a world of pictures

I've been quiet.  I've secluded myself into a world of photo taking, photo editing, and listing editing the last two weeks.  And I've found myself sinking into it and moving slower with it.  Yes, I bought fun new photographic equipment.  Does it really streamline my process?  Not by much.  I think it will with time, but not as much as I'd like.  I'll always need to put the photos into photo editing software which is where my slow spot is.  Not that I can't do it fast, just that I don't enjoy doing it.  So I move slow.
That's ok.  That's where I am.  I made the commitment to rephotograph my shop to make my shop the best I can.  And I'm sticking with it.  I also came to the conclusion that when my pace turns into a complete stop I need to give in and pick up some beads.  That conclusion hit me on Sunday.  I was in a blah mood, needing to photo edit but not actually doing it.  Thinking of all the things I could be doing.  I actually said to C that if I just put some beads in my hand's I'd be a happy camper.  Took another 45 min before I actually got up and put some beads in my hands.  I then cranked out a two beaded pendants and the beginnings of a new flower.  Same thing happened on Monday.  A few beads and some hammering of wire and things were looking up. 
So you might have noticed that the stock in Crymson Flower is slowing going up.  There are lots of new flowers mixed in with some renewed listings.  Can you tell the difference in my photographs?  What do you think?

And because I lack amazing pics of me taking pics.  I'll show you some of the listings I've been posting. 

Fuchsia lime Calla lily

 

 Lavender Calla Lily

Black Rainbow Calla Lily

in the mean time

Before we left on vacation I placed an order on ebay for some fancier photo equipment.  My last art show is tomorrow and after that I knew that I'd have to spend some serious time on my Etsy shop.  I sort of failed at renewing my listings this summer so my shop is looking pretty spare.  What better time to redo photos and revamp tags and listing descriptions? 

So I invested a little bit in a photo tent and some lighting.  Before I was taking my photos in diffused natural sunlight in my living room.  That worked out great on sunny days.  But in the winter it can be weeks of clouds which proved for really dark pictures.  This photo tent and the lights will let me be less dependent on weather and location. 

I have it set up on my floor here, but it could easily be on a table too.  The tent is collapsible and is 30inches square.  30 inches is way bigger than I first imagined but I'm glad I went big b/c I don't have to worry about squeezing bigger projects in there.  I bought a kit with some stronger lights too.  Many came with smaller lights which would have done nothing for a 30" box.  These could even use a little extra light but they will do.
Yesterday I set this all up and got out all my flowers.  I spent 3 hours taking photos and got maybe half way through my current stock.  I still need to go through them and see how they turned out but I'm very optimistic.