Not every picture's worth a thousand words. We've all seen product
photos on online sales sites that detract from the product or leave you
still wondering what you're looking at. One of the things I like to do
with my etsy photos is to add something to the photo besides the product
I'm selling. These added items are photo props. I always try to
ask myself what props I can use to add information, color, interest and
relevancy.
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This kitchen utensil holder was made by John Spiteri spoons by TB |
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cup and spoons by TB |
Props are important in photographing work for my etsy
shop. On the internet I don't get the same interaction with customers that I
can have in person at a show, so I try to plan my photos to go with my
description and to answer questions. A photo prop can give a sense of
scale to an item. I have found that most people will misjudge an item's
size in a photo
without a known scale to judge it by. Recently I took a snapshot of a
snake and showed it to people at work. Only the snake itself was in the
picture. Most people thought the snake was up to twice as large as it
really was.
Another reason to use props is to add color to the
photo. You want
to add punch and interest, but you also have to be
careful that you're not distracting from the item being presented.
Pottery seems to go hand in hand with the spoons that I make and I have
enjoyed pairing pieces together. I've also used food like bright green
apples which attract the eye faster than the brown of the wood. Once
the brain catches up and notices what the eye is looking at, then the
quality of how the photo speaks about the product is important, but the
color served its purpose by attracting attention.
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Yunomi by Hanna Nussmeier, Oak Burl spoon by TB |
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Shino bowl and Cherry spoon by TB |
Another good
reason to use props is it allows me to show someone what the item would
look
like in use, or how they could display it. I've done art shows where
people come up, obviously interested in an item then they ask me what
they could do with it. It's funny. It's not enough to make a good
product and put it where people can buy it. I also need to show them
what they can do with it! When I pair a hefty cooking spoon with
lentils or a serving spatula with a piece of sushi I help people imagine
the quality of experience they can enjoy with a well made wooden
spoon. I often show a pottery tool in my hand or a ceramic vessel with a
suggested use.
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Shino jug and Osage spoon by TB |
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Fake Ash platter artist unknown spoons by TB |
My job when planning a photo goes through quite
a checklist beyond lighting and focus and exposure. They’ve got a
thousand words to say. I need to make sure they’re saying what I need
them to say.
You can see John Spitteri's kitchen utensil holder at his Etsy shop
Blueparrotpots
Well done Troy. The photos look great.
ReplyDeleteYou've brought up some good points about props and color, great photos.
ReplyDeleteThe spoons and the pots are both beautiful, we can tell your love of both clay and wood. You make some good points, thanks.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the fake ash platter was made by Richard Aerni. I love your work...and photography...!
ReplyDeleteThanks Dan, all I remember is that I bought this platter and some other pieces from him in Ann Arbor, Michigan about 10 years ago.
ReplyDelete