{guest blogger :: Allora Handmade}

Jessica of Allora Handmade is blogging here today and I can’t wait to have you read her words.

Be sure to follow her on Twitter!

When Gussy asked me to guest post on how to photograph your handmade items, I first had to check and make sure she had the right girl. I mean, afterall… there are days when my pictures all turn out like this:

(mostly when I make the mistake of trying to play photographer with a 2 and a half year old and a 1 year old hanging off my legs.) But some days things turn out a little better.

Here are my best tips:

1. Let your product do the talking. Make sure your customer has the chance to really get to know your product from your photos. After all, you are trying to convince them to spend their hard earned money to buy something that they’ve never seen in real life! Make sure your product has center stage and has a voice. If your product is bold, your photo should read bold. If it is frilly and girly, your picture should have the same mood and tone.

2. Light it up. Light is THE MOST IMPORTANT element of photography. Product photography is no different. Natural light will make a huge difference in how your photos turn out. Pinky swear me right now that you will not take your pictures late at night with all the lights on and your flash aglow because you just have.to.get.it.listed.right.now. (Been there.) Your products will look one million times better (statistical fact) if you go to bed and try again in the morning by a natural light source. Become good friends with your windows. Set up a table nearby and let your handmade lovelies really glow in that sweet pure light.



3. Style it pretty. Your customers are buying more than just an item. They are buying your brand, your style, your vibe. I love to incorporate some of my favorite things in my photos. Lately you can find my vintage yellow rose table cloth in the background. I figure if people like my product, most likely they’ll dig my personal style as well. This may set you apart from someone else who is selling something similar, so give your goodies a little extra oomph with styling.

4. Get up close and personal. I think close-ups are essential in product photography. Again, there should be no surprises when your customer receives their package in the mail. Show them your attention to detail. Let them see the intricacies of your handiwork. Don’t be afraid to use different angles so the customer gets to interact with the product and decide they must.have.it.now!

5. Put it to work. Wherever possible, get pictures of your items in use. Sometimes it means finding a friend willing to have their face all over your shop if you bake her favorite peanut butter brownies. Or it can be requesting pictures from past customers who love your product. When customers see your goodies in use it is easier for them to picture your product as a part of their life.

A few things to invest in/make sure you have on hand for a photo shoot:

I do things on the cheap, so other than the camera itself, these are all free or things you already
have.

1. A camera. Duh. You don’t have to have a fancy camera, but something quick and handy that doesn’t make you want to poke your eyes out is good. I use a starter DSLR just for the speed and option to shoot in manual, but a simple point-and-shoot will do the trick as well.

2. A basic organizing/editing program like Picassa by Google. I don’t have the time to photoshop my pictures, but a simple program can really make a big difference. Make your life easier by being able to brighten things up, crop, sharpen, etc. Definitely not rocket science, but it will help improve the quality of your images. Picassa is really easy and free to download.



3. Natural light. I know we already pinky swore on this one. No substitute for natural light. If you don’t have it, don’t shoot. Period.

4. A background. Your background could be something as simple as a white table or a window sill. It could be the page of a book or your favorite dish. It should reflect your style, be complimentary to your product, and still allow the product to be the leading lady.



5. Time! Sometimes I forget how long this part of the process takes. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get the shots you want and edit them the way you want them. This is the last and final step in your creative process, so give it the attention that you have given all of the other steps. It ain’t over till you’ve made it pop off the page!

Now go have fun!



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