Note to self: Competitions

There are countless photography competitions running all year round, yet, I typically completely forget to seek them out and enter. That's something I want to change, so today I've finally bookmarked and organised sites of use for competitions into their own labelled folder. They're a great source of motivation and inspiration and, if you're lucky or rather, talented enough to win, you could really hit the big time.

I'm also going to begin researching local events in which I could showcase my photography and products, now that I have stock (Cliffe farmer's market I'm looking at you..).

As always, thank you for you support!

www.etsy.com/uk/listing/178220596/summer-breeze-beautiful-high-quality

A day in review

Today, as have previous days, has been frustrating. The crappy, gloomy weather persists and despite my best efforts (2.5 hours worth) of setting up lighting and shooting two different angles of 15 of the canvasses, trying my best to keep every shot similar... They just wasn't worthy of being used. The lighting has been dismal for the past 4 or 5 days and doesn't look set to give me a break, sadly there's nothing I can do.

I've decided to use the image below as the official product image for 'Marshland reflections'. I was planning on taking a different type of shot, but due to the poor weather during my time with it before I sent it off, I was unable to.

'Marshland reflections' has also received a 5 star review!

Check out the updated listing here: www.etsy.com/uk/listing/210249321/marshland-reflections-beautiful-high

Thanks again, weather.

No product shots today either. Thank you so very much, crappy weather! I spent a good hour trying to sort out the lighting with the use of a reflector, but even with the reflector, it was still too dark. The images were noisy and the light was just terrible for product images, it's all getting very frustrating.

Back home, back to work

After a couple of days spent away from home, I am now back and back to work. I will start shooting product images tomorrow and begin the long process of editing and uploading each of the shots to their respective listings. It's without a doubt going to be my largest update/improvement to my shop and I cannot wait for it to all be in place!

www.etsy.com/uk/listing/181340194/free-as-a-bird-beautiful-high-quality

Re-categorising 

I've been busy updating and refining more areas of my shop over the last couple of days, the latest being item categories. I have updated each listing, one-by-one (again) to be listed under more appropriate categories, such as 'HouseWares'. 

I've also, as planned, continued my presence in Etsy's community threads.

Have you checked out my shop since all of the recent changes have been made? If not, please do here: www.etsy.com/shop/whiteglare

Waiting for the sun to shine

Nothing much of note has happened over the weekend, I am still awaiting better lighting conditions and brainstorming the type of products shots I want to take before going ahead and taking all of my product shots. 

I have been active within the Etsy community and as always I have been promoting my shop via social media. Other than that, I have just been enjoying some down time.

www.etsy.com/uk/listing/176473389/twos-company-beautiful-high-quality

Big arrival

They're here, the order I've been wanting to place for, what feels like an eternity, has arrived. I finally have my first stock, my first canvas examples and my first chance to make my shop as I always wanted it to be. 

I was worried in regards to prints quality. Canvas prints aren't as precise as, say, a poster print, but I can gladly say, I'm very very pleased with them. They're sharp, clear, colours are accurate and of a very high quality, a quality better than I ever expected.

I hope you share my excitement.

 Today was filled with another reason to celebrate, my mum's 50th. So, happy birthday mum! I hope you've enjoyed your day!

Taking delivery

Today has been a slower day than the days/week beforehand. I'm still awaiting on my canvasses to begin the next wave of my shop improvements, they should be with me shortly and cannot get here fast enough.

My customer's order arrived earlier on in the day, but thanks to poor weather conditions, I decided lighting wasn't favourable to take product shots. I did, however, take a couple shots just to share with you, they follow below.

www.etsy.com/uk/listing/210249321/marshland-reflections-beautiful-high

Dispatches

Exciting times are upon me. My customer's order has been dispatched and my canvasses are on their way, I am very much looking forward to the coming days.

Once I have taking delivery of my canvasses I will be hard at work taking product shots and updating my shop. It's going to be a very time consuming process, but one I'll enjoy greatly and one that is vital for the continued improvement and development of my shop.

Orders, edits and a sale too

Today has been a VERY busy day for me.

Firstly, I have been hard at work editing each and every listing one-by-one, adding more detailed descriptions on each product as well as filling in the 'Materials' section. I have also put an order in for 20, 30 x 20 canvasses, each one unique and each one an example of one of the listings available on my shop. Both were very time consuming processes.

Secondly, I have sold a cushion print! Which I am obviously very pleased about and cannot wait to fulfill! Interested in knowing which cushion print it was? Check the following link: www.etsy.com/uk/listing/210249321/marshland-reflections-beautiful-high

Building an audience

If Mount Everest's peak was my goal, I feel like I'm starting my journey in the depths of Mariana trench. It's easy to be disheartened when starting out in many things, but always remember, those who are in the position you wish to be in, likely started in the same trench you did.

I'm busying myself in many areas of importance to my shop and business, today's and the coming day's focus will be firmly set on building an audience. Being active within the Etsy community is my starting point, I am also researching Etsy promotion schemes as well as a few other areas.

Do you have any ideas on how I should go about building an audience? Suggest away in the comment section and/or on my photography Facebook page: www.facebook.com/whiteglarephotography

A walk in the marsh

Easy like Sunday morning..

Vikki's blog: www.vikkirh.blogspot.co.uk/

Brainstorming

Many ideas come and go, but some stay, linger and eventually become reality. I have an idea, it's an idea I've been mulling over for a long time and one that I'd like to share with you, today.

Photobooks, the storytelling medium of choice for photographers. I've been wanting to tell a story of Cliffe, through photos, featuring people and places of interest in and around the village. I have many pictures already, perfect for such a book.

It'd be a limited print, 10 - 15 books maximum. Would this be something you'd be interested in? Please, take a few seconds to share your thoughts in the comment section, or alternatively, on my Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/whiteglarephotography

Example of the type of image that may be included.

Don't discount the discount!

After a few days of absence, my Etsy shop has made a return. I have been busy at work searching for new and better suppliers and thus, I have made adjustments to pricing. 

I have also refined my product range with the removal of poster prints. My reasoning being that I want to sell complete and final products, posters would typically require a frame or other sorts of mounts, which I cannot/do not offer. Be sure to take a look: www.etsy.com/shop/whiteglare

I am also running a new promotion and from January 16th until January 21st I will be offering 25% off all canvas prints! To redeem this offer, visit my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/whiteglarephotography) and click the 'Get offer' button on the offer and follow the instructions within the email!

Offer does not extend to cushion prints. Incorrect application of this discount will not be fulfilled, do not use this code in conjunction with a cushion order.

Braving the cold and snow foam

Sally's lead in one hand, camera in the other. I wasn't expecting to find any new scenarios to shoot in down the marsh, as I've visited so often and taken so many pictures, anything new is becoming a rarity.

But I did. I hadn't counted on the wind being so... well, windy! The lakes churned in the wind like a boiling broth and left its edges painted in foam, Sally found all of it rather enjoyable.

Oh, I also found a glowing stone.

Charing visit - My captures

I haven't shot much this past week, but of what I have, I am very please with. The following 2 images were shot in Charing, Kent, whilst visiting my girlfriend and her parent's home.

So, thank you, Vikki for being a good subject (and walking out into the mud)!

Vikki's blog: www.vikkirh.blogspot.co.uk/

Welcome

This post marks the beginning of my photography blog.

I will use this area as a virtual diary, keeping track of my progress and keeping my progress, on track.