Photos - Still Searching . . . . . . . . .

.....for the perfect background.

A while ago I decided that my white backgrounds were boring so decided to try something different. I tried bright orange (see example in my Etsy shop in sidebar), really liked it for a few days then decided that it was a bit much. So I then thought I'd try backgrounds in other colours, maybe a bit subtler.......... I now possess backgrounds in all colours and patterns imaginable but STILL I'm not happy with my photos!

The only thing for it was to consult the Etsy forums where there are lots of threads about photographing jewellery ~ we all obviously think alike! After reading through several the general consensus about backgrounds seemed to be GREY. Yes, grey is apparently the colour to go for. Here's a photo of my earrings using a grey background

I'm not sure about it, it seems a bit drab because of the grey! I know it can depend on the colour of the beads but it still looks a bit dull to me. I've seen so many gorgeous photos of jewellery on Etsy using grey - maybe it's the wrong shade!

I then tried a more neutral background ~ a lightish brown ........

But it still looks drab! Maybe I'm just so used to using white that anything else is going to look wrong!

Here's some copper earrings I used a white background for...

I think these look better although the photo isn't that sharp ~ been fiddling about with my camera settings too much which can affect the sharpness! I've since reset them all back to "normal" so will see if that has any effect next time I use it.

After experimenting I've come to the conclusion that white is best for me, although I may use another light shade if it fits the colour of the beads!

Anyone want a big pile of background papers?? 

If you have any tips or advice please feel free to let me know!

Quick Update About Photo Crisis!

Reading the lovely comments about my new hideously bright orange backgrounds I used for a couple of my photos and thinking about it, I've decided that the orange is just too much!
After two further trips to my local ESK and ferreting around their background papers (I was in there nearly half an hour one day and almost missed an appointment!) I now possess several more neutral coloured backgrounds and some shiny new pebbles. I'm still having problems using my camera in manual as altering some of the settings affects the sharpness of the photo, so even though it's brighter it's not properly focused! So frustrating!

I'm hoping to start redoing them tomorrow as the weather is supposed to be better - fingers crossed. God, I hate taking photographs!

~♥~♥~♥~

Got all excited this morning when I checked my emails as I had another sale in my Folksy shop and thought it was my 50th. Alas it was my 49th ~ I sold two lots of earwires yesterday and hoped they would count as two sales but they didn't (bum). The reason I was excited is because I'm planning a Giveaway when I reach 50 sales. I've got the earrings all ready for it and I'm going to treat myself to a print from Folksy shop Sascalia. I guess I'll just have to hang fire for a while..........

 I want this! ♥

 Flowers 5 from Sascalia

Photo Revamp ~ Opinions Wanted!

Selling my jewellery online means I have to take photos of it and I can honestly say that this is my least favourite part of the whole process! I just don't have the patience for all that fiddling about trying to get the perfect picture and I always look at the end result thinking it could be better.

I generally just switch on my camera in Auto mode and let it do it's thing, however the other day I actually switched it to manual and played around with the settings. I changed the white balance, (I think that's what it's called) and it has made a difference, the photos do seem brighter. Taking the photos in Manual mode however wasn't very successful, even though it was in Macro mode, the camera didn't want to focus every time, so I went back to Auto mode. I didn't need as much light as normal, meaning I didn't have to pull the curtains as far back as I normally do, so altering the white balance has improved things.

I normally use white as a background but recently have been thinking how boring my photos look! So this morning I took a trip to my local ESK where there's a brilliant craft section. I found some plain paper in various colours, green, grey, more green and then I spotted some bright orangey~browny~pinky~purple ( I said it was bright!) patterned paper that I thought might work. It's a bit vivid and colourful but I like it because it's very me and I hope fits with my style of jewellery. I gave it a try earlier and here's the results. Before and after!

Before

After

What do you think? I'd really appreciate some opinions! I'm planning on redoing all my photos, starting with my Etsy shop, but thought I'd do just one before I got carried away and wasted LOTS of time incase I didn't like the end result! 

Transformation!

Before Christmas I felt the urge to do a bit of stringing and made a couple of bracelets including this one made with Crazy Lace Agate and Freshwater Pearls. Pretty enough I suppose. However it just didn't satisfy my obsession with wire so a few days ago I took it apart and decided to get the pliers and the hammer and bench block out and transform it into something else!

This is the result ~

I took this photo this morning when it was nice and bright but looking at it now I think I'm going to have to redo it tomorrow! It looks kind of dull compared to the top one. At least it's going to be bright again in the morning so I'll be there with me pebbles and me camera doing my David Bailey again!

♥♥♥

I've just listed these on Folksy. I took them at the same time as the bracelet yet they are much brighter........ curiouser and curiouser!

Cherry Freckles

RockPools

Quick Get The Camera Out!

What a lovely surprise when today turned out to be bright and sunny. I immediately thought "Get the camera out, get some photos taken before it rains again!" I made some earrings yesterday and finished oxidising and polishing them this morning so out came the props for my photos, in other words pebbles, back went the curtains and I started snapping!
I've just finished editing the photos and thought I'd put them on here before they go on Folksy ~

Sunshine And Earrings

It's such a lovely bright day today that I thought I'd make the most of it and take some photos of my new jewellery and redo some of the photos of my Folksy shop jewellery.
Anyway.........several hours later.........  It always take me ages to do the photos, I must take at least 8 of each item. After transferring them to my computer and editing them and thinking of inspiring names for them, I've finished! I think I lost my inspiration for names when it came to the Carnelian earrings, I couldn't think of anything so called them "Three" as they have three silver dangles!

Here's some of my new stuff ~

Ooh! Nice earrings! I had a nice suprise through the post today. A Giveaway prize I won recently arrived from America. I received not one but two pairs of vintage style earrings from Tara Henderson and they are lovely. Tara has a shop on Etsy and will soon be opening a second shop there too.

I'm wearing the green pair as I write this!

Chocolate cake update : Surprisingly there is still some of the chocolate cake left although I did have an enormous piece at lunchtime. Just the cake, nothing else and it was my breakfast and lunch combined so I don't feel as guilty as I should!

My Favourite Sites ~ Part One!

LIMA BEADS ~ http://www.limabeads.com/

Based in Ann Arbour, MI, USA, Lima Beads is a bright & funky site selling a vast selection of Semi~Precious Beads in all shapes & sizes, Freshwater Pearls, CZ, Cabachons, Charms, Findings in Sterling Silver, Copper & Brass, Vintaj charms plus lots more!

I've bought from them several times & have always been very happy when my order has arrived (usually  arriving in just over a week, not bad from the US!)

Chicks!

Another great thing about Lima Beads is the community of friendly fellow beaders that exists on the site. When you register with them you create your own profile to share. Lots of us have "Chick" names ~ I'm Spiral Chick, then there's Little Round Chick, Happy Chick, Chicky LE, Coffee Chick............... most of the community are from the US but there's also people from Norway, Belgium, & the UK.

Fresh Picks & More!
Once you register you can enter the interactive world of Fresh Picks, where you create a pick of 16 items that you can then post for others to see & comment on.

The Big Green Bead Machine ~ watch the prices of a selection of goodies drop every 5 minutes & bag them while you can!

 You can also create a Wish List of items that have caught your eye then easily transfer them to your shopping basket.

WARNING!  This site is very addictive & could waste lots of your time (in a good way!)

Design Gallery

 The Design Gallery allows you to upload photos of your jewellery for other Lima Beaders to see & comment on ~ all nice comments, don't worry!

There's so many beautiful creations in the Design Gallery, here are some of my favourites ~

                                                                                                           

Tic Tac Toe by doktordesigns

Tear Of Joy by Lynn G

Starry Night by Lorri G

The Malachite Challenge by Weimai Coffee Chick

Copper Swirls by ChickyLE

Faux Animal Prints Necklace by DivaChick

Out In The Cosmos by JessBell

Afternoon In The Garden by GemsChica Chick

Lima Beads is definitely worth a visit if only to play around with the Fresh Picks, look at all the beautiful beads & check out the fab variety of creations in the Design Gallery!

Bead Happy!