Another idea for a background in a photo

While walking through a store where I live looking for a shipping box that I could use, I found something that helps with a backdrop for the photos of items that I sell.  It was a good sized stack of felt that was for sale.

As you can see, there are no two colors in the stack that are the same.  The different colors are great to show off any item that you put on them, and it also gives your photos a different look when you use it.

 

 

One of the great things is that the stack that I bought was only a couple of dollars, so you’ll get your money back after selling a couple of items.

Another one is that the felt comes in different sizes for just about any project or photo.  This stack of felt is about 8 inches by 10 inches so it would be perfect for jewelry, small books, or even a coin.

What kinds of tricks do you use when you take some photographs?

Here’s another idea for repurposing a reproduction

I’ve been attending auctions since my 8^th birthday, and I had my first tiny space in an antique store at the age of 13.

There are times that I have to stop and think from time to time (and possibly even do some research) on an item that I am looking at.  There have been times that I chose to take a chance on an item that I’m unfamiliar with.

My taking a chance occurs when the item in question is very inexpensive.  Learning is a huge part of what I do every day.  My latest acquisition is the head vase that’s pictured below, which is marked NIPPON.

NIPPON never made any head vases.  I knew that—it registered wrong in my mind.  But I went ahead and carried it out to my car anyway.

It is well worth the price for the piece to become my display piece to showcase designer scarves, jewelry, and even hold vintage hats.

 

So in the long run, it was worth the small amount I shelled out for it.  What kinds of finds have you re-purposed like this?

Just how do I take the best photographs of jewelry?

When it comes to selling jewelry, it is often said that a picture is one of the best selling tools that you have. There will be times when you produce nothing but blurred, out-of-focus pics, or photos that show the item off-center.  A simple tripod will help you eliminate these problems.  But what other tricks can you use?

I often use a mannequin arm to highlight the beauty of a bracelet or ring, and a bust or a necklace display.  Another option is to use a real-life model for the jewelry.  This could be your sister, brother, or even one of your children.  This type of display helps the buyer know what the jewelry could look like when they have it on before they purchase it.

Don’t be afraid to play with the settings on a camera.  We all know that digital cameras come with a macro setting.  But be sure to try other settings (for night shots, fireworks, or even snow pictures).  You never know which setting will show off a pieces best attributes!

Take a ton of pictures along the way.  Play with the angles of the photograph, and even use the flash of the camera.  You can even put a table lamp near the jewelry near the jewelry to help give the stones in the piece more of a sparkle affect.  What works for me is to use natural daylight.

I even play with the background as well.  If you have something that has a silver tone to it, a dark backdrop behind or underneath it really plays up the shine.  A piece of construction paper can be all the backdrop you need.

Another way that you can make those pictures “pop” is to take a piece of glass (this can be from a picture frame that you are not using anymore) and lay it on top of a piece of colored construction paper.  The reflection of the jewelry can be picked up in the glass.  There is a product called a light box, which can produce a “halo” effect around something like a pendant.  Instead of investing tons of money on this equipment, a flashlight can come very close to doing the same effect.

So what kinds of tricks do you use to take photos of jewelry?

Online Photos

Have you thought about selling off some of the items that you have around the house?  If the answer is yes, how do you go about getting the photos to the online selling site like eBay or Etsy?

You must have a digital camera.  There are many options on the market, like a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex camera that has interchangeable lenses) or even a point and shoot digital camera.

Any digital camera will give you the ability to upload photos to a selling site.

The site that you choose for selling your item will have instructions for listing and uploading your pictures.  If you are familiar with uploading pictures to a blog, it's always a very similar procedure.

Selling sites make all of this very easy.  Don't be afraid to try your hand at online selling.

My tip to you is this:  your computer has a limited amount of room to store your pictures, and the pictures can be pretty large (especially if they come from a DSLR camera).  If I were you, I would be sure to back up all of them.

Great Backdrops To Use When You Photograph Your Vintage Items

Ever wonder what you could use for a backdrop when you take a photo of that vintage item?  You could use just about anything, and it will make your item look even better.

One way that helps me is to use a vintage drop leaf table with some paint that is starting to show some paint loss as a backdrop.

Another item that could help are vintage napkins with a pattern that have been applied to it.

Just about any item could be made into a great backdrop.