Backgrounds. Backgrounds can either make or break your photograph. Take this image:

Holy Busy Background Batman! Busy backgrounds compete with your product. These buttons are lost on this paper. Besides everything that’s going on with the patterned paper, the value (ie brightness or darkness) of the buttons is pretty much the same as the paper, so they REALLY disappear. Compare it to this photo:

Not very “artsy,” but you can actually see that there are buttons in this photo.

Compare these:

See what a difference contrast makes?

Another note about backgrounds: I try not to use something that has a lot of texture (ie heavy-weave fabrics, heavily grained wood, etc.). Why? Sometimes it can wreak havoc on your macro setting. You take your photos, get back to the computer to edit them, and discover that your camera was focusing on the weave in the fabric rather than the details in your work.  My two backgrounds of choice are my trusty piece of slate, and subtle scrapbook papers. I have also seen the pages from old books used well as backgrounds, but you need to make sure that your piece is substantial enough to compete with the text. If you like the look but the text is too busy, you can always take a lightened photocopy of the page and use that.

Oh, and watch out for brightly colored backgrounds. Not only do they affect the color of your item, but neon colored backgrounds are hard on the eyes. Along those lines, I try to wear neutral colored shirts when I’m taking my pictures, as the color of the shirt can reflect off the color of your item and ruin a whole photo session (she learned when all the photos that she took looked orange thanks to the coral-colored t-shirt!).

Before you click that shutter button, check to see if there’s anything distracting in the background! Like this:

No amount of cropping is going to get rid of that dresser in the background.

Here’s a picture before cropping:

Eh. Solid background, but the earrings are small, and there’s that line cutting through the photo from the window molding. BUT, the bones of the photo are good. See what happens when it gets cropped:

Your homework: Take a look at the items that are recently listed on Etsy. Which items catch your eye? Which ones don’t and why?  Photo contrast will grab your eye, photo styling will keep it there. Check out your favorite sellers.  What is it about their shop that draws you in? Don’t copy their style (or products–YIKES!), but you can draw inspiration from other shops.

Next time: Get that shot!