[Jewelry making - Article 00237] - Re: [Orchid] Web site procrastination

[Warren]

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Hi kim

>     I like your website! 

    Thank you! 

>     The things I especially like....the photography is wonderful,
>     nice, close-up images....the bracelet shown on the front page was a
>     very good pick, it makes me definitely want to go further into the
>     site. 

    We have had a "debate" over that image! I like it because its work
    in progress. Bec doesn't like it as you can see the solder join and
    file marks!! Not to mention here perfectly manicured fingers!! 

>     There are a couple of typos...on the front page, earrings is
>     spelled with only one "r" and under 'smile a while crocodile',
>     there is a backslash in there by accident. 

    Well spotted, all corrected I hope. Spelling was never my strong
    point hence 5 years at Art College. 

>     I like the earrings a lot, but I was wishing that I could see them
>     as they would look when being worn. As a customer, this would help
>     me decide to buy. Maybe they could be photo'd suspended from
>     fishing line? or check this out
>     http://www.fragments.com/catalog_listing.aspx?c=earrings 

    I like that, its one of the more interesting presentations I have
    seen. We are about to start a new photoshoot session next week so
    shall try that technique.

>     I hope this doesn't upset you, but I am confused by one detail on
>     the site. You describe your work as "English Solid Sterling
>     Hallmarked Silver", but, under some of the items listed for sale,
>     the description says (for example) "A heavy piece of hand forged
>     sterling silver plate". This phrase, to me, says the items are
>     plated with silver, but the website says the items are solid
>     sterling? Perhaps this is a matter of terminology differences
>     between countries. 

    Good point, the intention was to differentiate between cast and
    sheet work. I suppose it goes back to my sculptural days playing with
    1/4" mild steel plate. We have not experimented with electroplating /
    forming yet, but its on the list. I have removed the references to
    plate to reduce any confusion. 

>     Overall, you have a very professional site and I like it a lot.
>     Have you decided how you are going to get traffic to your new site?
>     Can you go into how you get such good images? I have a Nikon D250
>     SLR camera and I can't seem to get my pictures to have enough light
>     (white balance is off or picture is just too dark). Thank you to
>     everyone for your past suggestions on using Photoshop, but, if I
>     lighten in Photoshop, it lightens everything (not just the
>     background). 

    Traffic to the site is a combination of grass roots marketing on the
    internet, adwords via google (expensive) and Press advertising in
    the UK (very expensive). I'm going to create an affiliate graphic
    package in the next week or so to see if we can bring the advertising
    rate down a little. If anybody has any experience of these affiliate
    programmes I'd by interested in any observations. 

    Image wise I use a Nikon d70 with a variety of lenses - a macro
    105mm is the mainstay and a reversed 50mm very occasionally. I would
    try and stay away from photoshop manipulation and try to get the
    photograph exposed correctly. An external light meter is a big help
    and my secret weapon are some BIG studio flashes which everybody said
    was overkill when I bought them. I found it better to have power in
    reserve than my first tactic which was to use my nikon speedlights
    which were nowhere near powerful enough. Try and use the RAW photo
    format if possible and look up DNG workflows on google. 

    Thanks for the comments kim, much appreciated and we love your bead
    work! 

Warren and Bec at www.cloversoul.co.uk
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