Photographing jewelry is challenging, and often frustrating, for two main reasons...
First, since most jewelry is shiny, with reflections bouncing off every surface, lighting is one of the most important and trickiest elements to work out. With a digital camera, getting just the right amount, size, color, and placement of lighting is vital.
The other critical and challenging element in jewelry photography is getting sharp, close up photos that show the jewelry's detail, beauty, and depth of field.
I, apparently, do not have the knack of doing it yet, or perhaps my little Sony digital camera is not adequate for the job. When in doubt, blame the technology, not the user who may or may not know what they are doing. *smile*
My attempts this evening to get some good photos of the new sterling silver pendants got me a bunch of out-of-focus pics with bounced back glare that almost blinded me! It gave me a headache too...time to 'step away from the camera' tonight and take a fresh leap at it tomorrow.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
The Mode Accessories Show in Toronto
We went to The Mode Accessories Show today. It’s a trade show where retailers can source fashion accessories from wholesalers and importers. The show is not open to the general public. All attendees must be registered and verified with business identification.
Products exhibited range from handbags, jewelry, hats, scarves, belts, watches, apparel and much more. We go to this show twice a year specifically to buy silver rings and pendants. The show is huge and there is so much to see! It’s easy to get distracted from our main objective. The buyer for a large retail store could spend all three days of the show perusing the various booths and selecting some amazing, unique items for their shops.
One of the most interesting items we came across were bracelets made from antique silver forks, spoons and butter knives adorned with glass beads and wire. See photo below….
Booth sizes ranged from 20’ X 30’ to 2’ X 3’….seriously, there was one lady displaying her one-of-a-kind jewelry in a little corner flanked by two doors that was no bigger than 2’ X 3’. It was such a high traffic area that her products could be seen coming and going between rooms. Some of her designs incorporated beautiful lampwork beads made by local artists….a girl after my own heart. Her prices were quite reasonable too. I hope she does well there.
I went to the show to purchase sterling silver Tree of Life and pentacle pendants. I’m all stocked now for the upcoming vending season. As soon as my camera battery is recharged, I’ll take photos to share here.
I’m telling you, if my budget was unlimited, I could have done a lot of damage at this show!
Products exhibited range from handbags, jewelry, hats, scarves, belts, watches, apparel and much more. We go to this show twice a year specifically to buy silver rings and pendants. The show is huge and there is so much to see! It’s easy to get distracted from our main objective. The buyer for a large retail store could spend all three days of the show perusing the various booths and selecting some amazing, unique items for their shops.
One of the most interesting items we came across were bracelets made from antique silver forks, spoons and butter knives adorned with glass beads and wire. See photo below….
Booth sizes ranged from 20’ X 30’ to 2’ X 3’….seriously, there was one lady displaying her one-of-a-kind jewelry in a little corner flanked by two doors that was no bigger than 2’ X 3’. It was such a high traffic area that her products could be seen coming and going between rooms. Some of her designs incorporated beautiful lampwork beads made by local artists….a girl after my own heart. Her prices were quite reasonable too. I hope she does well there.
I went to the show to purchase sterling silver Tree of Life and pentacle pendants. I’m all stocked now for the upcoming vending season. As soon as my camera battery is recharged, I’ll take photos to share here.
I’m telling you, if my budget was unlimited, I could have done a lot of damage at this show!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
New Logo: By Artist Michelle Crowskin Bond
Late last summer, I went searching for an artist to design a new logo for me; something more sophisticated than the free, cartoon-like fairy clipart that I have been using for the past couple of years. I'd met Michelle at various events we were vending at and I really liked her work, so I contacted her to see if she was interested in the project.
Happily, she was very excited about the prospect and anxious to get started. I told her that I wanted something similar to what I had already....a fairy sitting on the moon. That very same day, I had the first sample drawings from her!
We played around with a couple of different colour combinations and I’m sure I must have driven her crazy with all the small changes I kept asking her to make…a bigger smile, a different armband, the sparkly bits at the bottom, etc. but she was very accommodating and indulged me through the creative process.
I'm very happy with the final result. Thank you, Michelle, for all your hard work and patience. The new business cards are already printed and the website is getting a complete overhaul and re-design in the coming weeks and months.
To see more of Michelle's work, go to.....
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