A Shootout at the Etsy Corral....a DSLR vs a Point & Shoot

By:  Karra of Islay Corners Photography

Many folks don’t have super expensive DSLRs or lenses at their disposal so I thought I’d try an experiment.  

And in this corner....

I took my 60D (a mid range crop sensor DSLR from Canon) and it’s Tamron 18-270mm zoom. I choose this lens because chances are if you have a DSLR, you have a kit lens which most commonly are the 18-55mm or a 18-200mm. For the point an shoot, I matched it against my favorite little point and shoot, Panasonic’s TZ5.

My TZ5 is several years old and the 60D is about 3 years old so in terms of electronic lifespan, not new by any stretch.

Firstly, there will be always be a difference between a point and shoot and a DSLR. Aside from the obvious technical aspects like sensor size and interchangeable lenses, DSLRs generally are better. They can shoot better in lower light and have more options in terms of formats (RAW vs JPG).

Don’t get me wrong, you can get amazing point and shoots with more options but those are usually north of $500. That being said, some folks can make iphone pictures that rock so it’s all what you choose to use.

It may take a few attempts to get things right so if first you don’t get everything perfect, try try again.

The experiment....

For this experiment, I tried to take shots in both harsh, midday sun and more shaded, even light.

My biggest observation was I forgot how hard it was to hold my P&S shoot still while trying to compose a shot through the back screen, especially in bright light. I felt like my hands were giant and the buttons too small on my TZ5. I’ve been using the view finder on my 60D even since I got it so no matter how bright it is, I can easily compose my shot.

Believe me when I say it took a long time to get me on the DSLR train. I believed I didn’t need a DSLR and my point and shoot was just find but boy, I was wrong. Now, what I need my camera to do and what your average seller on Etsy needs it to do is vastly different.

Onto the results....

Let’s just say it took a few shots to get it right using my TZ5. I was able to straighten a few in PS when I cropped them down. I would suggest that wherever you set up your shooting area, you have a lot of area to move around and get comfortable so you aren’t playing Twister while trying to get your shot.

I used my tabletop set up consisting of something similar to this product. I then use a piece of bristol board cut to size for a seamless backdrop. Under normal circumstances, I know before I start I’m going to have some work in Photoshop to remove any hot spots, color casts, shadows etc.  For this experiment, I use my exposure compensation to try to lessen any blown out areas but they would still need some tweaking in post. 

Many Etsy sellers prefer white backgrounds for their products shots. Those do take more work that just snapping a shot in the right light. There are tools available to create the desired blown out backgrounds however, they can interfere with the edges of what you are shooting, in my humble opinion.

Personally, I’d rather do it by hand in PS/PSE/GIMP so I can control what the end result is rather than leaving up to a tool where I have little/next to no control.  To each their own, I guess.

Light...

I shot in both harsh afternoon light and shade out on my back deck on the best day we’ve had in weeks! Shooting in harsh midday light, you are liable to get shadows and color casts. If you shoot in shade, you get even light and next to no shadows but you may need to lighten it and in this cast remove color cast. These photos below are SOOC with the expection of fixing my less than straight shots.

You may notice the shadows in the harsh light and the color casts in both. The harsh sun provides a more accurate color than the shade, which has a bluish tint. Personally, I prefer even/diffused/shaded light rather than having to remove the shadows.  Even if I used the shade DSLR shot, it would still need to be lightened and sharpened a bit using some form of photo-editing software.

Analyzing the results...

Which one is better? Personally, I would choose the DSLR because it was easier for me to compose my shot. I know that I can shoot in RAW with my DSLR which affords me more options to fix white balance issues etc. There is a noticable band about 1/3 the way down on the P&S image that I don’t like. The light and color is more even on the DSLR side.

Should you care about things like the aforementioned band? I guess it’s up to you.

That being said, with practice, a point and shoot can be just as good. You will notice that not all my shots are dead on to the front of the image. Positioning yourself at the right angle will help create better detail etc.  This is where having a tripod helps. You can move it around much easier than getting up and down or contorting yourself while keeping the camera still to avoid camera shake which leads to blurring images. It also would help keep your angle consistent.

I was on a time crunch and had limited shade so I let this aspect slip. I am slapping my own hands!  I would have redone the shots but we've had nothing but overcast skies every day since...it's been a strange spring.

I would highly suggest to use a tripod to allow for a stable shooting platform. You can get small ones at your local big box stores. You can get a more traditional one like this or a more transportable one like this one.

Let’s put all of this into perspective...

What are you doing with your end product image? You are uploading it to a website and it will be viewed be at a lower resolution. You don’t need your image to be super amazing tack sharp at a 100% crop as you would want if you were printing a 16x20 image.  

I would also add that the color that you see on your screen will most likely not match everyone else’s screen, especially with so many people viewing our shops on smart phones and tablets.

Whether you have a $1500 DSLR lens combo or a $200 P&S, you can make it look good. You may have to take a shot 5 times to get the way you want it to look, play with adding/taking away light or edit it more using editing software. Yes, its more work but if you can use that image to sell more product or sell it faster because your pictures are better and clearer than in that other seller’s shop, isn’t it worth it?

Once you get a feel for what you want your images to look like and a post process on how you need to edit it, the time taken is a lot quicker...now if someone can suggest a way to make listing an item faster, let me know. I love the photographing and editing but the listing is the hardest part for me!

Until next time, take care and keep practicing!
Karra from Islay Corners Photography
(www.islaycorners.etsy.com)

Houston, We Have a Problem...Why Workflow and Backups are Important!

By Karra of IslayCorners

Okay, so since you have been practicing and reading your manual, it might be a good time to bring up file organization (i.e. a file structure, naming convention), workflow and backups.

IslayCorners

I know I can hear folks saying "I'm just taking pictures, why do I need a file structure, naming convention, a backup strategy and a workflow? I'm an artist not a file clerk...."

Fair enough but as my high school principal put it quite simply "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."  This is your business and you have to do what you have to do for your business. You need to prepare today for what may come tomorrow.

The reality is that there are parts of our jobs as Etsy sellers that we love right? We love creating things and sharing them with our customers. But in order to sell our items, we need to show them off. And to do that, we need to take pictures and be able to access those pictures when we need them.

Additionally, we need to prepare for the day that our computer fails and we have to have it fixed. When computers go bad, there is always the chance that data will be irretrievable. Backing up your Etsy files is where emergency preparedness meets Etsy.

A Case for a Workflow/Naming Convention/File Structure & Backup Strategy 

Reason for a File Structure - You want to make sure you know where your original and edited files are located the next time you need them for a listing or promotional piece. The last thing you want to do is overwrite your edited copy of a file while you are trying out a new crop or edit style.

IslayCorners

Reason for a Naming Convention - When you copy your images from your camera they are called something really descriptive like DSC_9876.jpg.

After you initially transfer your files from camera to PC, you should rename your files.  When you edit the image, you should save it with a new file name so you have an original and a edited file that is ready for Etsy.

Say I'm photographing a cardinal pendant - I understand CardPendOrig_FullShot1.jpg over DSC_9876.jpg.   Basically, your file names should have some relation to describe what it is (cardinal pendant), it's place in your workflow (original), and ideally the type of shot (full shot, group shot, size shot etc.)

These are just examples, name them something descriptive that you and anyone helping you will understand.  If need be, create a document with your workflow and naming conventions.  Laborious yes, but effective.

Reason for a Workflow - A workflow is a repeatable process.  This means that if you are shooting many products at once, there is a place for each file.   If you hire an employee or have  a friend help you out, you have a process in place that can be followed and repeated.  Things tend not to get lost if there is a process...just like when you create a product or package a sold item.

Reason for Backups - You want to make sure that if the day comes that your computer has a hiccup and won’t turn on, you should have a backup of ALL your files, not just your Etsy product pictures. It's just good business practice.

Believe me, there is nothing more frightening than starting up your computer and you get a blank screen that says “missing operating system” or you try to access a file on an external USB drive and that drive has ceased to function.

Been there, done all these things. Workflow and backups will help you in the long run.

IslayCorners

Defining your workflow

Please don’t let the word workflow scare you. You need to determine how you want to work. You probably have a similar work flow to how you create your product. The only difference is you will be determining how you want to process your images.

At a very high level, look at how you want to process your files.

It may probably look like this:

1) Take photos

2) Copy files from camera (either via a connection cord or memory card) to computer and ideally rename them using a standard naming convention (i.e. RedCardinalPendant_SOOC_1.jpg)

3) Edit files

4) Save edited files with a naming convention (i.e. product name_workflowstage_shotnumber.jpg so for a White Flower Pendant that is the first shot in my listing and has been edited might look like this - whflowerpend_edited_shot1.jpg)

5) Backup files to a specific spot such as i.e. USB, backup drive or DVD - basically somewhere other than your C drive

IslayCorners

In order to figure out this basic work flow, you need to know where you want to place your original straight out of the camera (SOOC) originals as well as your edited copies. Many cameras are shipped with transfer software or you can directly copy/paste from your camera using its USB cord or its memory card to another location using Windows Explorer or Mac equivalent.  But you already know how to do this because you read your manual....

Whatever your workflow is and wherever you choose to house your files, as a general rule of thumb it’s a) not on your C drive and b) it’s backed up off your computer onto a usb drive or usb drive and DVD or USB drive, DVD and USB thumbdrive in  a fire proof safe....There also are backup companies that you can use like Carbonite, BackBlaze etc. (please note these are not endorsements, just suggestions!)

So why can't I save things on my C drive? 

It is always recommended to not store any important documents on your C drive.     The reason being why a non C drive location is key is that if your operating system ceases to function etc., you will likely need to reinstall your operating system. Reinstalling the operating system means that everything on the C drive will be erased. Additionally, if your hard drive doesn’t work, you can’t retrieve anything before the drive is erased or replaced.

You can never have too many backups but those backups need to be organized and you need to keep track of them.

IslayCorners

Take a step back, look at your situation

Now, if your head is swimming with all this info, take a step back. Look at the above example and try to think about how it can be applied to your situation. You need to figure out what works for your situation.

Until next time!

Karra from Islay Corners Photography (www.islaycorners.etsy.com) 

You Have to Walk Before you Run a.k.a. Learn Your Camera and Settings

by:  Karra of Islay Corners 

As many of you know I sell home decor art photos on Etsy.  I participate in many groups on Etsy, one of which is the Etsy Treasury Team (the ETTEAM).  The ETTEAM is one of the longest running treasury teams on Etsy.

What is a Treasury?  A treasury is a curated list of items sold on Etsy based on a theme such as color, occasion, or event.  The ETTEAM creates treasuries as a method of promoting items to sellers and shoppers alike.

The ETTEAM has asked me to write a few blog posts about photographing for Etsy because pictures sell your products!  Below is the first of the series, enjoy!

IslayCorners

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Well, I can’t take nice photos because my camera isn’t fancy, I only have a point and shoot…oh boy, I hear this a lot. I’m not technically savvy, I hear this a lot too.

I’m here to tell you, it’s not the camera but the operator that is the real value when it comes to photography.  You can have a $3000 DSLR camera body with $2000 lens attached and still take a lousy picture.  And you can take a great shot with a cheap point and shoot.

A little knowledge can be very powerful.  Take the time to learn about your camera.  You can’t just pick up a camera and suddenly you are Herb Ritz…although it would be nice right?

The trick is to know what you can do with what you’ve got.  Photographers call it ‘rocking what you’ve got’ because the best camera you’ve got is the one that you have with you at the time.  If you can get it mostly right in camera, you can cut your post processing time (PP) by a lot.

My first photography teacher tells a story about how he has a picture framed in his studio that he took with a low megapixel camera back in the early days of digital photography.  He gets loads of compliments on it and people are amazed that it was with such a simple camera by today’s standards.  See, you’ve got to ‘Rock what you’ve got!’

Before we delve too far into things, I will ask you if you have done the first thing every photography instructor has asked me -- have you read your manual?

IslayCorners

I will confess, I hate reading the manual but you would be shocked how many light bulbs go off when you do!  You have to walk before you run.  You have to learn about your camera by reading the manual.  You will thank yourself later.

I know it’s a simple thing but it’s amazing how useful it can be when you want to take something more than a quick snapshot of your family.  Mind you, you should read it anyways because you will then be able to take better pictures of your family!

And while I’m talking about family photos, preserve those moments and print them out!  Digital images get lost way too easily!  If you opt to capture moments with your smartphone, print them out!  There are many options for easy printing from smartphones!  Stepping off my soapbox now…

If you have misplaced your manual, go to your manufacturer’s web site and search using your camera’s name, they usually have manuals in PDF form.

I can you say, “Great, I’ve downloaded the PDF but I don’t have a printer?”…Many e-readers/tablets/phones now have PDF reader software so you do not have to print it out.

Nope, there is really no reason not to read the manual now!

So after you have located your camera’s manual, what’s the next step?  READ IT!

If need be due to time constraints, try to focus on these areas at the bare minimum:

* how to your focus mode
* how to does your camera tell you the image is in focus
* how to set focus points
* how to set white balance
* how to use P mode (better yet learn to use Av/Tv or M if these are options)
* how to set aspect ratio
* how to set metering mode
* how to transfer files from your camera from your camera to your computer
* how to use your flash or turn it off

IslayCorners

In a nutshell, sit down and read a chapter a day/evening and practice until you have read it cover to cover and then do it again until you have your settings down.  If you are more so a visual learner, try searching YouTube.com or Vimeo.com for how-to videos on your camera in addition to reading the manual.

When you started creating whatever product you sell on Etsy, you had to learn how to do that right?  Well, the same goes for photography.

Sit with your camera and take test shots using what you’ve learned.  It’s free these days, you don’t have to pay for film.  Grab your product and start shooting it while you learn.

Here are some things to practice while you are learning:

* Shoot zoomed in/out
* Practice focusing while zoomed in/out (you may find that you need to zoom less and crop for a tighter shot later in PP)
* Practice taking a close up (also called a macro shot) without zooming
* See what happens when you use flash and when you don’t
* Try shooting by a window or open door
* See what happens when you change position

Don’t limit yourself to your products – it’s spring (despite what the forecast says), go photograph something outside!  Photograph something in the shade, photograph it in direct sunlight, photograph on a cloudy day, just go out and photograph something!  It’s all practice!

Have fun!  Stay tuned for future posts about photography!

thanks!

Karra from www.islaycorners.etsy.com

Kara's Blog:  Islay Corners Photography 

IslayCorners

Try Creating a Color Palette by Kathy of Bay Moon Design

Thank you Kathy of Bay Moon Design on Etsy for sharing this lovely and informative article with Etsy Treasury Team Blog readers! Reprinted from her April 13th Blog article. Great information for anyone who is interested in combining colors (I think that must be just about everyone.) Enjoy!

Try Creating a Color Palette

"Walk in the Meadows at Argenteuil" by Claude Monet

"Walk in the Meadows at Argenteuil" by Claude Monet is a wonderful inspiration for April's Art Bead Scene Monthly Challenge, since most of us are coming out of a dreary winter to a glorious spring.   I am in the habit of following Brandi Hussey's color palette which creates for this challenge. I waited until Brandi posted this one before I started my entry to this months challenge.

What I love so much about this particular painting is that it so perfectly mimics spring where I live in Key Largo, Florida. The orange geiger (Cordia sebestena) is the most well-known, with showy, deep orange flowers that contrast nicely against the tree's coarse green leaves.
I think it the most beautiful of Florida native trees.  Actually, no one knows for sure if the geiger is a Florida native or if it was introduced long ago from Cuba or elsewhere.  It was named in the 1830's by John James Audubon after John Geiger (a harbor pilot who salvaged sunken treasure off the coast of Key West) with whom Audubon stayed and painted. There is even a Geiger Key which is a small island.

As I pulled color inspiration for my challenge piece, I decided I had to use the  yellowish green that dominates the picture, different shades of green, and peach.  These colors say spring to me.  I found those colors in a beautiful ceramic by Marsha Neal Studio.

Roseate Spoonbill  by Audubon--image from 
commons.wikimedia.org

I did some research on creating a color palette because I find this is extremely helpful to me.   I wanted to see what the color palette for the Aububon picture Roseate Spoonbill is so I 

used a free tool on the web called Pictulous to create the color palette below.

Another great article on the topic of color palettes is found on the Art Bead Scene blog at Art Bead Scene Blog: Studio Saturday - Color Palette Inspiration

Heather Powers did a fantastic show of how she created a color palette for her new bead collection which I am crazy about!  I hope you will give creating a color palette a try if you haven't already.  I think it is a really helpful tool.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/baymoondesign

TapadhLeibhCards -- Travel and Nature Art Photography

Kimberley of TapadhLeibhCards on Etsy has put her photography hobby to work for her.  She specializes in cards and prints. I've always admired her work and own a few of her cards.  I tend to see them as small works of art, so instead of sending them, I decorate my walls. Maybe I need more! Check them out and see the great deal she has just for readers of this blog at the end of the interview.    

                               Blank Greeting Card, "Dragonfly"

Lets warm up with a few fun questions:  

ETTeam Blog:  Favorite color? 

Kimberley:  My favourite colour is green.

ETTeam Blog:  What's your favorite dessert?  

Kimberley: Favourite dessert... This one is tougher. I try not to
be prejudice against any desserts. I guess my favourite would 
be cake. Or pie. Or ice cream... Oh dear.

ETTeam Blog:  ETTeam Blog:  If you weren't human, what
animal would you most want to be and why?

Kimberley:  I would definitely be a cat. I would love to lie and 
say that I would be something really flashy like a zebra or parrot, 
but I know in my heart I'm a domestic house cat. I love naps, I 
love cuddles but only on my terms, and I am fairly independent. 

ETTeam Blog:  Most fun item in your shop?

Kimberley:  Most fun item? Probably the cards or prints with my 
Vietnam photography. I went there summer of 2011, and it was 
an amazing trip. I like to think that my pictures give an idea of 
how beautiful the country is.

"All in the Detail"

ETTeam Blog:  What made you open an Etsy shop and how long have you been creating the types of items you sell in your shop? 

Kimberley:  I created my etsy shop when I was in a bit of a lull in my life. I had just finished my fifth year of university, and wasn't starting work until June. I had a lot of time on my hands, and not a lot of money. The summer previous I had been on a trip to Vietnam and had a lot of my photography up on a website I had created to show my friends and family my adventures. I sent out a sort of "distress" call to my facebook friends, letting them know how bored and poor I was. One of my good friends suggested I start selling my photography as art cards. This led me to finding etsy and the rest is history. Now, I stay on it because of the community of artists I've discovered and because it is basically a hobby that pays for itself.

"Hint of Yellow"8x10 Print Spring Garden 

ETTeam Blog:  Where does the inspiration for your work come from? Is there a connecting theme or style that ties your items together? 

Kimberley:  Inspiration... I am inspired by so many different things including my travels, my humour and my home. I am very lucky to have grown up in one of the most beautiful places in the world. I can go on a ten minute walk and find numerous subjects for my photography. The world is a beautiful place, how can we not want to capture just a little bit of that?

                       Fine Art Photograph: "Faux Paris" 8x10 Print

ETTeam Blog:  What was one of the nicest or funniest experiences 
you've had with a customer who purchased from you on Etsy? 

Kimberley:  I really can't say that I've had a nice or funny 
experience from my buyers, but I do have to say that some of my
buyers have been members of etteam. Etteam has been an 
amazing part of being on etsy. I have met a wonderful group
of women with an awesome set of skills. They provide me with advice, encouragement, funny stories AND sometimes they buy my stuff.
Usually after I make a sale, I buy something else on etsy. 
I like to think I keep the cycle of supporting artists going.

ETTeam Blog:  How do you want people to feel when they purchase
 one of your items?

Kimberley:  When one of my cards comes in the mail, I want the
buyer to feel like the photograph looks even better than it did on 
their screen.

  "Old Growth"

ETTeam Blog:  What's your best advice for shop owners?

Kimberley:  I suppose my best advice for shop owners is to be
patient. And to have fun with everything they do. Because if 
we aren't having fun, why are we doing it?

ETTeam Blog:  Do you have any special promotions you'd like to
mention?

Kimberley:   If you read this interview and think you may like some 
of my photographs, please use the coupon code BLOGCOUPON to 
get 15% off any of my items.  TapadhLeibhCards 

Art By Beata-- Inspiration to Dream

Dream the Biggest Dreams Today

Prepare to be inspired upon entering the magical wonderland of ArtbyBeata on Etsy!   Her whimsical mixed media art includes original paintings,  fine art prints, ACEOs, fridge magnets and jewelry with inspirational thoughts and colorful illustrations.  I like how she puts it in one of her magnet listings:  "Do you want to have an inspirational little message on your fridge? Choose from my magnet collection and you will be reminded of something positive every day."  Perfect beautiful gifts of affirmation for the women and girls in your life!  Lets get to know Beata, the artist behind the inspiring work, and check out her Giveaway below. 

Fridge Art Magnet

Etteam Blog:  What made you open an Etsy shop and how long have you been creating the types of items you sell in your shop? 
Beata:  I opened my Etsy shop because I wanted to show the world who I was and what I was doing. When I opened it in February 2011 I hardly had anything to list and I was not sure yet if I found my style, but I started it anyway. Obviously nothing happened as I didn't know about how promoting works on Etsy, I guess I was not ready. I didn't do anything about the shop for awhile (I also have my own website www.iyobodesign.co.uk , that's where my attention went during this time), until a year later I felt something calling me and I started to pay attention to my Etsy shop, started to promote it and slowly started to list my things. It was in May 2012 when I finally found my own style in mixed media. That was the point when I really started to enjoy this journey and I started to have sales too.

Magical Moments Art Print

Etteam Blog:  Where does the inspiration for your work come from? Is there a connecting theme or style that ties your items together? 
Beata:  I'm a notorious daydreamer. Ever since I remember I had dreams, big ones. It was not easy with my family background where I was expected to get a degree and a job. I always felt like I was not fitting in and never got my family's approval. While my classmates were going out I was watching football and was drawing the footballers from magazines, which soon led me to their stadium where I was getting orders for more drawings. : ) Then later instead of dating a guy from next town, I got together with someone from Africa (in Central Europe that's very unusual), we got married and later we moved to the United Kingdom. During this time I went to study in Germany, I visited Africa and then had a gorgeous cappuccino color baby girl with pretty curly hair. All my dreams kept on coming true, because I always felt it in my heart what was that I really wanted. Just like now, I know what I would like to achieve and I am very committed to get it. With this I want to prove it to my daughter that dreams can come true, regardless their strange or impossible nature. And that you don't necessarily have to have a "real job" to be able to make money. My art represents all the feelings that come from my heart. I'm trying to inspire myself to keep on going and more importantly hoping to inspire other ladies and young girls to dream big and never give up on their dreams. Women are never happy with the way they are, I would love to be able to change this, I want them to believe in their abilities and they should always remember, that they are all worth the magic! : )

Spread Your Wings Necklace

Etteam Blog:  What was one of the nicest experiences you've had with a customer who purchased from you on Etsy? 
Beata:  Oh, this is something I really love! Whenever I receive feedback it makes my heart really really happy! I love when they write something in their feedback that makes me feel that they know me very well now that they 

have my art in their hands. Amazing feeling! And I'm very happy to have a customer who keeps coming back and she keeps on saying how much she loves my art. I'm hoping to have some more fans like her. : )

Etteam Blog:  How do you want people to feel when they purchase one of your items?

Hand Painted Flower Mirror 

Beata:  All my art has deep meaning. Which obviously has meaning to me, as I was the one creating it, but I believe when someone is drawn to my art so much that they feel they have to buy it, that same thing must mean something similar to them as well. I'm hoping to make their heart feel that warmth what I feel when I am ready with a piece. I want them to get hope that their life can be the way they would love it to be. i want them all to be happy!

Etteam Blog:  Do you have any special promotions you'd like to mention? Please include a link.
Beata:  I have a giveaway on my blog which will end on 26 February, the details about how to participate can be found on my blog:
studiofordreams.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/giveaway-time.html

Valentines Day Finds from the Etteam on Etsy, Part 2

KneeDeepOriginals Black Lab Love Photo

LarkRoadRhymes Baby Name Wall Decor

laurelsbylaurie Red Rose Heart Wreath

LindenLeafStudio Silver Heart Pendant with Pearl & Garnet

Nostalgianmore Stained Glass Cardinal Suncatcher

PaintFabricWhimsy Double Hearts Pin

TheBluestSky Cloth Dinner Napkin Set

TeroldgoAndTomatoes Set of 10 Cards

UnlimitedCraftworks Hand Knit Gloves

Midnightcoiler Gourd Art Bowl

Check out All the Wonderful Etsy Treasury Team Shops!