Photography: lean times require creativity
In years past I've had a slew of photographers I've worked with because each has their specialty. Larry Sanders takes my jury slides (I try to choose the pieces carefully so I don't over-spend), Grant Boyle would photograph pieces for my catalog, and Thea Dickman would photograph my jewelry on models as well as take any headshots I needed. Both Grant and Thea are in Chicago, so that eliminated them as a resource anyway. And financially I still have to keep a hawk's eye on my spending, yet I have to show new pieces to promote them... so I'm doing what I can.
Photography is always challenging for me. It takes a different type of patience plus there's all the technical aspects of the lighting and camera equipment. I've read some great tips in Steve Meltzer's column in The Crafts Report magazine, and I've learned a few things just by trial and error.
If you are an artist who wants to do high-end art fairs, by all means pay for a professional jury slide photographer. This made a huge difference for me when I was just starting to do shows. This is something I will continue to pay for. Aside from that, you might be able to take your own photos. Mine are still amateurish, but I'm trying to have fun with them. I'm taking fun experimental lifestyle shots for my website's front page and trying out different setups for products I'm featuring on etsy... all of these are just using natural daylight. I'm going to invest in some professional photography lights for some product shots to eliminate the strong shadows and the experimenting will begin again.
Here are a few shots I took one day when I had a concept for my Spring home page on my website (check it out to see the shot I really used). I like them but am always grappling with the idea that the props (or flowers in this case) might distract from the piece or are they saying anything about the piece in particular? I'm not sure that these photos fit with my clean marketing style that I've used over the years, yet I'm willing to use some of them for now as my own photographic style unfolds over time.
My bundle pendant is the featured piece in all of these photos. It's so springy looking to me... it looks like a little winged creature excited to flit around all the new blooms. In the above shot, I've draped it in front of the pear tree blossoms that are in my backyard. The bees had just come home (the hives were on loan to an almond orchard) so these trees were positively humming!
I tried the necklace on a leaf to have a simpler background. This shade of green didn't fully capture "spring" in my mind, though.
These camelia blooms are just so pretty! Do I love the flower or the necklace??? Not sure, but the necklace sure does look cute sitting there.
I have to find out the name of these flowers. This is my favorite plant in the garden right now, and it's huge! At least 4 feet tall and as big around. I love how the flowers glow with the light passing through them. This color is quintessentially spring to me (which is a big hint.... do you think I used them on my website?).
If you have any photography tips or feedback, share them here! What do you do; do you take your own shots? What type of camera and setup do you use? Do you photograph your pieces one way for a catalog and another way for "lifestyle" shots?