anything you think is interesting about your product.

As an example, I’ve chosen a card set I designed. Somewhere in my listing, I’ll want to show a hero shot, which features all of the cards together. But, to create more of a mood and spark their imaginations with excitement and potential for this item, I will also take a style shot, which will highlight one of the card designs.

[My Listing: Card Set]

Obvious Qualities: Pink, small, note card, gift card, paper

Hidden Attributes: Surprise, taste, party favor, food, dessert, secret admirer, dinner party, gift tag, scrapbooking, photo embellishment, business card, candy, secret, pocket-sized, politeness, manners, etiquette, modern, bright, happy, tea party, friendship, sweetness

Brainstorming
Working off your list, and keeping an open mind, consider some ideas for your styling. Remember, the point of styling a shot is not to obscure the qualities of an item, but to enhance them while opening the viewer’s mind to more possibilities. Try to show the item, but also to tell a story. Yum!

I was really inspired by the qualities of crisp, modern etiquette, giving little surprise gifts, and the idea of sugary, dessert-y treats when looking at my ‘You’re Sweet’ card. So, my prop ideas derive from those
attributes. Taking a quick look at them let me know that the color palette I’d chosen was working together.



More Ideas and Examples

• Show portability or usefulness. If your product is small and portable, you may want to show off this attribute by planning a realistic, lifestyle shot where it’s shown nestled in a tote bag, alongside a book or wallet. Or, show how it might be used.

• Show inspiration. Maybe your product was made in your inspiring country studio. Consider incorporating some branches or leaves from your garden into your shots. Maybe one little pinecone resting next to it is all you need.

• Show process. Do your buyers seek out your product because it is made in a certain way? Are there special tools you use to create your items? You might want to incorporate these into your photo...a sprinkling of saw-dust, a needle and thread, a sketch, an assortment of wood-block type pieces.

Set It Up and Get Snapping!
First, set up a shot with just one or two of your new props. Take a test shot. Do they bring out anything interesting in your item? If you don’t feel it’s quite right, be patient and critique what is wrong. Art direct yourself: can you take a different angle, move the props into a less or more prominent place? Change the focus? Be patient. It may take some time until you feel you get photos with the right balance that accents your product and vision while still providing flavor.

Below are some test shots I thought had some good ideas happening between my item and my prop choices.

Build On Your Ideas
See if you can take it further. Can you add a twist that better distinguishes your own style as an artist/craftsperson? Or, can you add in another product to showcase more of your collection? Once you get comfortable using props and you feel your product is really singing in its new environment, push the boundaries. Use interesting angles, lighting, materials, or focus to add to your story.

For my shot, I really liked the way the tea cup was looking, but I preferred the gold cup to the green, and chose the simpler background to give more clarity. I was really excited by the way the raw sugar was adding texture to my concept, so, I worked with it, and tried some different ways of bringing it in. I thought the shot was looking a little monochromatic, so I added some subtle green, crafty touches to offset that.

These are my six final shots. I really enjoy the front-and center shots which do the work of a hero shot while still showing off the styling. I also simplified the presence of the sugar, using it more as a shape and texture than a prop. I could take this even further by adding in a table-cloth, or natural wood tabletop, but that is a project for another day.





Below are more great examples of sellers who use really clever styling ideas. As you’ll see in the shots below, sometimes the simplest styling can really give flair, drama, and even humor to an item. By using similar styling across all of your collection, you can create a really cohesive and inviting look for your entire store.

More Helpful Things To Keep in Mind...

• Keep your eyes open. Props are everywhere! Sometimes, just walking through a new environment can give you some great ideas. Take a stroll through the dollar store and see what you come up with. What about that margarine tub of mismatched buttons hiding in the craft closet? They might make a great background...

• Look for examples. When you get a magazine and a photo pops out at you, take a closer look at how it was styled to learn technique.

• Incorporate more of your own items. Try putting other items from your shop into a shot without losing focus on the main item. This shows how well items in your collection work together!

• Last, and most importantly...be free. Sometimes, the best way to come up with an idea if you’re really stumped is just to play. Remember, you are the art director. Look beyond the typical use for your item, and just have fun with it.

For more SusyJack goodness, check out our interview.

What's your take on stying photos? Leave it in the comments!