Learning How to Style Your Photographs So Your Kitchen Collectibles Sell Better On-Line

Creating Exciting Backgrounds For Photographing Your Kitchen Collectibles

I just love the way Ric Rac And Buttons , an Etsy.com shop photographs her lovely kitchen collectibles for sale. She sets up very pleasing vignettes featuring her collectibles from the 1940s and 1950s.

An Updated Look For Your Kitchen

She has updated the color palettes of her own kitchen to create a more contemporary look . Then when she photographs her kitchen housewares, they are showcased against a fresher background.

Creating Retro Style For Younger Shoppers

Appealing to younger shoppers, Ric Rac And Buttons manages to create what I would call "retro style". She pulls out elements of the Atomic Era such as using 50s colors (reds and turquoise) as well as 50s designs i.e. polka dots (fabric shown) to bring in a hint of the funky fifties. Yet her book shelf is clearly painted in a more current shade of turquoise.

Branding Your On-line Shop

We can learn a lot from this vendor. By using a familiar style she in essence is "branding" her shop. Now when buyers go on Etsy.com, they are able to recognize Ric Rac And Buttons easily with photos that have consistency. Additionally, this seller is able to take ordinary kitchen collectibles and make them look so much more exciting, by taking the time to style her photos with an eye catching background .

Photos courtesy of http://www.etsy.com/shop/ricracandbuttons

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Authors Guild, Inc.

Easy To Recognize Photo Backgrounds "Brand" Your Merchandise on Online Antique Auctions Or Websites

When photographing collectibles for online antique auctions such as eBay or Etsy or other popular sites, think about how your merchandise looks when photographed.

Branding Your Online Auction Photographs
Using easy to recognize photo backgrounds can be considered a form of "branding". When you use consistent colors and backgrounds, your viewers (buyers) will begin to associate the look of your photos with your merchandise. Placing a consistent background behind your objects when you photograph, brings continuity and recognizability to your presentation.

Photo Backgrounds You Can Use

You can choose from a variety of background ideas such as using vintage wallpaper, fabric, large sheets of art paper (ask for paper used for pastel drawing or something similar) , old tablecloths, wrapping paper, vintage magazine art etc. Computer savvy folks can also create backgrounds on their computer.

Create Your Own Style for Photo Backgrounds

Because the objects you are photographing may look better on one background versus another, select a few different palettes to use and repeat these backgrounds, but keep your "style' consistent. For example, if you sell mod items, choose funky backgrounds associated with the mod era. Or if you tend to sell 1940's kitchenwares, select backgrounds which evoke that era.

Take a look at these three different vendors who sell online. Each vendor has established a "style" for their photo backgrounds . When I am browsing through listings it is real easy to recognize these sellers.

Photos shown courtesy of :
http://www.cottagerags.com/about.asphttp:
www.Retro Revival.etsy.com
www.The Butter Cup.etsy.com

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com


Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

Styling Your Kitchen Collectibles for Successful Photographs and Displays

This summer while working on the second edition of my book Hot kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s I spent a lot of time looking for photo contributors. I happily discovered http://www.RetroRevival.etsy.com. Owner Susan takes real care in photographing her charming kitchen collectibles.

Susan, who is a member of http://iantiqueonline.ning.com/ (I am the Editor), has many more of her photos posted on her profile page. For now, I thought I would share some of Susan's lovely photographed kitchen collectibles with you. Using Susan's photos as examples, I hope to help both dealers and collectors learn more about styling and displaying collectibles.

Here are some keys points to assist you when photographing or styling your kitchen treasures.
Select objects of different sizes and shapes to group together. Use vintage linens, hand towels, tablecloths etc. as table coverings or back drops. Be sure the fabric you choose allows the object to stand out and not get lost. Select patterns that have some of the colors in the object you are showcasing. For example in the lemon salt & pepper shakers shown, the floral tablecloth picks up the yellow, but does not compete with the object.
You can stay in the same palette as was done with the coffee cup photos or you can use an opposite color as was done with the flower beverage glass shown. photo. Beverage glasses are hard to photograph so you need to have a solid object, such as the red ball pitcher behind the glass to show off the delicate clear and blue floral glass.

Another very important point which will help your styling in a big way is to stick with the same period of time of items. In other words, use items from the same era. Also use background materials that are compatible with that era. Primary colors work wel together and were 1940's color and early 1950's colors. Pastels dominated the 1950's. If you want to learn more about color palettes for a particular generation, look through old home magazines.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com


Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.