One of the questions I get asked most frequently is “How to take wreath photos for Etsy?” You literally have seconds to get someone attention as they are scrolling through the thousands of wreaths for sale on the internet. Having good photos of your wreaths is one of the most important parts of having a successful wreath business. Note that I do not profess to be a pro photographer. However, I have taken thousands of photos of wreaths over the years, honing my skill as I went. In this post I will show you a video of my photo set up and share some of my best tips for taking wreath photos.
Wreath Photography Tips
- Prep your wreath: First and foremost, be sure your wreath looks its best! Fluff the bows and straighten the ribbons. If there is a sign, be sure it’s hanging correctly and centered if it’s intended to be. Take a lint brush to ribbons, velvet and plush, if needed.
- Use adequate lighting: Natural lighting is best, however avoid direct sunlight which will cause shadows. I do not have the option for taking my photos outdoors, so my setup is in my workshop. I use four lights. There is one light on either side pointing up to the bottom of the wreath and two pointing downward to the top. Here is the light set that I use. Avoid shining the light straight forward onto the wreath, which will cause shadows.
- Use a clean, uncluttered background: Some prefer a white background. My preference is to have a background more like the customer might use with the wreath, ie, on a door, over a mantle, etc. Whichever background you use, be sure it doesn’t compete with the wreath. If you choose a door, avoid those with glass. The reflections will cause too much distraction and make it difficult to see the wreath details.
- Show multiple angles: Take photos with close ups of the focal points. Be sure to show at least one photo where the entire wreath is visible. This should be your main or first Etsy photo. Get at least one shot with something else for comparison, such as a door, person or mantle. Do this so the customer can get an idea of scale or size of the wreath.
- Edit as needed: Edit if necessary, but be sure the colors are true to life. Don’t over saturate or brighten colors too much. There are definitely differences in computer renditions of colors, but you don’t want your customer to buy a wreath thinking the color is something that it’s not.
Video
These tips are certainly not all inclusive. I hope it can get you started toward showing your wreaths in their best light…no pun intended!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post! If you liked it, please share it with your crafty friends.
If you want to learn how to consistently make wreaths you are proud of, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me on Facebook for weekly video tutorials.
To learn wreath design on a deeper level, you can also join my private wreath making group, Teri’s Wreath Works, here.
