Photo help

[lilikoilane]

So it has been almost a year since I started selling on Hyena Cart. My photos (I think) have come LIGHT YEARS from where I first started... seriously so embarrassing to think of my first photos... but they could still use some serious work. I sell on Etsy now too and I've noticed that the items that get featured in Etsy emails, treasuries and front pages have really original photographs. I've tried looking up photos for other kids shirts but a lot of them are similar to mine.

Any ideas on how to improve them?









Usually I end up doing something like this with a frame when I list on Hyena Cart... but that doesn't really work on Etsy.




Any help would be MUCH appreciated.
_________________
Crystal Allen
Lilikoi Lane- Lilikoi is Passion Fruit in Hawaiian. Making beautiful items for your family is our passion!
Lilikoi Lane On HC
Visit us at:
CrunchyCongo
Twitter
Facebook

[lilikoilane]

So embarrassing. I just went back and looked. These are a couple of my original photos from when I first opened.

First Stocking:



Second Stocking:


_________________
Crystal Allen
Lilikoi Lane- Lilikoi is Passion Fruit in Hawaiian. Making beautiful items for your family is our passion!
Lilikoi Lane On HC
Visit us at:
CrunchyCongo
Twitter
Facebook

[lilikoilane]

Anyone?
_________________
Crystal Allen
Lilikoi Lane- Lilikoi is Passion Fruit in Hawaiian. Making beautiful items for your family is our passion!
Lilikoi Lane On HC
Visit us at:
CrunchyCongo
Twitter
Facebook

[BuffOrganics]

Anyway to get some action shots? A of the items featured on etsy have action shots.

I think I might like them better without a hanger too. Or use a nicer wood hanger for each shot.

If you don't have models, maybe you could get a mannequin? The shirts are super cute though! And your lighting looks good too.
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Christa
Mom to William, Wife to Bill

[lilikoilane]

Thanks Christina. Actually most of the time I do them without hangers. I had just uploaded a bunch of photos that I did for a coop order and since they are pretty much identical to what I usually put up I decided to use them... and it had me thinking... should I do a hanger or not.

I actually had a mom contact me recently who is a photographer and offered to photograph her kids wearing my shirts in exchange for the shirts for free. I plan on doing it but since i have just about a zillion different shirt options (since people can choose either a letter shirt, a number shirt or one of my 30ish designs in their choice of over 180 fabrics and different colors and styles of shirts) I am having a hard time deciding what to send her.

Maybe I'll make her kids each an alphabet shirt, a number shirt and a couple of my different unique designs and have her photograph those.

I use a lightbox at work so that helps with the lighting. I have played around with the idea of getting a mannequin but have a hard time with lighting if I'm not either using the work lightbox or if it's not nice outside and a mannequin wouldn't fit into our lightbox at work. Definitely an idea to play around with though.

Thank you so much for the feedback I really appreciate it.
_________________
Crystal Allen
Lilikoi Lane- Lilikoi is Passion Fruit in Hawaiian. Making beautiful items for your family is our passion!
Lilikoi Lane On HC
Visit us at:
CrunchyCongo
Twitter
Facebook

[BuffOrganics]

That sounds like a good idea with the photographer and her kids! You might could also play around with taking some shots outside maybe hanging on a line or on a nice hanger hanging from a tree??? I tend to like simple shots that don't distract away from the shirt. But it might be worth a try?
_________________
Christa
Mom to William, Wife to Bill

[MamaAllison]

I'd use a nicer hanger. There is a photo stuck in my head from Plumknit's very first stocking - the item was a knit kimono sweater. If you look, it is her profile pic on Etsy - look halfway down the left sidebar http://www.etsy.com/shop/plumknit

Maybe you could try hanging the shirts with a lovely background like that?
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Allison
Mama to Belle, Dec, and Lissy
Ravelry

[AmeliaandMacie'sBoutique]

Maybe try folding them a different way? I always like using a large order and taking a picture with multiple items- to use on some of the custom slots. Fold them all with the arms in the back and make kind of a wave around. I hope that makes sense, I am writing late at night, can't sleep kinda thing. Your stuff looks great. Maybe sometime in the new year we can collab?
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http://hyenacart.com/ameliaandmaciesboutique

Mollie
Loving mommy to Amelia 8 and Macie 6 and Ellianna 3.5

[mlogan00]

First, SUCH cute shirts!

Second, is there anywhere outside you could take pictures? Put them on a nice wooden hangar and then have some kind of natural backdrop? I always like pictures that are taken outside that are done well.
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Mary, mom to Evie and Eliza.

Revelry - now offering banners and cart design
www.hyenacart.com/Revelry

Ask me about Gold Canyon products.

[Vinca Leaf Quilts]

You made me smile big today, and wanna give you a big hug. I, too, have been victim of the idea of hang-the-shirt-on-the-door.


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It's Rebecca, Amish-in-another-life...
http://hyenacart.com/vincaleaf/
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5964726

[Erin]

No hanger would be my suggestion.
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Erin
Instock: Green Tree Threads
ETSY
Necessitae
Club Thread

[jewelofthelion]

Way cute!!! I'd definitely put a kid in them - minus the hanger of course, since that would be WAY uncomfortable, and a little awkward.