Back to School and I Feel Like Sharing!

I know that some of the new artists to Etsy may feel as if they aren't getting the exposure they want - and believe ME - I felt exactly as you did when I first started (and don't feel discouraged). I thought I gave it a good shot... but, really it took me a full year to figure out how this Etsy thing worked. After that I decided that I needed to invest money in order to make some. So, I listed. I listed often, everyday, every few hours and re-listed.

Shortly after that I decided to focus on my images. This is the real trick to making it work on Etsy. This is how you will end up on the Front Page frequently. I feel as if I have progressed in three stages with my photo skills: Novice - pic.1 (bad, with no idea what I was doing) , Apprentice - pic.2 (better, seemed to have figured out the lighting trick), and Experienced pic.3 (I love photography and all it nuances).

I often look back at some of my very early photos. My first camera was a Fuji FinePix from 2006 with only 4 mega pixels. All I can say right now is: what a difference a few mega pixels make:) I'm not complaining about my great little "point-and-shoot"... not at all. I love it and I actually would like to get another point-and-shoot by Fuji (the shutter on mine broke and I decided it would be a good idea to upgrade).

So, now I use a Samsung GX-10 and I absolutely love, love, love it. I only shoot in manual mode - so much more control over your environment that way. You can do this with your own camera - even if it is a point and shoot. Take some time to read through your manual (or get it on-line if you had a fung-shui attack and threw it out - just go to the makers website). Also check out the specs on you camera easily on the dpreview site - really helps if you want to know something fast about your camera. You really will see a difference in the quality of your shots if you control the exposure and speed of the photos.

I have to say that I am extremely lucky with all that has come my way. I now take photos for another Esty store: Trillium Artisans (check out the great work they have). I have also taught some photo workshops to new Etsy artists on how to better see and photograph their work and I also do one-on-one lessons with some of the Artists through Trillium. It has been so much fun and I hope that my enthusiasm for photography is infectious.

So, get out there (before the Winter sun hits) and take some fantastic pictures... it really is worth it. Persistance always prevails!

- Pink