Working Tuesday: Photographing Jewelry

I found myself with a bit of free time this weekend since the hubby was out of town. Since I'd been thinking for months about doing new photos for the website, I called the owner of Milk Money Designs and asked if she'd come help me do a shoot. She was happy to assist!

When I first photographed the jewelry, I was worried about making the photo pretty by setting a scene. The problem with this is that although the jewelry is the focal point of the photo, there's quite a bit to draw the eye. Gradually, I used fewer and fewer props. I've eventually learned that jewelry photographed on a plain background puts the jewelry in focus - as there's nothing to distract the eye. I feel like it took me WAY too long to get to this point given the pictures that caught my eye on Etsy were these kinds of pictures: simple, white background, close up, prominent in the frame.

I've also learned the importance of natural light to photographing my work. If you're using conventional lights, you'll notice a slight yellow tinge to your photos. Using natural light or halogen lights with full spectrum bulbs (such as an OttLight) helps pull out the true color of your pieces. I've not yet gotten the hang of pulling the shadows out by using diffusers (which can be as simple as white fabric), but I'm getting there.

I've invested in a portable light box - like the one shown here - to help, but I know there are do-it-yourself demos online that can help you build a cheaper version. I've also found great success with just a piece of white fabric propped up against a wall under a skylight in my house.

I'm learning more every day!

Working Tuesday: Life Through A Marble

Usually I showcase my own work in this space, but I found an incredible young photographer in my travels this week who I had to share. His name is Caleb Tenenbaum and at only 16 he's learned to look at life from a different perspective.

I love hearing stories of how someone goes from passion to product, the learning curve, the path of exploration an artist takes.

I'll not reproduce any of his pictures here, but click on any of the links and you'll see some fantastic photos that may change the way you look at the world around you.

Working Tuesday: Creating a new product line - the reveal!

I've finally gotten the new product line in the Etsy Shop! I've been working for weeks trying to find exactly the right company to print the photo cards I've been designing for the past few months. I tried printing them on both Shutterfly and Kodak Gallery. Although I usually recommend using Shutterfly for your photo products, I found that the photos printed better through Kodak Gallery - the quality was better, photos were crisper and the color is fantastic.

I've just started putting the note cards in the shop, but I have about 10 different sets to designs to get in before I'm finished with this first round of designs. Some of the first I put in are the scripture note cards shown above. I've found that most cards containing scriptures are either cheesy, contain bad photography or are of questionable quality, which is why quality was so important to me. I have striven to use scriptures that match the photo in some way - and to look for scriptures that would fit different occasions. I also love that you can frame the photo if you'd like!

Well, that's the latest from Swoon Studios. Other sets are coming soon. Hope you like the new line!

Inspiration Thursday! See the beauty in ordinary things

I was talking to an artist friend of mine about photography the other day. We were talking about how the new Photoshop basically does a lot of work for the photographer. Have a power line that cuts through your shot? Photoshop will supposedly take it out. Want to fill in the side of a house? Photoshop can supposedly fill it in for you. On and on we talked about what this wondrous new version of Photoshop was going to do for photographers and artists, and how the lines would begin to blur between amateur and professional photographers.

But then we realized something: taking a picture isn't just about lining people up in a wedding, snapping a shot and fixing it on Photoshop. Sometimes it's more about the eye of the photographer. It's about understanding the light in a shot. It's about seeing the beauty in the world around you and how your subjects fit into that world. It's about catching the non-verbal moments.

The same can probably be said of all artists. They see with different eyes: the light, the color, the placements. They look beyond what's put in front of them to see the whole picture - how the individual fits into the whole. And to find inspiration, you often have to look beyond the obvious, to find the sometimes obscure and unlock the heart of what you're creating.

I think I can do that!

Have you ever seen something and thought, "I can do that"? This is one of those days for me. I found this wonderful website of photos of newborn babies last night and my mind started churning. I immediately asked one of my friends who's almost due and she has graciously agreed to allowing me to experiment with her baby girl. I can do this!

I guess I was incredibly blessed to have parents that were continually encouraging me to explore and create. We'd go to a craft fair or craft store, I'd see something I liked and Mama would say, "Honey, you can do that!" She'd buy me the supplies and we'd figure out how to do it. My experiments in quilling come to mind. I mean, how many Moms will invest in quilling supplies??

I also had a great example in my life. Mama knew I was interested in dolls from other countries - an extension of my love for learning about other cultures. She would take me to Mary Christopher's house to look around. Now, Mary Christopher was a character. For years, she had collected dolls from around the world. She had Italian Lenci dolls, Japanese ceremonial dolls, incredible antique German bisque dolls - pretty much the most exotic things this little WV girl had ever seen. She lived in a huge house that was built around the turn of the last century and it was PACKED with dolls in cases. They were everywhere.

Occasionally, Mary Christopher (she was never just Mary or Mrs. Christopher in my head), would allow friends to come in and look at the part of her collection that she'd decided to sell in her waning years. She'd set apart a section of her basement that was full of tables stacked with dolls from around the world. If you were really lucky, she'd allow you to buy a doll from the collection upstairs. It was wondrous.

On one of these trips, as we were walking out the door, my eye caught a peddler doll. She was on top of one of the old china cabinets used to display other dolls and she was enchanting. She looked a bit like Apple Annie with a basket full of tiny goods to sell. I begged Mama for this doll, but we didn't have anywhere near the $300 asking price. So what did Mama do? She said, "I can make it for you." And, at 45 years old, a new career was born.

Mama hadn't touched clay since she was in college, but she picked up some bits and pieces from around the house, kneaded the bits into a ball and started sculpting. And it was amazing. She eventually juried into many years of high-end art shows, became a member of the Southern Highland Handicraft Guild and her dolls now have homes around the world. It was all a result of her "I can do that" attitude.

So thanks Mama for passing along that excitement trying new things and the confidence to tackle the unknown. Here's hoping you can find your "I can do that" moment. And as for those baby photos? Take a look - they're gorgeous!! http://www.kelleyryden.com/babyblog/