Creative Photos

Hi :)

Today I’d like to ask you all how you handle photos in your patterns. Since I’m new to this and don’t have much experience with photography, I’d be interested to hear how you approach it.

I have a simple digital camera, and unfortunately I have to model my own ideas, which often turns out to be difficult. I’ve already tried various things to get it done on my own. I even enlisted my oldest son’s help, but that didn’t really work out ;) though he did try really hard.

My photos aren’t anything to write home about, so I suspect they don’t really inspire people to “want to try it themselves.” In real life, the projects look good—it’s just the presentation that’s a huge struggle for me.

When editing, I use Paint Shop Pro to add frames around the photos, but that doesn’t really cut it. My surroundings offer little creative space (nature) since we live in a residential area, and I probably also lack a knack for “staging” the shots, lighting, and so on.

Have you taken a photography course, do you have a professional camera, or do you even hire a professional photographer? Do you buy special decorative items, matching outfits, or anything like that?

What I did today was buy a mannequin so I can at least take photos more freely, since no one here can hold things for me :D I can also transport it to create the right atmosphere.

An SLR isn’t in the cards right now :( though I’m not sure if one would even make a difference for a photography novice—but hey, practice definitely makes for better photos.

What photo editing programs can you recommend to spruce up these currently lackluster photos?

And I have another problem: since I can only work in the evenings after the kids are in bed, I can only take step-by-step photos under lamp light. I have a daylight lamp that I use. If I wanted to take “in-progress” photos in daylight, I wouldn’t be able to make any progress on the project. How do you handle this?

I’m curious to hear how you’re doing with this and how you’re managing it.

Waving, Nici
 

Hi there.
From your post, I gather that you want to create professional patterns to sell?
I’ve been doing various kinds of handicrafts for an incredibly long time, and when something turned out particularly well—or is turning out well—I can explain it clearly, either verbally or in writing. I don’t need some fancy camera for that!! I just take a picture of the finished piece and write up my pattern—done!!
Um, yeah, sorry, I forgot to mention that I obviously don’t charge any money for this!!
With this post, I’m also deleting my account here—I’m just not willing to buy those often overpriced patterns!
Have fun with your crafts, everyone, and good luck with your “sales”!

Hi Nici,
You can get by with a digital camera, but an SLR magically takes better photos. There’s a world of difference. Anyone who knows cameras will say that—and they’ll be right. An SLR is always better, period.

@sylwil, you’re right that some patterns are overpriced. Most are reasonably priced, though. Some are free. I find your comment “I’m going to log out right now” a bit exaggerated and condescending. I don’t think it’s right that some people think they’re better than the thousands of others who enjoy spending time here. Charging money for patterns is perfectly normal—after all, you don’t get bread for free, or anything else for that matter. Just like making bread or producing wool, creating patterns also takes effort—both in terms of time and materials, as mentioned: a camera, lighting, yarn, etc. All of that costs money, too. Just think about what’s fair, and if you’re a reasonable person, you’ll see that I’m right. 

@Nici, you might be able to get by without a camera, but I think good lighting is a must. A daylight lamp just isn’t suitable. Either real daylight (when it’s bright) or sunny weather—but don’t take photos in direct sunlight, or the colors might get washed out. Decor is a must, of course. A small detail often changes the photo and makes it much more appealing (the emptiness disappears).

@ sylwil
Quote: “I don’t need some fancy camera for that!! I just take a photo of the finished product and write my pattern for it — done!!”

That might work for free patterns, but for properly put-together patterns, you need more than just a product photo and a bit of text that’s quickly typed into the computer.  If you don’t want to pay for this extra effort, that’s up to you. But disparaging the work of others when you’ve never put in that effort yourself isn’t exactly the right thing to do.

@ Nici
Everyone should develop their own style. I, for example, like a minimalist look and actually always take photos without any decorations. That way, nothing distracts from the subject, and my customers seem to like it, too. I only take photos in the morning when there’s good natural light but no direct sun, because that’s the only time of day when the light is good for me. So it often takes me several days to get all the photos I need. The rest of the day, I spend preparing other patterns. Maybe you can also arrange to take your photos little by little. You don’t necessarily need an expensive digital SLR camera, but you might need a different image-editing program. Why not give “GIMP” a try? Many colleagues use it.

Hi,

thanks for your replies. I’ve got my other camera up and running and am going to put it through its paces.

I can take pictures of finished products during the day. I only crochet in the evening. Let’s see what I can get out of it with the camera and maybe a cheaper backdrop.

I’ll download GIMP and check it out.

My mannequin is coming next week... I’m so excited—I can dress her up nicely, move her around and set her up, and be more flexible when taking photos.

Best, Nici

If I knew where I could store one, I’d already have a mannequin . . . *I’m a little jealous, haha*

Grin—since it comes in separate parts, I’m assuming I’ll be able to take it apart again, and then it’ll go on top of the wardrobe. I’ll show you a photo of the lady then.

My boyfriend looked at me rather horrified when I prepared him for it... Lol

Hi :)

May I introduce Miss Sophie. Hopefully, she’ll do a great job showcasing my creations in the future.

I took a few test shots





What do you think? This is the other camera I got working again....

Thanks for your feedback :)

Cheers, Nici

Hi Nici,
I took a look at your older photos. The current ones are definitely much better. But you shouldn’t crop them or distort them.
Best regards, Karo

Hi Karo :)

Sometimes I trip over my own love of experimenting. I followed your advice and just left out the embellishments. This is what my title image looks like now.



Thanks and warm regards, Nici

Hi, I’ve been skimming through this discussion and think the current photos turned out really well. But I also think that not everyone can pull off something like this, and not all the time. Still, I find the photos creative and beautiful.

Hi Mara,

Thanks for your feedback. Yeah, I don’t think it’s suitable for everyday use. It’s more for special occasions like weddings, confirmations, or baptisms. I also always love being able to coordinate the colors. Decorated with beads, it looks even more festive.

Best, Nici

Hi Nici, I just got the newsletter with the pattern. Everything seems to be in order—what do you think? -g Flyowl.

Oh man, me too. I’m really happy about it right now.
Thanks to all of you for your support.

Hugs, Nici

Stylish!

Hi everyone :-) I just found an unbeatable example of the impact photos can have. Compare, analyze, and draw your own conclusions! It’s vital, and Natalija is doing everything right here—that’s why she has so many customers. If something isn’t selling, it’s obviously not because of the product itself, but because of the packaging.

TOP Valentine’s Day - Knitted Heart - Knitting Pattern


Knit a Heart and Make a Garland or Hang It Individually


Have fun being amazed, and I wish you all a good night ;-)
Best regards, Karo.

Good morning, Karo,

Yes, Natalija is a true artist when it comes to photos. I’ve looked at her pictures too—they’re amazing :) I also think that photos are the key, and there are plenty here to draw inspiration from so you can find your own style.

Thanks for the pictures. I always enjoy looking at them again and again and letting my thoughts wander.

Waving, Nici

You can take good pictures even with a simple camera—it always depends on the viewer.
I think your photo of the lady with the plant in the background is great, too, and practice makes perfect—it’s easier with digital cameras than it used to be.