Real Time Etsy Shop Photo critiques

Photo Editing Tutorial

Today's critique is another real time shop review.  Today's review covers LaurelsArt, who sells wall clocks made from upcycled records. These reviews are a great resource to all of us with Etsy shops who struggle with quality photo's.



Thanks to Jessica from DollProject for putting these critiques together.

Real Time Etsy Shop Photo critiques

Photo Editing Tutorial


If I were to tell you where I needed to improve my Etsy shop, I wouldn't hesitate in saying "my photo's".  My hunch is that a large percentage of Etsy shop owners would tell you the same thing.  It's difficult to capture the accurate color, texture and most of all feel, of a handcrafted item, let alone sell it!
But with a little help from basic photo editing software, we can improve our photo's, even our already existing ones, and attract more viewers to our products.

Over the next couple of weeks we will be showing you real time Etsy shop photo critiques that will hopefully help you improve your own photos. 
  
This weeks tutorial is brought to you by Jessica from Dollproject.  

Show me Your Booth!

This last weekend was the 13th annual Art on the Ave in Tacoma WA.  A couple of OlyEtsy members were there vending their handcrafted items.  Check out their booths.

Wigglin' Wasabi and Niki B.'s hand etched glass sharing a tent

 First up we have Trista with her Wigglin' Wasabi shop selling quilted soldered pendents and leg warmers. 

Wigglin' Wasabi's table

Set up with Trista was Niki Bilodeau selling her hand etched glass ware.  Niki will be opening an Etsy shop some point in the near future and hopefully joining the OlyEtys team!

Last booth for today is LaurelsArt selling handmade clocks from upcycled records.  Laurel has been working on creating new signage recently and this show was the first to witness her new record garlands!

Sights Around Olympia

There are a few hidden secrets around Olympia, and as rumor has it this one is soon to vanish.

The Monarch Sculpture Garden is located just out of town and right off of the Western Chehailis Trail that we told you about last week.

The garden is an amazing find, it consist of 140 talented artist.  There are mosaic pieces, contemporary works, traditional sculptures, and my favorite, hands on musical works of art.  There is much wandering to be done to see everything in this garden.  Admission is free, but donations are collected for maintenance of the park.













If the rumor of the park closing is true, I'm not surprised, but I am very sad.  Every time I have visited there is always an abundance care and upkeep needing to be done.  Simple things like weeding or mowing, and a little more involved work like pruning and shaping of their garden maze that never made it to a finished product.  I have donated many dollars in their collection bin and always wanted to go volunteer my time, but time is precious and always gets away.  I encourage all of you to go visit this wonderful secret before it disappears forever.

Don't be fooled, there is water under there!

Half Man  -  Half Sculpture

SHARK!

Photo Editing Tutorial #3

It's no secret that Etsy sellers are always looking for ways to improve their photography skills.   Over the last couple of weeks Jessica from DollProject has been creating video tutorials for our learning pleasure.  This is our third video and I just want to say Thanks Jessica, for your great work, we really appreciate it.


The following tutorial shows viewers how to fade out the background of their product image using a blocking technique. To apply this simple blocking method, you can use either a photo program with layer capabilities or a free online application called fotofuze.com.

Sights Around Olympia

Join us as we begin to explore some favorite aspects of the Olympia area.  Today I want to share with you a mural that can be found off of our Western Chehails trail between Phones road and Sleater Kinney.  We are lucky to have this trail, it runs for many miles and can take you as far as the Monarch Butterfly Sculpture Garden and then some, or as close as the grocery store.  The trail is popular for bikers, roller skates, dog walkers and runners or all sorts.
In the last few years the city has taken it upon themsleves to improve the portions of this trail that are in city limits.  This has included trail butification such as landscaping, lighting and art.  They have also been working hard on the functionality of the trail by adding cross walks and bridges.  They are scheduled to build one more bridge over Pacific Avenue next year and then I think they are done. 
There is one mural that has been added in the last year that I would specifically like to share with you.  I don't even know what the building is, but the backside faces the trail and creates a wonderful space.  See for yourself.

Photo Editing Tutorial #2

This segment shows the basics of editing a photo in photoshop—I cover white balance, hue and minimizing a distracting background.

Before

After

Thanks to Jessica from Doll Project for creating these great tutorials.