1) Here is a pair of earrings that you could win! The Sophie earring handmade by me. Retails for $52.00 Here's how....
2) Go to my Etsy store-dgdesigns.etsy.com (click on the link or on my Etsy mini at the top left of the page) and give me one critique on my product, presentation, photography or anything that comes to mind as you look at my shop.
3) Leave a comment here- on this post- at the bottom -telling me that thing. I appreciate your feedback so please don't hold back!
The fine print....
*Open to U.S. residents only.
*Your comment must be unique- any duplicate comment or critique will be removed from the final result.
*Results will be determined by a random selection at random.org by random integer generation at 10:30pm on Sunday, October 26th. The result will be posted at 11:00pm on the same day with a screen shot of the random number selected and will also include the time stamp at the bottom. I will include the name of the winner (blogger user name) in the post.
*If you do not have a blogger user name and post "anonymously" please include your name and email address in the body of the comment.
*Winner will be contacted by email within 24 hours- make sure you check back in the event that I can't reach you.
* Earrings will be custom made for you and will be shipped by Friday, October 31st or sooner.
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31 comments:
I'm so totally entering! I love your shop. The consistent blue background for your pics is really eye-catching. I also love your banner, but it doesn't tie in with the overall look of the shop. Would love to see the same color scheme applied to background and banner.
http://macaroniandglue.etsy.com
Your shop looks great, the only critique I could give is that maybe all the products should have the same background color.
Love the blue background in your photos, but for some items it is hard to tell the true color of the gemstones, because the blue sort of shines through. Hope this is helpful!
Tasha
The simplicity of your photos is great! But if you were looking for something a little more sparkly, you could photograph your earrings hanging from crystal glasses (martini, wine, champange) and your necklaces for that matter too! Only saying this because you asked for suggestions. The blue background you're using now looks beautiful.
michelleharrod at hotmail dot com
peonypaperie.etsy.com
Funny that I saw this giveaway as I came across a picture of these earrings on another site earlier today and was thinking to myself how nice they were, but I got distracted by my phone and could no longer remember where I'd seen them. So I couldn't help but enter the giveaway.
I also love the blue backgrounds, but maybe you could also take some photos against a white or black background to show of some the the jeweleries colours more. I would still keep the blue photos as the primary photo, but when a person click on the item they'd be able to see it in different ways.
The photos are great though. I have such a hard time taking good photos of my items, and as such do not have a constant look and feel.
I love the jewelry. The tangle, turquoise swarovski and paisley necklaces and grecian earrings all caught my eye. Nice clean, simple lines. Love the way you shoot your earrings hanging but sans distracting props!
Blue is my favorite color, but I have to say, I don't like that each product is shown on blue. It was overwhelming and I found it unpleasant visually. Wouldn't stop me from shopping, but my advice, break up the blue, use other complementary colors as well--- maybe even just a bunch of different shades of blue.
Hi Debbie: love your shop and your designs. I do like your banner, but it seems to fade a little into the shop, maybe some kind of border around the banner would help it stand out? Nothing crazy, maybe even just a thin blue line (to go with your photo backgrounds?) Just a thought!
alright im in! first impression- your banner is great and striking and pretty and makes me want to see what yo uhave. next, i like how your shop announcement is concise. im not crazy about the constant blue. its a little too much for my eyes. i can see how it ties it all together, but i think that your work is cohesive enough to bind itself. i would vary the backgrounds more.
cheers! cp
GORGEOUS jewelry!
I agree with many of the above posters that the lovely pieces should be displayed in a way that better shows them off.
I am particularly fond of the Paisley Woven Necklace, but would love to see how it hangs.
Here is a super quick and easy way to make a gorgeous necklace display http://www.home-jewelry-business-success-tips.com/necklace-display.html
Make several in different fabric coverings for great portable displays that will fold flat for storage.
Hit the dollar store for some brightly colored glass vases to dangle the earrings from, or pluck a few thin branches from a tree. Beautiful photos will keep customers in your shop longer, and will lead to more treasury and front page features!
Beautiful jewelry! The shop looks great. Hard to critique...maybe have the earrings hanging on something sticking out from the bkg instaed of hanging over the edge of it?
ravenwins @ comporium.net
First off, let me just say that your jewelry is gorgeous. You have a beautiful product, now the challenge is to market it. The presentation you have now is simple and efficient, but there are a few tricks I'd recommend to really step up the professionalism of your photographs.
First, have a look at your camera. To take clear, crisp photographs of jewelry, your camera must have a macro setting (on most digital cameras, this setting is marked by a small flower). Make sure the camera is stable while you are taking the picture, and that you are focusing directly on the piece.
Second, consider lighting. You can have a wonderful camera and lay-out but unless you've got proper lighting, the picture will come out fuzzy or muted. If you're really serious about this, I'd recommend investing in a lightbox. They're not very difficult to make and they make a world of a difference. Here's a tutorial:
http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-make-a-inexpensive-light-tent/
Finally, I'd recommend varying the backgrounds a little. There are ways to keep your photographs interesting without detracting from the beauty of your jewelry. Scrapbook paper and matte wrapping paper with simple patterns are a great way to add intrigue without overpowering the focus of the shot. If you’re really feeling bold, try draping your jewelry over different textured objects, such as a wooden box, or a pile polished river stones. This will allow you to get more inventive with your compositions and make your jewelry really stand out.
Remember, your product is lovely, and it will sell itself. These suggestions are merely to help you catch the eye of the casual browser, so that they will give your art the attention it rightfully deserves. Good luck!
Marigold
boldnessbe(at)gmail(dot)com
First off, your pieces are gorgeous! I love simple, but stunning pieces.
I like that all you pictures are similar, it gives you a style, but I would probably find a different background for the turquoise pieces. It's hard to tell their exact shade when they are against the blue. Maybe put a white stripe of paper behind a section of it?
Ooo, I hope I win, those earrings are so me!
Checked out your site and I love the jewelry, especially the circle ring!
Shiny metals are so hard to photograph, but you seemed to have pulled it off rather nicely. I like the blue background, but sometimes the blue makes it hard to see the true color of the crystals in some of your jewelry. I would also suggest taking some photos zoomed in more, possibly at a lower, level to the piece angle. These could be extra photos instead of the main one if you're uncomfortable with that.
Your work is so neat, and you've done a great job of maintaining consistancy in your photography. Not crazy about the pink background, but then I'm not really into pink!
Denise
Gorgeous Jewelry!!!
I am in love with the paisley woven necklace.
Obviously-since it seems like everyone has mentioned it - the blue backgrounds are getting a lot of attention. I like the cohesiveness of the backgrounds. I also think, however, that the blue is taking from some of the beauty of the jewelry. I like how it is different, though, and you will be remembered easily for the color of your background.
Your jewelry is amazing!
Thanks!
Kim
Hi Debbie,
I love your jewelry... I would suggest taking the pictures of the products in natural light, maybe outside... I would get a nice earring, necklace & ring display and photograph them outside in a natural environment, natural light showing off the details of your work. Taking pictures of different angles of the jewelry; from the sides and behind.
Thanks for the contest and good luck with the suggestions!
Rebecca
www.monbonbon.etsy.com
You have some really great designs and love your work. My suggestion is try a different color background. The blue is lovely, but the different color of metals don't really pop on the blue. You have great designs, white background might show them off a little more.
well I would have to agree with everyone - I think the answer is props maybe comparing pieces to quarters or something familiar that everyone has so that they can visually see the size of something - and using things from nature is always a good way to display things - Well - that is about all I could say - I really love your give away - thanks for hosting one!
Ellie
Beautiful work. I do have to agree with toohotforturtle and suggest using different colored backgrounds for more of a varied Etsy page. I do like how consistent it is, but different background colors could add interest.
LOVELY jewelry!
-chelsey
chelsey@paperladyinvites.com
Beautiful jewelry! However, I find the blue background and the pink backgrounds to be too overpowering. The background stands out more than the jewelry in some cases. I love the background in the Two Tone Chic Circle Earrings, its very elegant and reinforces your name. Also, some photos appear a bit blurry, try to reshoot in macro mode on your camera. But, none of this would prevent me from purchasing from you!
I LOVE your jewelry! I think that having each piece on different random backgrounds isnt eyecatching. I would purchase a white and black display necklace and put the light colored items on the black neck and dark colors on white necks. I would pick 2 colors and stick with it! Blue isnt my favorite, I think I'd go with black and white! LOL..but again...I'm no pro and may be WAY off base!
I like in the later photos of your site how you have the necklaces on a stand. It's much easier to tell how they would wear and the scale of the piece. I love the blue background but it's difficult to determine how say, the tangle necklace would look on a neck without being photographed on a stand.
Well your products are flawless. I think it all boils down to presentation. I am not a fan of the bright blue background. It casts a bit of a blue-ish tint on all of the jewelry. I do like in the later pieces, the use of the store name in the photo. I would suggest some background with a more subtle color and include the store name. Also, It looks like you are using some form of studio lighting. I would stick to natural light. But that is just my opinion... and I am nobody of any importance, I suppose.
Christina - xristya@rock.com - I like the very un-typical blue backgrounds on which the jewelry is photographed! I think it truly enhances their attractiveness!
I will have to agree with everyone else about the background of the photos, I prefer something more neutral. I do like your banner alot! The Sophie Necklace is lovely. Nice work!
www.fiveoclocksomewhere.etsy.com
tara[at!]fiveoclocksomewhere.us
The giveaway is by no means over- I just wanted to thank you all who have entered so far. I have gotten alot of comments on my background and have actually been to the store to get new paper to experiment with. I used to take my pictures outside in direct sunlight on white paper but thought it was too harsh. I then decided to try indirect sunlight- which is what I am doing now- I was trying to achieve a moody feeling and everything seemed to show up the best on it because it draws light to itself- some of the lighter papers don't work so great in in-direct sunlight. I would also like to learn more about photoshop so I can eliminate the background altogether!
I agree with everyone else about the blue background. Also, its nice to see pics of the chains on necklaces, and something in the picture to show scale of the item. :)
I'd suggest adding metric measurements for your items especially since you ship internationally. You might want to give some parameters/examples of what people can do to adjust/customize their pieces. Unless you're really willing to entertain anything--its up to you! I'm just thinking of something demanding that you add diamonds and keep it at the same price.
Gorgeous, gorgeous creations! My only suggestion would be to add photos of your jewelry adorning a live model.
Your picture itself is cute. I'm not a big fan of the blue backgrounds. A lot of your work feels very earthy to me, and I could see it working well with a copper/wood/etc. background.
I think the blue background is very nice. Not too wild, but better than plain ol' white!
kimturner@hawaii.rr.com
http://www.yummycuppycrafts.etsy.com
These pieces are cute. The shop is nicely laid out, but it might be more visually interesting if you had different backdrops for different pieces.
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