Product Photography - Learning By Example

Dunitz Glass Earrings

I'm always thinking about how I can create enticing photography for Dunitz & Company's fair trade jewelry website and social feeds. I've mastered the "jewelry on white background" images. These are the types of images needed for 'clean' website viewing and required by most trade magazines for publication. How do I do it? With a light box and Photoshop. Here's the Photoshop trick I use, assuming you use this software. Image > Adjustment > Levels --- adjust & there you go.  I know others use various phone apps to manage the white backgrounds. For me, Photoshop is what works. But what about all those other sexy pics I see on Instagram? I think I do an admirable job with the Dunitz & Company photography. I also know that I can always do better.  Watching other photo feeds sometimes make for the best teachers. Here are a few Instagram accounts worth following. Perhaps they'll have a thing or two to teach you. And honestly, you may fall in love with their products too. Why not? 

 

Lucuma Designs

Lucuma Designs is a Fair Trade Federation colleague of ours. They work with artisans in Peru and their Instagram feed is yummy. I tend to linger on some of their photos more than ones from other feeds.  I love how many of their images show an item (a gourd perhaps) in complete focus. And everything around it is blurry. I know this has something to do with depth of field. But, heck, I don't know how to create that effect. If you're an expert with a camera and know how that is accomplished, please email me.

 

The Spiral Rock

The Spiral Rock offers up some really wonderful product pics on their Instagram feed. I love how they use so many angles and add cool looking measurement tools so you know what size everything actually is. The designer, Harriet, who I know from a couple of Facbook groups told me she often uses window ledges for her background. How cool is that? 

Fazlco

 

It appears that each and every photo I see from Fazl Socks makes me drool with envy. Their photography makes socks sexy. I think you'll be inspired by their excellent photography and you'll want to go out and buy yourself a pair of their ethically made socks. Fazlco is a screened member (like us, self-serving pitch) of Fair Trade Federation.

Flavour Design Studio

There is no way that Flavour Design Studio was NOT going to make this list. Elan, their founder and designer has an incredible eye. Everything from product design to photography, everything she touches has such style. Flavor Design was my neighbor many times at trade shows, and their booth always looked perfect. As far as photography goes, it's clear that Elan carefully plans each of her shots which really in turn express the mood she is after. It's a cold day. Oh that soup in her Buddha Bowl is steaming. Looking for good luck? Her bowls are filled with just the right Lucky Charm cereal. She's on my pedestal.

M.Lew Jewelry

Melissa Lew knows how to make her jewelry rock on Instagram. Her feed is really fun to follow and she has a great eye for combining lifestyle shots with great product photography. She is a Museum Store Association vendor colleague of mine. And she also happens to be one of the most collaborative and helpful people around. Without asking, she'll jump in and offer assistance whenever she knows she can. Definitely check out her jewelry and her photography! 

Awamaki Peru

Awamaki Peru sure draws me into their Instagram feed. They have some lovely product shots. And their images of their colorful artisans are dreamy.  After following along, you'll feel as if you KNOW their weavers, their community and their beautiful products. Dreaming of a new pair of winter gloves? This Fair Trade Federation member company could be the perfect resource.

Helen Gotlib

My niece, and a fabulous artist she is, Helen Gotlib earns a thumbs up for her Instagram feed. Her product is her wonderful artwork. And she does an amazing job showcasing it. You'll see many pics of her and her process in her studio. Including many videos. Drool. Drool. (Watching what she does with video might encourage you to do the same.) She manages to obtain and share lots of shots of her work in their final homes. And some of those homes are Architectural Digest worthy.

Mayamam Weavers

Perhaps you read my last blog post that included thoughts from Mayamam Weavers about their design process and working with artisans in Guatemala. Now, our Fair Trade Federation colleague deserves a shout-out for their fabulous photography. Yes, we follow them on Instagram. And I'm always amazed how they manage so many ways to show off their gorgeous textiles. What most impresses me is how they stage so many engaging shots. At a picnic. Baking cookies. Drinking martinis. Washing dishes. They're so clever!

Indigo Jones

Are you a foodie? Then you must follow my high school friend (yes, high school), Shari Hershon from Indigo Jones. You'll want to eat everything she bakes and cooks. Her photography is just that enticing. She also bakes to order, so if you need gluten-free eye candy, she's your person.  Go ahead. Start drooling.  She also lists some of her treats in her Etsy shop.

Kahiniwalla

Kahiniwalla is an expert when it comes to baby toys and rattles. And they definitely have their photography down to a tee. I mean, who doesn't want to see an adorable photo of a child playing with a colorful toy? Their Instagram feed will fill you with smiles. Did I say that Kahiniwalla is also a Fair Trade Federation member? Their beautiful offerings are ethically made in Bangladesh.

Pin Me

So now that I've shared some of my favorite Instagram feeds for photography inspiration, can you suggest some of your favorites to me?  Please email them to my attention and I promise I'll have a look.  My 2021 goal after reviewing these feeds for this post, is to take some extra time and create some staged photos. Maybe Dunitz fair trade jewelry on wrists, reading a book, with elbows on a table.

 

 

 

 

Dunitz & Company

For a closing thought, let me share a smokin' hot pic I like a lot from the Dunitz & Company Instagram feed. -ND

My Favorite Instagram Feeds

I look at a lot of photos each and every day on Instagram. Between my @ndunitz feed and @shopdunitz feed, I breeze through nearly 2400 accounts of images. Yes, that is a load of images! I follow the retail shops that sell Dunitz fair trade jewelry. I watch sustainable and ethical bloggers. I track all sorts of fashionistas. I follow back - those that watch me. And at the end of the day, there are a few feeds that have become my favorites. Here are a few you might enjoy watching too. Note, none of these Instagramers have paid me for this mention.

Many of you know, I learned so much about fashion from my mother. She was my first teacher of fashion. As a kid, I watched her dress up for all sorts of social events that ranged from charity luncheons to gala dinner parties. She was a clothes horse and she looked good in everything. And she knew her designers.  I think this is why I've become so intrigued with Rachel Adelicia's Instagram feed. This girl rocks style. And it warms my heart to see her wear amazing vintage design.  I drool over the clothing she shows off.  I'm almost sure she has great relationships with some upscale resale shops. Women wearing beautiful clothing on IG are a dime a dozen. Rachel not only looks terrific in so many styles, she styles her shots very very well.  Seriously, she could be a magazine editor. She has a great eye. I sent her a message through IG recently asking her about her inspiration.  She responded to me that she loves looking at fashion advertisements in magazines and recreating the looks with vintage. Bravo, Rachel. Read her blog to learn more beyond the photos she shares on Instagram.


I love to eat. OK, most of us do! And I love to look at beautiful food. For this very reason, I watch a few foodie feeds on Instagram.  My favorite eye candy comes from Ivy Chin, who describes herself as a self taught and passionate cook. She uses edible flowers. Her works are full of amazing colors. And her combination of colors has inspired my jewelry design. You just NEVER know what will be the catalyst for design. I can't tell you how many times I've commented on Ivy's photos with "too pretty to eat."  Check out her feed and let me know if you agree.




Weaving tales in color seems to be a specialty of Emma Thomas. She's going through a pink phase right now. If you scroll through her feed you'll see lots of luscious and foggy colors. I loved her recent posts of hunter green images. She features yummy vintage time and time again.  And the filters she chooses create such a wonderful moody feel. I drool over many of her choices. And I know I'll never find or be able to afford many of the breathtaking designs she features.  So for now, I live vicariously through her feed. Love it, Emma!



Last year a friend of mine suggested I reach out to fashion bloggers on Instagram to see if I could obtain some visibility for Dunitz & Company's fair trade jewelry. I wrote to several women. Many ignored me. Several looked at our website and emailed specifically which pieces of ours they'd love to own and model. Others left it up to us. Rie Victoria Aoki was one of the women I contacted. At the time, she posted several photos on Instagram and on her blog wearing Dunitz jewelry. Since that time, her's has become one of my favorite feeds to watch on Instagram. And clearly, I'm not alone. Her followers have been growing exponentially. Why? Because this is one woman who has it going on. She's stunning. She has style. And, from experience, I can tell you she is lovely too. Add her to your IG list! She will inspire your style.

Please share with me your favorite Instagram feeds. I'd love to watch what you find most inspiring. And of course don't forget to follow ours.-ND