A Beginners Guide to Etsy Photography: Tips for Shooting, Staging, and Editing Photos
If you’re just starting out on Etsy, one of the most important things you need to focus on is your photography. Your photos are what will entice people to click through and buy your products, so it’s essential that you take the time to learn how to take great shots, stage them effectively, and edit them properly. In this blog post, we’ll give you a beginners guide to Etsy photography – from tips for shooting in natural light to advice on editing. We’ll also show you some great examples of Etsy product photography Ideas that will help inspire you!
Before we start we need to understand what Etsy’s requirements & best practices for photos are.
Etsy Photography Rules
You’ll need to use either: .jpg, .gif or .png however transparent and animated are not supported.
Etsy Photo Sizes
There are 9 different image types; Listing images, Shop icon, Profile photo, Team logo, Order receipt banner, Mini shop banner, Big shop banner, Carousel banner and Collage banner.
Etsy photos dimensions for a listing should be either horizontal or square with a recommended 2000px for the shortest side and a resolution of 72PPI. The maximum file size for an Etsy photo is 1MB. Now that we know the Etsy photo size requirements, let’s move on to some tips for taking great product photos!
How to take photos for Etsy product photography?
You need to know the type of product photo that best suits your product and audience. There are 5 types of product photos you can use on Etsy; ecommerce, styled shots, in-use photos, detail shots and lifestyle photos.
Creative Product Photography Ideas to Help You Sell More
Pro Etsy Photography Tip
Be consistent in which types of product photo you use in your listings and use 2-4 of them.
Best camera for Etsy Photos
Any camera you feel comfortable with changing the settings on, but ideally you’ll want to use either your smartphone or a DSLR camera.
If you’re using a DSLR, we recommend using a tripod to keep your shots steady. You can also use a self-timer or remote shutter release to avoid any blurriness from pressing the button.
For smartphone users, we recommend using an app like Camera+ or Pro Mode to give you more control over things like shutter speed, ISO, and white balance.
Etsy Photography Backdrops, Prop & Staging
Your product photos should be taken against a clean, simple backdrop – preferably white, off-white, or light grey. This will help make your products pop and avoid any distractions in the background. When it comes to staging your products, less is more. You want people to focus on the item itself, so try not to overcrowd the frame. If you’re selling multiples of the same item, consider displaying them in a creative way (e.g. in a pyramid or line formation) to add interest. Props can be used sparingly – for example, if you’re selling jewelry you might want to include a mannequin hand or bust so people can get a sense of scale.
Best Backdrops
Sometimes you need something a little different depending on what you’re photographing or videos.
How to stage photos for Etsy
Now that you’ve got your backdrop sorted, it’s time to start staging your products! Think carefully about the arrangement of each item and how you can make it look its best.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
– The rule of thirds: This is a classic compositional technique that involves dividing your frame into nine equal sections using two horizontal and two vertical lines. Placing your subject on one of the intersections creates a more visually interesting and balanced photo.
– Leading lines: Lines are a great way to guide the viewer’s eye through the frame and lead them to your subject. Look for opportunities to use natural lines in your environment (e.g. a path leading up to your product) or create them yourself (e.g. by using a ruler to draw a line from the bottom corner of the frame to your subject).
– Symmetry and patterns: People are naturally drawn to symmetry and patterns, so incorporating them into your photos can create a real impact. If you’re selling a symmetrical item like a vase or mirror, try taking a photo of it dead-center in the frame. For patterns, look for interesting ways to arrange your products so the pattern is visible (e.g. a repeating geometric pattern on a rug).
– Framing: Framing is another great way to add interest to your photos and direct the viewer’s attention to your subject. You can use natural framing elements like doorways or windows, or create your own frame using objects like branches or leaves. Just be careful not to overcrowd the frame – you want there to be enough negative space so the eye isn’t drawn away from the subject.
Etsy Photo Editing
Once you’ve taken all your photos, it’s time to start editing! Even if you’re not a Photoshop pro, there are plenty of simple things you can do to make your photos look great. Here are a few of our favourite Etsy photo editing tips:
If you’re new to photo editing, we recommend starting with some basics tutorials. You can find tons of free ones online – just do a quick search on YouTube or Google. A few things you’ll want to learn how to do are cropping, resizing, and adjusting the brightness/contrast/saturation of your photos.Use Presets or Filters –
If you don’t want to spend hours editing each photo from scratch, you can use presets or filters to give your photos a consistent look. There are plenty of free options available online, or you can purchase professional presets that will do all the work for you with just one click!
Fix Common Problems –
White balance, red-eye, and lens distortion are all common problems that are easy to fix in editing. If you’re not sure how, again – YouTube is your friend! There are tons of tutorials on how to fix these issues using Photoshop, Lightroom, or other editing software.
Etsy Photography Tips
Here are my favourite Etsy photo tips that will help improve your CTR’s.
Create a cohesive look for your shop
When people visit your shop, you want all of your photos to look like they belong together. This creates a sense of cohesiveness and professionalism that will make your shop more likely to convert browsers into buyers.
You can achieve this by using similar colour schemes, backdrops, and editing styles for all of your photos. If you need some inspiration, take a look at other successful Etsy shops in your niche and see how they style their photos.
Use high-quality images
This one is pretty self-explanatory – but it’s worth repeating! Low-quality, blurry, or dark photos are not going to convince anyone to buy your products. Invest in a good quality camera (you don’t need to break the bank, your smartphone’s camera will likely be fine) and take the time to learn how to use it. If you’re not confident in your photography skills, there are plenty of
Make a few simple edits
As we mentioned before, editing your photos is a great way to make them look more professional and cohesive. Even if you’re not a Photoshop pro, there are plenty of simple things you can do to improve your photos.
We recommend starting with some basics tutorials on cropping, resizing, and adjusting the brightness/contrast/saturation. You can find tons of free ones online – just do a quick search on our YouTube channel.
Don’t buy professional lighting
Yes, I know I said it. If you don’t understand how photography lighting works, you’re going to spend a lot of money on equipment that you don’t need. Instead, take the time to learn about lighting and how to use natural light to your advantage. There are plenty of great tutorials on this subject – again, our YouTube channel is a great resource.
Using these (inexpensive) tools will make photographing products easier
While natural light is usually the best option, there are times when you need to make do with what you have. This is where reflectors and grey cards come in handy!
A reflector is simply a piece of white or coloured cardboard that you can use to reflect light onto your subject. This is especially useful when you’re taking photos outside on a sunny day and need to fill in some shadows.
A grey card is a middle-of-the-road option that can be used to help set the white balance in your photos. If you find that your photos are coming out too red, yellow, or blue – try using a grey card to neutralize the colours.
You can usually find reflectors and grey cards at your local camera store, or online.
Take shots that show scale, detail, variations & function
When people are shopping online, they can’t pick up and examine your products in person. This means that it’s your job to give them as much information as possible through your photos.
In addition to the standard product photo, make sure to include shots that show scale (if applicable), detail, variations (if you offer them), and function. This will give buyers a better idea of what they’re getting and whether it’s right for them.
FAQ’s about Etsy Photography
If you’re selling furniture on Etsy, it’s important to take photos that show the piece in context. In other words, don’t just take a photo of the dresser by itself – try to include a photo that shows how it would look in a real home.
You can achieve this by taking shots that show the furniture in different rooms, or with different types of décor. This will give buyers a better idea of how the piece would fit into their own home.
Finding the right light
When it comes to jewelry, the best thing you can do is take close-up photos that show off the details of the piece. In addition to photos of the front and back of the piece, try to include shots of any special features or engravings.
It’s also a good idea to take some photos of the jewelry being worn. This will give buyers an idea of how the piece looks when it’s actually being worn, and can help them visualize themselves wearing it.
As with jewelry, it’s important to take close-up shots of clothing that show off the details. In addition to photos of the front and back of the garment, try to include shots of any special features or embellishments.
It’s also a good idea to take some photos of the clothing being worn. This will give buyers an idea of how the garment looks when it’s actually being worn, and can help them visualize themselves wearing it.
The best background for product photos is usually a plain white or grey backdrop. This allows the focus to be on the product itself, without any distractions.
If you’re selling digital products like stickers or planners, it’s important to take photos that show off the product in use. For example, if you’re selling a planner, include a photo of someone using it to plan their day. This will give buyers an idea of how the product can be used in their own life.
Still have questions about Etsy photography?
We love helping our community of sellers! If you still have questions about Etsy photography, or if you need help with anything else, our team is always happy to lend a hand. You can reach us anytime by emailing robyn@robynobrienphotography.co.uk. We’re here for you!
